The Council of International Fellowship in Deutschland e. V., known as CIF Germany, hosts an International Professional Exchange Program for practitioners in social work and human services. Participants come from other countries, and CIF Germany arranges the whole stay.
The program splits into a one-week general program for the whole group and a one-week individual program shaped by each participant’s professional interest. Everyone lives with a host family for the duration.
The 2027 edition runs from 27 August to 12 September 2027, works in English, takes 4 to 6 participants, charges a 300 euro fee and closes on 15 January 2027. The host region changes from year to year: the 2026 edition ran from 1 to 17 May around Munich and southern Bavaria with a focus on youth welfare services, and the 2024 edition ran in the Rhine-Main area.
Benefits & funding
- Host family accommodation for the whole stay, arranged by CIF Germany.
- The 300 euro participant fee covers the cost of organising the program and the domestic travel that belongs to it.
- One week of general program for the group and one week shaped by the participant’s own field, with observation and discussion at German agencies.
- A deliberately multinational group: the 2024 edition brought together six participants from Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Slovenia and Spain.
- Participants pay their own travel to and from Germany, any visa costs, personal insurance covering medical and emergency expenses, and personal spending.
- CIF International publishes a grant request form for applicants who need financial support; it is submitted together with the application.
Eligibility
- An educational background in social work, social welfare, human services or a related field.
- At least two years of professional experience in those fields.
- Proficiency in English, the working language of the German program.
- No nationality, residency, age, gender or minimum degree requirement is stated.
- Applications are routed through the CIF national branch or contact person in the applicant’s own country and sent by email.
- CIF Germany named youth welfare services as the focus of its 2026 edition. A yearly focus is a preference and not an eligibility bar.
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Application process
- 1Read the current year’s CIF Germany flyer for the dates, fee, host region and professional focus of that edition.
- 2Download the CIF IPEP application form from the CIF International Programs page.
- 3Email the completed form to the CIF national branch or contact person in your own country, which forwards it to CIF Germany.
- 4Submit the CIF grant request form at the same time if you need financial support.
- 5Apply before the deadline, which is 15 January 2027 for the 2027 edition.
- 6Arrange your own visa where one is needed, and personal insurance covering medical and emergency expenses, before arrival.
Program timeline
Application deadline, 2026 edition
Nov 26, 2025
The 2026 edition runs around Munich and southern Bavaria
May 1, 2026 to May 17, 2026
Application deadline, 2027 edition
Jan 15, 2027
The 2027 edition starts
Aug 27, 2027
The 2027 edition ends
Sep 12, 2027