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Students

Scholarships and Exchanges

Students - Scholarships & Exchanges

Travel overseas to Europe is a real option for students (and teachers) of German. Of course, you can always exchange ideas and information through e-pals, online projects and even handwritten letters.

 

AGTV - Bayerischer Jugendring (BJR) Reciprocal Exchange

The AGTV is a registered Student Exchange Organisation (SEO) with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and has been coordinating the BJR exchange in Victoria since 1988.

The AGTV facilitates between 40 and 60 students from schools throughout Victoria to participate in this reciprocal 10-week exchange with students from the German state of Bavaria

With permission from the school and parents, students apply when they are in Year 9 or Year 10 and the exchange takes place when students are in Year 10 or 11.

NB: All schools receive government funding for the German students through the February student census, as the German students will be on a Student Visa 571 and must be enrolled at the school.

 

Applications for the AGTV-BJR Exchange in Victoria

Both schools and families must agree to be involved, so ask your teacher about the program. Many schools have participated over the years.

The process for students is to first send in an 'Expression of Interest', then complete and application which is mailed to you. Following completion, this is returned to the AGTV Coordinator to be sent to BJR in Germany for the matching process. Your school is also sent forms to complete, including a 'Confidential Student Recommendation'.

If matched, the German students arrive in February the following year and the Victorians complete the exchange when they fly to Germany in the following November.

Group Leaders accompany the Victorian students to Germany. There are also pre-arrival and pre-departure meetings which families are required to attend.

Expressions of Interest are open in Term 1 for the following year's exchange program.

Expressions of interest for the AGTV-BJR Exchange in 2013 for 2014-2015 Exchange

Download information about the exchange and administration cost and the 'Expression of Interest' form:

Benefits of a Long-Term Exchange

A former AGTV-BJR student is now the proprietor of a branch of Boomerang-Reisen in Nürnberg. As the name suggests, one or their focus areas is Australia.

The AGTV is hosting a dinner in 2013 to celebrate 25 years of the exchange program in Victoria. Tickets available online for this event at:

 

Other Exchanges & Sister-Schools

The Embassy for the Federal Republic of Germany compiles a list of programs in Australia.

There are around 60 Victorian schools with established sister-school relationships with German-speaking countries in Europe.

 

Preparing for an Exchange

 

Penpals and ePals

Deutsche Post AG has a project to find pen-pals and more - German and English.

Many students participate in electronic exchanges with students schools in Germany and other countries learning German.

Teachers will find more information about e-Exchanges under Promoting German

 

Goethe-Institut / AGTV Year 10 Awards

If you are in Year 10, and have not been overseas and are unlikely to have the opportunity to go to Germany in the foreseeable future, then consider applying for a Goethe-Institut /AGTV Year 10 Awards, the first award being a 3-week holiday course in January in Germany, and two further awards of VCE Holiday courses at the Goethe-Institut in Melbourne. The process involves completing an application and if short-listed, attending an Interview. Download application forms on the link following.

 

Society for Australian-German Student Exchange (SAGSE) since 1967

If you are in Year 11 or 12 studying German, you must consider applying for a SAGSE scholarship. The process involves an application, recommendation from the school, and - if short-listed - an interview. You do not have to host a student to apply.

Companies and Associations sponsor scholarships for students to travel to Germany to live with a German family for 10 weeks. It is a unique opportunity for senior students of German based on merit.

In 2011, there were 17 scholarships awarded at the 44th Annual Banquet at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne: AGTV, Allens Arthur Robertson, Allianz, BASF, BMW Group, Bosch, Continental, Fischer, GASS Victoria, GASS Alumni, Henkell Brothers, Mercedes Benz, Minova, Remco, RMIT University, DB Schenker, Siemens.

More than 2000 Australian students have received SAGSE scholarships since 1967. The scholarships are presented at an Annual Gala Banquet in the presence of sponsors, families and invited dignitaries. The recipients report back to SAGSE at a De-Briefing each March, which is open to the public. The students join GASS Victoria, former recipients of the scholarship. An Alumni for past recipients was established in 2010 and the members funded a scholarship that year.

Information is sent out via AGTV electronic networks. Find information about the application process for SAGSE Scholarships in Victoria on their website.

If you are in Year 10, 11 or 12, you should consider hosting an exchange student from Germany. Hosting is a rewarding intercultural experience in itself, and It will fast-track your application to an interview if you are interested. More information on their website.

SAGSE Scholarship De-Briefing 2013

If you are interested, you should go to hear about the recently returned scholarship winners talk about their experiences.

Tuesday 5th March at Scotch College from 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Find out about what former scholarship winner are doing now under:

 

But wait - there's more!

Life beyond school brings more opportunities through German.

If you are at University, you can apply for a tertiary scholarship to study in a German-speaking country through a range of scholarship programs in German, Austria and Switzerland. The German government funds the DAAD scholarships for Australian students across disciplines.

There are awards for Opera, Journalism, Professional Research, Performing Arts and more.

 

Consider Teaching German as Career Choice for Overseas Travel

Teaching German is a great way to continue your love of the German language.

Teachers have many opportunities to spend time honing their language and culture skills, the envy of other teachers at school!

 

Overseas Students wanting to Study in Victoria

If you are interested in studying in Victorian schools, you will need to gain approval and an appropriate visa.

 

 

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