Our GAPP short-term exchange program is for teachers, schools, and coordinators, who organize student exchanges. GAPP does not act as an organizer for travel, nor for the exchange itself. Instead, we offer assistance to teachers, schools, and coordinators in navigating the framework of an exchange. We also grant financial assistance to groups and chaperones, as well as individual scholarships for qualifying students.
GAPP provides support for individuals and schools organizing student exchanges typically involving 10–20 participants. Each exchange must last at least 14 days—10 days spent with host families and 5 days at the partner school. Financial assistance may include travel grants for student groups and their chaperones, as well as individual scholarships for eligible students. GAPP coordinators also receive professional liability insurance at no cost.
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions below carefully before applying for grants and scholarships at the bottom of this page. There is no fee to apply for GAPP grants.
This section provides a comprehensive collection of resources, including starter kits, timelines, guidelines, teacher handbooks, promotional materials for schools, student materials, travel and accommodation information, insurance and visa details, and much more.
New to GAPP? Register here and start building a partnership—our team will support you through every step of the process.
Application Deadline for Travel in 2026:
February 15, 2026.
We invite all U.S.-based coordinators and teachers—whether or not your school offers a German language program—to apply for German American Partnership Program (GAPP) scholarships. You may apply for one of two types of funding: group grants, which cover both teacher and student travel, or individual scholarships submitted on behalf of your students.
Teachers, exchange coordinators, and schools are responsible for organizing their GAPP exchanges. This flexibility allows you to plan your group’s travel to Germany and the hosting of your German exchange partner group in a way that best meets the needs of your students and school.
GAPP does not charge fees for short-term exchange services and does not arrange travel, such as flights or hotel bookings. All aspects of the program — including planning, travel, supervision, and logistics — are the responsibility of the school administration, parents or guardians, teachers/coordinators, students, and accompanying individuals. By participating, schools and individuals assume all risks and responsibilities associated with the exchange.
We strongly recommend that all GAPP teachers and coordinators obtain official approval from their school administration. Doing so integrates the exchange into the regular school curriculum and provides important legal protection and support.
The recommended group size is 10 to 20 participants. For a group of 11 students and more, two adult chaperones are required. Please contact our office should you have a group considerably smaller than 10 students. Students have the option to only host an exchange student without going on an exchange trip themselves. Details are subject to agreement between partner teachers.
GAPP exchanges must last 14 days or longer, with at least 10 days spent with a host family and 5 days attending their school.
GAPP Inc. offers travel grants and scholarships to qualifying schools and students. There are no application fees, and joining the GAPP network is free.
The cost of a GAPP exchange typically ranges from $1,200 to $3,200 per student. The exact amount depends on the size of the group, the departure city in the U.S., and planned activities in Germany or elsewhere in Europe during the exchange.
These costs are for planning purposes only. GAPP does not collect or manage these funds — schools, teachers, and families are responsible for arranging and covering all expenses. Costs are kept relatively low because students stay with host families free of charge for most of the trip, making GAPP one of the most affordable international travel experiences for students.
We recommend that schools and families budget carefully to ensure a smooth and enjoyable exchange experience.
APPLYING FOR GROUP GRANTS
1. Ensure your school is registered as a GAPP school. If your school isn’t registered yet, click here to sign up as a new school.
2. Provide details about your group, including the number of students and the names of chaperones.
3. Include a flight quote showing the cost of tickets. Take advantage of our airline partnerships for reduced group fares.
4. Submit a plan of your activities in Germany, including the overall topic or focus of the exchange.
We are happy to accept applications for individual student scholarships, which must be submitted by a teacher on behalf of their student(s); students cannot apply on their own.
Our Scholarships for Individual Students include:
1) GAPP Need-Based Scholarship – sponsored by the Joachim Herz Foundation
2) GAPP Future Career German(Y) Scholarship – sponsored by the Max Kade Foundation Inc.
Students should write a narrative of up to 700 words explaining why they are applying. Teachers then submit this narrative as part of the application.
Please make sure your group grant application has been submitted before applying for an individual student scholarship.
Scroll below for a detailed overview of the scholarships.
To be eligible for the GAPP program, an exchange must revolve around a theme. This can be achieved through activities, field trips, or a project. Alternatively, the GAPP travel journal can also fulfill this requirement. If you are interested in working on a project with your students, your partner school is able to apply for extra funding from the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD) for this purpose.
Schools without a German language program are encouraged to collaborate with their German partners so that American students can participate in a crash course in German at the partner school in Germany. This should be documented and turned in to the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD) by the German coordinator after the exchange is complete.
GAPP has partnerships with Lufthansa and Icelandair, offering participating schools the opportunity to access discounted group tickets for their exchanges. These partnerships allow schools to plan trips with greater flexibility.
Please visit the “Plan Your Next Exchange” page and scroll down to the Airline partnerships section.
GAPP provides professional liability and accident insurance for up to two accompanying teachers per group. This insurance is free, even for groups that do not receive funding in a given year — making it worthwhile to submit a grant application.
No additional paperwork is required. In the Group and Teacher Grant Application, simply indicate if you would like to use this insurance. Once selected, we will forward your information to the insurance company, and your coverage will be activated automatically.
Please visit the PLAN YOUR NEXT EXCHANGEpage for detailed information about what this insurance covers.
GAPP does not provide personal liability, health, or accident insurance for students. All GAPP groups, however, are required to have insurance covering students and teachers (liability, health, and accident) while traveling. The GAPP exchange coordinator is responsible for arranging this coverage.
GAPP closely follows travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State and the German Federal Foreign Office. For information on visa requirements and travel safety for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non US-nationals, please visit the Visa and Travel Safety section on our Plan Your Next Exchange page (scroll down for details).
The application portal closes on February 15, 2026.
You should hear back from GAPP at the beginning of March 2026 about the status of your application.
On an annual basis, GAPP awards an average of $2,000 in travel grants and student scholarships to U.S. schools.
Please note that funding is available on a yearly basis and award amounts depend on the resources allocated to the program. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Our goal is to assist as many schools as possible through travel subsidies. When resources allow, grants will be awarded at the standard levels outlined here below.
If the number of applications exceeds available funds, GAPP reserves the right to adjust award amounts in order to support the greatest number of schools possible.
For peer advice and shared experiences, join the GAPP Teacher Forum, where nearly 900 exchange coordinators from the U.S. and Germany connect and support each other.
GAPP Grants
We provide travel (airfare) subsidies for GAPP coordinators and their student groups, with amounts varying by region of departure. In addition, GAPP offers individual scholarships for students based on financial need and academic merit.
On an annual basis, GAPP awards an average of $2,000 in travel grants and student scholarships to U.S. schools.
Please note that funding is available on a yearly basis and award amounts depend on the resources allocated to the program. Our goal is to assist as many schools as possible through travel subsidies. When resources allow, grants will be awarded at the standard levels outlined here below.
If the number of applications exceeds available funds, GAPP reserves the right to adjust award amounts in order to support the greatest number of schools possible.
Grants for teachers and chaperones
Grants for students within short-term exchange groups
Accompanying GAPP teachers receive air subsidies. GAPP groups of more than 10 students are eligible for 2 teacher grants. The rate is calculated as a flat rate depending on the average regional fare.
GAPP students within groups receive airfare subsidies depending on their region of their departure. Finalize your participating students list and travel dates and apply for a travel grant.
We are happy to accept your application on behalf of your student for an individual scholarship. With our Scholarships for Individual Students we offer two options:
You can submit an application on behalf of your student by filling out the from below. Students are asked to write a narrative of 700 words (max), outlining why they are applying for the specific scholarships.
GAPP is all about giving young students from diverse backgrounds and historically marginalized communities a chance to join our exciting international exchange program. We're looking for enthusiastic applicants who believe in making the world a more inclusive place. If you're passionate about learning from other cultures and want to be a part of building bridges between people from around the globe, we encourage you to apply. Show us your commitment to being a global citizen and explain how you think your participation in the program can help bring people together and create a more connected world.
Students facing financial hardship will be given priority, ensuring that the international exchange opportunity is accessible to all, regardless of economic challenges.
Eligibility criteria: Open to all students participating in GAPP exchanges Submission information: Student writes essay not to exeed 700 words. Teacher submits application form on behalf of student Supporting materials: Letter of references, teachers or parents/guardians Additional documentation (if applicable): Materials demonstrating financial hardship, such as tax returns, proof of unemployment, or other relevant information
2. GAPP Future Career German(Y) Scholarship (sponsored by Max Kade Foundation Inc.). Range: $500- $1000.
Are you passionate about German language and culture, with a drive to possibly integrate it into your future career path? Perhaps you would like to study German in the US, become a German teacher or pursue study abroad opportunities that involve German? This scholarship is tailored for students who not only excel academically in German studies but also demonstrate a steadfast commitment to incorporating German into their future professional aspirations. Tell us about why you are excited about studying German and the path you´re envisioning for yourself with the language.
Eligibility criteria: Open to all students participating in GAPP exchanges Submission information: Student writes essay not to exeed 700 words. Teacher submits application form on behalf of student Supporting materials: Letter of reference from teacher Additional documentation: Academic transcripts
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