Daisy Garner '21 | Opinion: How to Move Abroad After Graduation as a German Major
I think it is important to go out, see the world, meet new people, and practice your language skills! And what better time to do this than when we are young and have fewer commitments.
Many students believe moving abroad can be extremely difficult, if not impossible. You probably have a myriad of questions: how can I afford this? How can I even make this happen?
Worry not! As someone who moved abroad, on her own, at the age of 19, and is currently applying to work abroad again, I have some ideas of how you can make this happen. This list is specifically composed of well-known post-undergrad opportunities that are available to German majors or other students interested in moving abroad. All of these programs offer a stipend and other benefits.
(Also, as an important FYI, the application for many of these programs is almost a year-long process. That means that you should be submitting your applications during the fall in the year before you want to go.)
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| FIU Global Affairs |
You can apply to Fulbright to do research abroad, get your Master’s abroad, or teach English abroad. You can only apply to one Fulbright position per cycle, so make sure that you are confident with the position and country that you are applying to! If you are a German major, you can apply to Germany, of course, or another German-speaking country like Luxembourg, but Fulbright offers opportunities across the world.
U.S. Teaching Assistantship in Austria
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| USTA Austria |
Austria does not have an English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) through Fulbright, but they (basically) have a separate ETA program through the Austrian government. This means that you can apply to both Fulbright and USTA. I find that the USTA application is less time-consuming to fill out than the Fulbright application because it requires fewer essays and recommendations. Both USTA and Fulbright provide a stipend of about $1,000 a month.
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| The Today Show |
If you are interested in or have experience nannying, you could consider au pairing! As an au pair, you are considered part of the family (au pair=”at par” in French), and eat, travel, and socialize with your host family, in addition to taking care of the children. To become an au pair, you can go through an agency or find a family through an online board like AuPairWorld.com. Use the latter at your own risk because the families are not vetted. Different countries also have different requirements for becoming an au pair. For example, in Germany, you need to be between 18-26 and have basic German skills. Another important thing to keep in mind--you will have a tight budget as an au pair. Since you are part of the family, you stay at the house and share meals with them. You are paid a sort of “allowance” which is equal to about a couple hundred dollars a month.
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| US News & World Report |
Going to graduate school abroad is an easier way to get a visa in the country. For example, if you get your master’s in Germany, you can get a student visa.
Not only are universities in a lot of countries much cheaper than in the US, or practically free, but you can also apply to get funding for your studies through scholarships and fellowships, like through DAAD funding. DAAD funding is also available to non-U.S. citizens!
Intern With the Department of State
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Middlebury Institute of International Studies |
You can intern with the Department of State to potentially work for American embassies in Europe, or to work in an internationally-focused environment right here in the US. (As an FYI, it seems like most positions with the Department of State, including internships, require background checks, which can require quite a few months to process. Be sure to apply to internships or jobs with the Department of State early!)
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX)
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| Cultural Vistas |
CBYX is a fellowship program that allows Germans and Americans to intern and study in each other’s countries for a year. This is a great opportunity to develop one’s language skills and gain work experience! This is also an ideal program if humanities or social science positions are not a great fit for you. For example, CBYX could give you an opportunity to study German and do an STEM internship. Keep in mind, you have to be 24 or younger to do this program.
Work for an International Company
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| For the Record |
Working for an international company means that you could get posted at one of the company’s offices around the world and that you could be working with people from many different countries. This is a great alternative option if you want to work both in America or abroad. A lot of companies have international offices. For example, Volkswagen has offices all around Germany and the US.
And remember, if your application does not work out this year, you can always apply again next year!
Moving Abroad Vocabulary
ziehen-to move
Ausland-abroad
das Stipendium-the fellowship
das Praktikum-the internship
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