Thank you very much for your interest in the German Internship Program

This internship will be a great opportunity for you to appreciate and become acquainted with the German culture through daily interaction with the host companies. Also you will be able to gain insight into the German economy, enjoy a cross-cultural challenge and improve your already existent German language skills.

Application Process

The application process for the program is run through BridgehouseLaw in Atlanta. To be eligible to participate, students from partner universities must have an intermediate knowledge of German, officially be registered as a student through the complete duration of the program and commit to a three-month intership in Germany.

Our partner universities are:

- Columbus State University

- Emory University

- Georgia Institute of Technology

- Georgia State University

- Kennesaw State University

- Morehouse College

- North Georgia College & State University

- Piedmont College

- UNC Charlotte

- University of Georgia

 

Approved applications will be posted on the AmCham Germany website. Companies which have shown an interest in the program will be given access to view the students's profiles. Companies express their interst for one or more students to AmCham Germany, who provide the student's contact information to the company. AmCham Germany also notifies the student to expect a call or email from the interested company.

After an interview process (how this is carried out varies from company to company) the company will decide on a student to whom they would like to extend the offer of an internship. During the interview process and when offered a position we suggest sstudents to clarify issues such as working hours, possible time off, dress code, etc. with their contact person, as these vary from company to company. Unselcted student's profiles will be returned to the website for other companies to view.

The matchmaking process generally takes place from December to February.

General Information

Travel Dates
May - August 2012
Group Tavel with official welcome ceremony held by AmCham Germany, participating companies and hosted by Frankfurt Rhine-Main Corporation.

Flight Cost
Please anticipate travel costs to range from 1,100 US Dollars upwards
(If you are in need of financial assistance please contact your University representative).

VISA

AmCham Germany will take care of visa formalities in advance in coorperation with the Agency of Employees and students Affairs (ZAV) at the German Federal Agency for Employment. Once accepted by a company, students must submit a certificate of enrollment (with a started graduation date after the completion of the program and a university stamp or seal) and a copy of their passport. All other paperwork will be completed by the employer in conjunction with AmCham Germany.

US Citizens
US citizens can enter Germany/Schengen States with a valid passport with minimum validity of three months.

Non US and non EU Citizens
Non-US and Non-EU citizens are welcome to participate in the program, but must inform themselves about the visa entry requirements for their nationality. Schengen Visa requirements and processing time of application vary from individual to individual and depend on nationality. Students requiring an entry visa for Germany will need to make an appointment at the German Consulate and pay the necessary fee.

Click here to find information on the web site of the German Consulate General in Atlanta

Under the link ‘tourist-visa’ all information can be found including the form to download. Main requirements are:

• Application form + one passport picture
• National passport with minimum validity of three months after leaving Germany/Schengen States
• Notarized copy of US-alien card or US resident visa (type A, E, F plus endorsed I-20, G, H, J plus J1 documents, L, O, R , minimum validity 1 month after leaving Schengen States
• Proof of finances
• Proof of accomodation
• Approval of ZAV (federal agency in charge of approving student internships (work placement) in Germany, usually obtained by hiring company)
• Proof of airline reservation
• Proof of tourist health insurance for duration of stay
• Current visa fee: Please check above mentioned web site

Placement in Germany

Location
All internships will be in or close to major cities in Germany.

Internship Compensation
The companies are asked to provide the students with a minimum monthly allowance of 670 Euros (approximately 900 US Dollars).

Accommodation
Ideally, participating companies will provide an apartment for the student for the duration of the internship. If however, this is not possible, homestays with families or participating companies are also an option. The student will be responsible searching for suitable living quarters with tips and input from hosting the company. Many students find accommodation in shared apartments (Wohngemeinschaft - WG), a very common option for young Germans. This not only brings down the cost of living, but is also a convenient way to immerse yourself in German culture and improve your language skills. While finding housing abroad is often one of the most challenging aspects of the program, do not be discouraged as students in past years have been successful. AmCham Germany/BridgehouseLaw will be happy to assist in the search by providing helpful weblinks and advice, but finding housing is the responsibility of each student together with their host company.

Supervision/Support
Participating companies are expected to provide a mentor for the intern. The mentor’s responsibilities include introducing the student to the field of operation in which he or she will be working and answering technical questions. Since the interns will need to gather experience in everyday life in Germany - an integral part of the program - the mentor is expected to assist his charge by answering important questions that might arise outside of the workplace.

Insurance
Students are required to have insurance for the entire duration of their internship. BridgehouseLaw Atlanta arranges a partnership with an international insurance provider to try and offer affordable coverage. Students are not required to purchase this insurance, but must provide a summary of their international policy before departure for clearance from BridgehouseLaw.

Students are expected to pay their own airfare as well as insurance for the duration of the program. Any additional costs for leisure, travel etc. should be calculated and planned for by the students.

Internship

Your work experience will very much reflect the effort you put into the program. AmCham Germany provides the network to connect you with your company, but we expect you to take control from there.

What hours you will work, exactly how much money you will earn and what dress code you should adhere to all questions (among any others) you should take up directly with your company's mentor. Your mentor will not only be supervising your work once you arrive in Germany, but is also your first point of contact for planning your summer. The more you arrange and prepare for in adanve, the more you will get out of your experience in Germany.

During the program AmCham Germany arranges a meet-up for the students to share and reflect on their experiences. In past years this has taken place in Düsseldorf, allowing students the opportunity to visit the US Consulate and North Rhine-Westphalia state government offices. Exact dates and location of the meeting will be communicated to students at the beginning of the program. All students are required to attend the meet-up. We ensure that students minimal costs for the excursion, asking, for example, that their companies pay transportation costs.