Secondary School in Germany

Students are housed on a full-board basis by local, carefully selected volunteer host families. Living with a host family gives students full insight into how German families really live and provides complete immersion in the language and culture. Host families are carefully screened and selected by a network of local coordinators all over Germany and are visited and regularly contacted throughout the student’s stay. As a member of the family, your child will share in the family’s daily life and take part in their normal day-to-day activities.

Host families will provide:

• A genuinely caring environment
• Clean and comfortable surroundings
• Convenient access to schools
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
• Single or shared bedroom

Please note that German families host on a volunteer basis (they are not paid a hospitality allowance). The motivation for hosting comes from a genuine interest in learning about other cultures and the belief that hosting a student from Ireland is the next best thing to visiting Ireland itself. Placements are always in safe residential areas, and are mostly made in rural areas and medium-sized towns, very rarely in the centre of big towns. There are host communities across Germany with local coordinators who provide individual, personal attention. Students and their host families are supported by trained local coordinators, the national office in Bonn, and the EIL office in Ireland.

Unlike an exchange programme, there will not necessarily be other children of the same age in the family. Host families come in all shapes and sizes: single parents with children living in the house, nuclear families, older couples whose children no longer live at home, and young couples who may not have children are all considered potential host families. Our main criterion is a warm, caring, and comfortable home environment in which students can be nurtured and thrive.

N.B. Students and parents cannot reject a host family placement in favour of a new one. Once host family details are sent to the student, they are final; students and parents must agree to accept them without prejudice and enter the programme with an open mind. Cancellations will incur loss of deposit.

Students will attend a German Gymnasium or Realschule chosen by the local coordinator. It may be the same school as the one attended by host brothers or sisters, but that is not always the case. Choosing a school in Germany through this programme means full immersion from day one – academically, socially, and culturally.

• Please note that friends will not be placed together. This is a programme designed for individual placement.  Emphasis is placed on full language and cultural immersion. If friends apply together, they will be intentionally separated and placed in different communities and schools.
• Students may not return home for the duration of their programme. This includes Christmas and Easter holidays, and mid-term breaks. Likewise, all family visits must be limited to the end of the student’s programme, not at the beginning or in the middle. After years of experience, we find that such visits disrupt the adjustment process and can lead to further homesickness and integration problems. Of course, if an emergency, family bereavement or special circumstances arise, this will be null and void. Students cannot go on international family holidays or similar while on the programme.

• Please note that EIL may request students to take a German aptitude test, which will be organised after receipt of the application. Should a student not be accepted onto the programme, deposits will be refunded.
• EIL/AFS and our partners Experiment e.V. reserve the right to send home any student whose health requires it or whose conduct is considered improper or offensive to the host family, community or school. Such conduct includes drug use, vaping, unacceptable sexual behaviour, excessive drinking, violation of the law or failure in schoolwork. If the student is returned home, either alone or accompanied, parents or guardians are responsible for all expenses beyond those covered by the fee. In such cases, no refunds will be available. If a student chooses to end the programme early on their own accord, for reasons including travelling home for a holiday or during mid-term, no refund will be given.

Students will be collected by their host families or volunteers from the selected airport or railway station to the host community or any alternative one that is agreed upon by the host organisation and host family. Some students may not be able to take a direct flight from Ireland and may need to make a connection through another airport or take a train to their host community. Students will need to make this journey on their own and unassisted. Once a placement has been made, EIL will inform you of the specified airport or railway station and confirm the official dates of the programme. Most often, the best recommendation of how to arrive will come directly from the host family once you make contact with them. Flights and local transport to the agreed station or airport are not covered in programme fees and should be booked by the participant and parents.

Local and international transportation is not included in the programme fees. Students may need to get the bus to school and should ask their host families or EIL staff if they need to budget that into their spending while on the programme.

For current programme fees and further details, please contact us at [email protected].

• Deposit: 50% of the program fee
• Late application fee: €250
• Included: orientations, hosting fees, admin fees, three meals a day, board, school administration fees and medical/liability insurance
• Not included: flights, pocket money, transport money while abroad, school stationery, school uniform, school field trips, snack money, toiletries and special dietary food etc.

To apply please contact us at [email protected] and we will send you an application form to complete, as well as provide you with current deadlines.

The application needs to include the following (please note that applications may require more information):

• 50% non-refundable deposit
• Copies of 3 most recent school reports
• 4 passport photos plus at least 4 informal photos with family and friends
• Medical/parental release forms
• Health certificate if undertaking treatment
• Certificate of vaccination
• Dear Host Family video not longer than 1 minute in German
• Dear Host Family Letter in German

Incomplete applications will delay or inhibit your acceptance into the programme. Please make certain that all signatures are completed by student, parents, teachers, and physicians before sending to EIL.

Applications in full must be received at least 3 months in advance, or else you will be charged a €250 late fee or may not be able to go on programme.

Looking for a different country? Explore our other Secondary School Abroad programmes for Irish students:

• Secondary School in Belgium – French immersion in the heart of Europe
• Secondary School in France – full French language and cultural exchange
• Secondary School in Spain – Spanish immersion in southern Europe