Short-Term Group Exchanges to Germany (In-Person)

Short-Term Group Exchanges to Germany (In-Person) is sponsored by Goethe-Institut USA (German American Partnership Program - GAPP). This program provides travel funding for US-based educators to cover parts of their group exchange to Germany. Individual students within GAPP groups may also apply for need- and merit-based scholarships to cover travel costs.

German American Partnership Program (GAPP) - Goethe-Institut USA German American Partnership Program (GAPP) Founded in 1972, the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports school-to-school exchanges between the U.S. and Germany. With a network of over 780 U.S. schools and more than 400,000 alumni, GAPP is the largest bilateral exchange program between the U.S. and any other country.

We connect students, educators, families, and communities—helping young people step into adulthood by building lifelong friendships and global ties. As the United States turns 250, we're on a mission: collect 250 stories from our GAPP community before November 15. Students, alumni, host families, teachers — share your moments.

The dinner table conversations. The classrooms. The weekend adventures.

The airport goodbyes that still sting a little. Whether you exchanged in the eighties or last semester, your story doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.

We are still accepting applications for GAPP travel in 2026. Access Application Portal 2026 Our programs strengthen the transatlantic alliance, inspire global understanding, promote German language instruction, and foster new and lasting friendships in the U.S. and Germany. We provide assistance throughout exchanges, and award travel grants and individual scholarships to teachers, exchange groups and individual students.

Discover GAPP´s most popular program. All US- based- educators, regardless, whether their school has a German program or not, may apply for travel funding to cover parts of their group exchange. Three funding cycles are offered throughout the year: Spring, Summer and Fall.

Individual students within GAPP groups may also apply for two scholarships: A need- and a merit-based scholarship to cover their travel costs. In addition to financial assistance, we also offer a wide-range of resources for educators, schools, and students navigating bilateral exchanges.

GAVE is GAPP’s virtual exchange program for middle and high school students, designed to expand access to high-quality international learning regardless of location or resources. Through GAVE, educators can download free, ready-to-use lesson plans and worksheets, enabling them to facilitate structured virtual exchanges with partner schools in Germany.

Available in German and English, GAVE engages students on topics such as everyday life, music, sports, government, and career and technical education (CTE), fostering intercultural understanding, language practice, and global competence. GAPP, Inc. is recognized by the U.S. Department of State as an authorized sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program (BridgeUSA) for secondary school students from Germany.

GAPP enables students from Germany to spend five to twelve months at their GAPP partner high school in the United States. The program is exclusively available to students within the GAPP network, and GAPP carefully manages all applications for German students visiting their designated U.S. partner schools, ensuring a safe, well-supported, and enriching exchange experience.

GAPP, Inc. is designated by the U.S. Department of State as an authorized sponsor organization of the “Exchange Visitor Program” for teachers and principals from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland working for one of the six official German Schools Abroad in the U. S and for the German Language Advisors as determined by the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA).

GAPP has supported more than 400,000 students to go on exchange trips to Germany or the United States. That's an amazing amount of experiences, encounters, and stories that have led to lifelong growth and friendships. Discover some of their stories and register to join our network if you have participated in a GAPP exchange.

Excited to start a new school partnership? Whether your school is in Germany seeking to connect with students and teachers in the U.S., or based in the U.S. and looking to build a partnership with a German school, register here and let us help you create a meaningful, lasting collaboration. Over 100 schools from both countries are currently looking for a partner.

Join Partner School Database Transatlantic Career Connections (TCC) is a two-year pilot program (2025–2026) designed by GAPP and primarily funded by the Halle Foundation . Centered on STEM education, dual training, and global exchange, TCC builds a forward-looking talent pipeline that connects young people from the U.S. and Germany at the intersection of education and industry.

@Webster Groves High School @Webster Groves High School GAPP offers training, webinars, and onboarding workshops on coordinating successful exchanges, as well as free teaching resources and professional development opportunities. GAPP Donation (JPG, 357 KB) Learn more about what impact GAPP has had on participating exchange students, schools and local communities, and the partner countries Germany and the U.S. 0 || eventItems.

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event_date_end}} | GAPP, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, whose prime mission is to create opportunities for exchange between young Americans and Germans. GAPP is part of Germany’s foreign cultural and education policy.

It is jointly administered by the Educational Exchange Service (PAD) of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the States of the Federal Republic of Germany, Goethe-Institut New York , and GAPP, Inc. The Program is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office , which also bears responsibility for the overall concept.

Additional funding is provided by the U.S. Department of State , Joachim Herz Stiftung , Max Kade Foundation, Inc. and Bertelsmann Foundation .

Our mission is a follows: Establish long-lasting interest in the partner country and deepen relations between Germany and the U.S. Promote the study of the German language at high schools in the U.S. Expand students’ and teachers’ knowledge of the partner country Provide intercultural encounters for all participants Facilitate acquisition and improvement of proficiency in the target language Provide continuing education for exchange coordinators caroline.

marinoff@goethe. de Dietmar Rieg, Chairman and Board President Dr. Jörg Schumacher, Goethe-Institut New York Ajkuna Hoppe, German American Partnership Program (GAPP) Katrin Traoré , Joachim Herz Foundation Irene Braam, Bertelsmann Foundation Christian Steffens, UniCredit AG Dr. Nicholas Lütgerath, Freshfields With over 400,000+ GAPP alumni, we are the largest bilateral exchange program between the U.S. and another country.

We have over 775 U.S. schools in our network and 1300+ exchange coordinators (teachers). 6,000- 7,000+ students and teachers travel each year between the US and Germany with GAPP. See if there is a GAPP school near you !

The Program is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office , which also bears responsibility for the overall concept. Additional funding is provided by the U.S. Department of State , Joachim Herz Stiftung , Max Kade Foundation, Inc. and Bertelsmann Foundation. The German American Partnership Program (GAPP) is part of Germany’s foreign cultural and education policy.

It is jointly administered by the Educational Exchange Service (PAD) of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the States of the Federal Republic of Germany, Goethe-Institut New York , and GAPP, Inc.* Are you part of a GAPP exchange and interested in creating custom swag and merchandise for your participants?

On our GAPP Brand Hub you may download high-resolution logos and pre-designed graphics suitable for printing on various items like T-shirts, baseball caps, totes, pens, hoodies, lanyards, and much more. Send us an email to receive access. GAPP facilitates enriching cultural exchanges between schools in the U.S. and Germany.

Our program inspires intercultural understanding, promotes German language instruction, and fosters new and lasting friendships. Please support our GAPP Scholarship Fund with a donation, which allows students from financially struggling families to take part in their school's GAPP exchange.

Donate easily and securely with Give Lively Donate easily and securely with PayPal Interested in shaping the world of transatlantic exchanges, dive into a vibrant, cross-cultural setting, interact with diverse perspectives, refine your intercultural communication skills, and actively contribute to the transformative experience of global education? Check the link below for detailled information about our internship program.

Internship at the Goethe-Institut New York (in German)