The Deutsche Welle (DW) International Journalism Traineeship is an 18-month, full-time, paid training programme at Germany’s international broadcaster. It is bilingual (German and English), and DW takes 12 trainees from around the world each year. The next intake runs from January 2028 to June 2029, and applications for it close on 17 November 2026 at 12:00 noon German time (CET, UTC+1).
It is not a scholarship and not a degree. You are paid a monthly salary while you train, and you pay your own living costs out of it. It is also a standing annual programme rather than a new award: DW says it has been training journalists for more than 40 years.
Short verdict: this is worth the effort if you have a completed degree or journalism training, real interest in journalism (experience helps, but career-switchers are welcome), excellent English and at least good (B1/B2) German, and you can commit to full-time participation throughout the 18 months. If you have no German at all, it is not for you yet, however strong your journalism is.
This guide helps you assess your fit, prepare the required materials and avoid common application errors. Every fact comes from DW’s official traineeship pages and frequently asked questions (FAQ), checked on 15 October 2026.
Quick facts
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline | 17 November 2026, 12:00 noon German time (CET, UTC+1); binding | DW FAQ |
| Places | 12, applicants from all over the world | DW FAQ |
| Duration | 18 months, January 2028 to June 2029, full time | DW announcement |
| Locations | Bonn, Berlin and one DW foreign bureau (Brussels or Washington) | DW FAQ |
| Pay | EUR 2,196 to EUR 2,473 a month before tax, rising every six months | Salary FAQ |
| Languages | German and English both required; three accepted profiles | Language FAQ |
| Age limit | None | Requirements |
| Apply on | DW online application portal only (button at the end) | DW FAQ |
The salary figures above come from DW’s salary FAQ. DW’s Internships page still shows older, lower figures (see the pay section below), so check the salary FAQ before you plan a budget.
Who it is for and who it is not for
DW says it wants “inquisitive, open-minded and critical-thinking” candidates “who view journalism as a passion rather than a profession”, and that talent, creativity, languages and team skills matter.
Likely a good fit
- You already work in journalism, or you work in another field (DW names law, business, science, IT, medicine and others) and want to switch into journalism.
- You have completed a degree in any subject, an apprenticeship or vocational journalism training, or journalism school, or you will finish before the traineeship starts and can upload the certificate by then.
- You fit one of DW’s three language profiles (see Eligibility), which all include German.
- You can show expertise in using artificial intelligence (AI) for journalism. DW says applicants who can show “extensive expertise in the journalistic application of artificial intelligence will be given preference”, naming AI literacy, tool literacy, agentic AI and vibe coding.
- You create content for social media. DW says it is especially interested in these applicants.
- You can commit to full-time participation throughout the 18 months, including placements in Bonn, Berlin and a foreign bureau.
Probably not for you (yet)
- No German: German at B1/B2 or better is part of every language profile. Good English alone is not enough.
- Looking for tuition funding or a degree: this is a paid traineeship, not a study scholarship.
- Needing to keep another job: DW requires trainees to be present for the whole traineeship and does not offer special arrangements. Its salary FAQ says temporary outside employment may be approved only in exceptional cases.
- Hoping to send your application by email: DW only accepts applications through its portal, within the window.
There is no age limit, and DW welcomes applicants of any nationality.
What the traineeship offers
Structure
As a rule, trainees are in Bonn from January to the end of October of the first year. November and December are for the elective and annual leave. From the following January, trainees go to Berlin and to a foreign bureau in Brussels or Washington for two months (at most two trainees in one bureau at a time).
The traineeship has three parts:
- Six months of seminar modules in German and English: journalism basics (storytelling, research, news, interviews, social media), then data journalism, podcasts, explainer videos, constructive and investigative journalism, and finally design thinking, video and TV, including TV moderation and all-round video journalist (VJ) training.
- Nine months of placements in DW editorial departments in Bonn, Berlin and one foreign bureau. DW tries to match placements (news, business, science, culture or sports) to your interests, but also places trainees outside their comfort zone.
- A one-month internship elective that you organise yourself at a media organisation of your choice, anywhere in the world.
Pay
According to DW’s salary FAQ, trainees earn, before tax:
| Period | Monthly salary (before tax) |
|---|---|
| Months 1 to 6 | EUR 2,196 |
| Months 7 to 12 | EUR 2,374 |
| Months 13 to 18 | EUR 2,473 |
DW’s Internships page gives different, lower figures (EUR 1,896, EUR 2,074 and EUR 2,173). The two pages do not match. The salary FAQ is the page that answers the pay question directly, but confirm with DW if the exact amount affects your decision. DW does not state net (after-tax) pay.
What the pay does and does not cover
- Living costs in Bonn and Berlin: you pay these yourself from your salary. DW says most trainees live in shared flats, with their own room and a shared kitchen and bathroom, and find them on their own.
- Foreign bureau stint: DW covers travel and accommodation during the two months in Brussels or Washington, with up to an extra EUR 850 a month for accommodation. DW also covers all work-related travel.
- Internship elective: DW does not cover travel or living costs for the elective.
- Moving to Germany: DW does not say it pays for flights to Germany, relocation, housing or health insurance. Treat these as costs you may have to plan for yourself.
Eligibility requirements
Qualifications
You need a completed university or college degree (any subject), a completed apprenticeship or vocational journalism training, or a journalism school diploma before the traineeship starts. You can apply while you are still finishing, but you must upload your certificate before the traineeship begins. A media-related degree is not required; DW encourages applicants from technology, science and medicine.
Language profiles
You must match one of DW’s three accepted language profiles. Each one requires both English and German; the level needed depends on your language background. The levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):
| Profile | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Native speaker of a DW program language | C1/C2 (excellent) | B1/B2 (good) |
| Native or proficient English user | C1/C2 | B1/B2 (good) |
| Native or proficient German user | C1/C2 (excellent) | C1/C2 |
The DW program languages are Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Croatian, Dari, English, French, German, Greek, Hausa, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Kiswahili, Macedonian, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian and Urdu.
Language certificates are welcome but not required. DW asks you to assess your level honestly, because the assessment centre exercises and the final interview are held in German and English, and journalists from DW’s language departments test your other languages.
DW explains why German matters: parts of the training and some editorial meetings are in German, and trainees need to follow German news and debates and handle everyday life in Germany.
Other points
- No age limit.
- Any nationality.
- DW says that, with equal suitability, people with severe disabilities are considered preferentially, and it accepts proof of disability from other countries.
Key dates and deadline
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 13 October 2026, 12:00 noon German time (UTC+2) |
| Deadline | 17 November 2026, 12:00 noon German time (CET, UTC+1) |
| Invitations to round two | 9 to 13 March 2027 |
| Online assessment centre | May 2027 |
| Traineeship | January 2028 to June 2029 |
- The deadline is binding and cannot be extended. After it passes, the portal closes and you cannot change your application or upload anything.
- The application link only works during the window.
- DW’s pages describe the assessment centre timing as both “mid-May” and “end of May 2027”, so plan for May 2027 and watch your email.
- DW’s pages label the opening time differently (“CET” on one page, UTC+2 in the FAQ). The deadline is the same everywhere: 17 November 2026 at 12:00 noon German time (CET, UTC+1).
Documents and application tasks
Have these ready before you start:
- Motivation letter in German or English: at most 700 words, Arial, font size 10, 1.5 line spacing, dated and signed.
- Two CVs: one in Europass format and one in a format of your choice.
- Degree or training certificate(s).
- Up to three work samples (video, audio, text or social media posts) in a DW program language. They can be published or unpublished, but you must be the author. No certified translation is needed.
- Non-EU citizens living in an EU country: a copy of your passport and residence permit.
- Optional: CEFR language certificates, internship certificates, employment references, and a letter of recommendation in German or English (on letterhead, with stamp, signature and date).
After you register on the portal, DW emails you two mandatory tasks:
- A questionnaire. Follow the instructions in the task documents carefully and answer every question truthfully.
- A short, self-recorded application video. Follow the task instructions for how to upload it to your applicant profile.
Both tasks must be uploaded to your applicant profile before the deadline. DW warns that they take time. Do not email the questionnaire or the video link: DW says emailed documents are deleted automatically, and videos that do not meet the requirements are also deleted.
How to apply
- Check that you fit one of the three language profiles, including German.
- Gather your motivation letter, both CVs, certificates and up to three work samples.
- Register on the DW application portal during the window, using Google Chrome. Type your email address carefully, because you cannot change it later.
- Complete the online application and upload your documents.
- Read the confirmation email with the application tasks, and check your spam folder if it does not arrive.
- Complete the questionnaire and the application video, and upload both to your applicant profile.
- Finish well before 17 November 2026 at 12:00 noon German time (CET, UTC+1), because the portal is used by more than 20,000 people and can overload near the end.
If you hit a technical problem, email DW a detailed description with screenshots that show the date and time. DW does not answer questions about the status of applications.
How the selection works
- Round one: DW reviews the online applications, including your work samples and answers.
- Round two: 50 to 60 applicants are invited to an online assessment centre in May 2027. DW’s pages mention tasks such as a writing test, a general knowledge test, a camera test or short video task, and a guided discussion. Native-speaker DW editors judge your language skills.
- Round three: about 20 candidates reach the final round, with interviews in German and English. DW’s management makes the final decision.
- Results: DW emails you about round two between 9 and 13 March 2027. After the final round, DW calls you within two days to say whether you have been selected.
If you are not selected, you can apply again in a later year.
How to make your application stronger
These points come from what DW says it values, not from guesswork:
- Show AI in your journalism, if you really use it. DW gives explicit preference to “extensive expertise” in the journalistic application of AI, naming AI literacy, tool literacy, agentic AI and vibe coding.
- Choose your three work samples carefully. They must be your own work and in a DW program language, and DW expects them in your native language and/or English or German, depending on your language skills.
- If you are switching careers, say so. DW says it wants applicants from other fields such as law, business and science, and candidates with expertise from other disciplines.
- Be honest about your German. It is tested at the assessment centre and in the final interview, so overstating it only fails later.
- Respect the formats. Keep the motivation letter within 700 words and DW’s font rules, and follow the task instructions exactly. DW says videos that do not meet its requirements are deleted automatically.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Emailing documents, the questionnaire or the video link instead of uploading them to your applicant profile.
- Registering with a mistyped email address, which cannot be changed later.
- Forgetting to upload the questionnaire and video, which leaves the application incomplete.
- Leaving uploads until near the deadline, when the portal can overload.
- Expecting an extension, or expecting DW to answer status questions.
- Entering Germany on a tourist visa after you are selected (see the FAQ below).
FAQ
Is the DW traineeship a fully funded scholarship?
No. It is a paid, full-time traineeship, not a scholarship or degree programme. You receive a monthly salary and pay your own living costs from it.
How much do DW trainees earn, and does the salary cover living costs?
DW’s salary FAQ gives EUR 2,196, EUR 2,374 and EUR 2,473 a month before tax for the three six-month stages. Its Internships page lists lower figures, so confirm the amount with DW if it affects your decision. Trainees pay their own living costs. For the two-month foreign bureau stint, DW covers travel and accommodation, with up to an extra EUR 850 a month for accommodation, and it covers all work-related travel.
Do I need to speak German?
Yes. Every language profile requires German, at least B1/B2 (C1/C2 if German is your main language).
Do I need a journalism degree?
No. Any completed degree works, as do vocational journalism training and journalism school.
Is there an age limit?
No. DW states there is no age limit; the qualification and language requirements still apply.
Can I apply from Africa or from outside the EU?
Yes. DW welcomes applicants of any nationality. If you are selected, you will need the right German visa or permit; DW provides the certificates you need for the work permit.
Do I need language certificates?
No. They are welcome but not mandatory. DW tests your languages during selection.
What are the questionnaire and video tasks?
They are mandatory tasks DW emails you after you register: a questionnaire and a short self-recorded application video. Both must be uploaded to your applicant profile before the deadline.
What is the deadline, and in which time zone?
17 November 2026 at 12:00 noon German time (CET, UTC+1). It is binding and cannot be extended.
Can I email my documents?
No. DW only accepts applications through its portal and deletes documents sent by email.
How many people are selected?
Twelve. About 50 to 60 applicants reach the online assessment centre, and about 20 reach the final round.
When will I hear back?
DW notifies applicants between 9 and 13 March 2027 about invitations to round two. After the final selection committee round, DW calls with the result within two days.
Does DW help with the visa? Can my family come?
DW provides the certificates you need to apply for a German work permit, but visa rules come from the German embassy in your country. EU citizens do not need a visa. Do not enter Germany on a tourist visa, because it cannot be changed later. Whether family can join you is decided only by the immigration office or embassy.
Can I work another job during the traineeship?
Generally no. It is a full-time programme and you must be present throughout; DW may approve temporary outside employment only in exceptional cases.
Can I re-apply if I am not selected?
Yes. DW says you can try again the next year.
Who do I contact with questions?
Email the DW journalistic training team at [email protected] (phone +49 228 429-2242). DW answers during office hours only and does not respond to application status questions.
Official sources
- DW journalism traineeship hub
- DW Traineeship 2028-2029: applications open
- Traineeship FAQ
- How to apply correctly online
- Documents needed for the online application
- Requirements for the bilingual international traineeship
- Language requirements
- How the selection process works
- How much trainees earn
- How the traineeship is structured
- Internships and foreign bureaus
- Visa requirements for applicants from outside Germany
