In 2025, SAGSE will trial a reciprocal model, meaning that students who host a German exchange student enter a probationary period with the view to becoming scholarship recipients and traveling to Germany for 10 weeks at the end of November 2025, or 2026 if they are only in Year 10 this year.
For further details, please download the updated Hosting & Scholarship Information for 2025.
Each year, the Victorian, Western Australian and New South Wales (TBC) branches of SAGSE each offer approximately a dozen scholarships to students in Year 11 (and Year 12 in Victoria) who are studying German. Scholarship opportunities have also been offered in QLD including opportunities to host a German student. Students leave Australia at the end of November and spend 10 weeks living with a German family and attending a German school, returning at the beginning of February. During their stay in Germany, the students attend a camp run by GASS Germany, as well as a group trip to Berlin which includes a reception at either the Australian or New Zealand Embassy before returning home.
The SAGSE exchange program operates on the basis of balancing the number of inbound and outbound exchange students each year. Inbound students enter on a specific subclass student visa issued via an Acceptance Advice for Secondary Exchange Students (AASES) form. Accordingly, details of its inbound and outbound student exchange program are submitted to relevant authorities or agencies.
Students are accompanied by a Group Leader elected by SAGSE and an experienced former scholarship recipient, who will be the first point of contact
through the exchange period. Students are hosted by German scholarship winners, who will subsequently travel to Australia the following June
- August period.
Upon arrival in Germany, students are met by their host families and representatives of the German arm of SAGSE, GDANSA e.V.
Students often speak of their personal growth whilst overseas as they become more self confident, tolerant, independent and self reliant. Whilst living away from home for 10 weeks is highly rewarding it can be quite demanding and requires students to have a great strength of character, be understanding and self responsible.
Whilst this exchange provides students with lifelong friendships, memories and experiences, it teaches them valuable life skills as it is often their first extended period of separation from their family.
Scholarship winners receive fully-paid return airfares from their home town to their destination in Germany. Students do not pay board to their host families and are not required to host a German student on their return. Students should be aware that accepting a scholarship may involve missing some part of the school year in Australia.
Applicants who have previously hosted a German student through our hosting program are advantaged in the selection process. Click here for more
information about Hosting a German Student.
Scholarship winners receive paid return airfares from their hometown to their destination in Germany, and a paid Berlin Camp excursion. However, there are expenses which include the GASS Germany Wintercamp (approximate cost $200), Health and Travel Insurance (approximate cost $300) and train tickets (Approximate cost $200-300). Further, students will require their own spending money to last them the duration of the exchange (approximately 2-3 months).
SAGSE is seeking well-rounded young adults who have the capacity to be positive ambassadors for themselves, SAGSE and Australia. To be eligible for selection, students must be in Year 11 or 12 and either be studying VCE level German (Or IB, VSL, or equivalent) at the time of their application, or have previously completed their German studies.
Some of the attributes of an outstanding candidate may include:
Scholarships are made possible by our generous Sponsors.
SAGSE was advised by the Victorian Registration & Qualification Authority (VRQA) that international student exchange programs in Victoria could resume in 2022. Accordingly, SAGSE restarted its exchange at the end of 2022. The resumption was conditional on being able to meet all COVID-19 vaccination and health requirements in sending and receiving students from Australia to Germany and vice versa. SAGSE retains the capacity to cancel its exchange program in case the regulator or health authorities in either country restrict, suspend or disallow any exchange or international travel.