DW Paid Traineeship in Germany (2196 Euros per Month)

Applications are now open for the DW Traineeship 2028, an 18 month paid journalism program offered by Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster. The program trains aspiring multimedia journalists in TV, radio and online journalism at DW’s centers in Bonn and Berlin, with a placement at one of its international bureaus. The deadline is November 17, 2026, at 12 p.m. (CET).

Trainees receive a monthly salary, so the program is paid rather than a traditional scholarship, and DW will select only 12 candidates from around the world. Applicants from any country can apply if they have a university degree, college degree or apprenticeship, initial journalistic experience, and knowledge of both German and English. The official announcement does not mention any application fee. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Organization: Deutsche Welle (DW)
• Program: Professional journalism traineeship
• Host country: Germany
• Funding type: Paid, with a monthly training salary
• Open to all nationalities: Yes
• Application deadline: November 17, 2026, 12 p.m. (CET)

What This Scholarship Offers:

• A chance of ongoing contract work with DW worldwide after the program
• A monthly salary for all 18 months, starting at €2,196, rising to €2,374 and then €2,473 before tax
• Professional training in TV, radio and online journalism from renowned trainers
• Modern skills in data journalism, multimedia storytelling and AI tools
• Real newsroom experience in Bonn and Berlin, plus a placement at a DW bureau abroad
• A portfolio of your own content to show future employers
• Help from DW with the certificates you need for your German work permit
• Connections with major German and international media houses

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Eligibility Criteria:

You can apply if you meet the following requirements.

• You have completed a university degree, college degree, apprenticeship or journalism school before the traineeship starts
• You have a keen interest in journalism and see it as a passion rather than just a profession
• You are creative, open minded and think critically
• You have social media expertise
• You can work under deadlines and as part of a team
• You meet one of the language profiles below

There is no age limit, so everyone can apply. You do not need to have studied journalism or media. DW also welcomes people who want to switch to journalism from other careers.

Qualifications

All applicants must upload digital copies of their certificates. If you are still completing your studies or training, you can upload your certificate once you have it, but it must be uploaded before the traineeship begins.

Journalism Experience

Experience in journalism is an advantage, because trainees work with DW editorial departments right from the start. However, DW also wants to hear from people in other fields who like teamwork and want to explore a new career.

DW will give preference to applicants who can show strong expertise in using artificial intelligence in journalism. Relevant skills include AI literacy, tool literacy, agentic AI and vibe coding.

Language Requirements:

Knowledge of both German and English is mandatory. You must fit one of these three profiles:

• Native speaker of a DW program language, with excellent English (C1/C2) and good German (B1/B2)
• Native English speaker or proficient English user (C1/C2), with good German (B1/B2)
• Native German speaker or proficient German user (C1/C2), with excellent English (C1/C2)

The levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Good German means B1/B2, and excellent English means C1/C2.

Do You Need Language Certificates:

No. You do not have to upload language certificates in the online application, but DW asks you to evaluate your language skills honestly. Certificates are welcome if you have them.

The exercises in the assessment center are conducted in both German and English. Journalists from DW’s language departments test your other languages, and the final interview is held in German and English.

DW Program Languages:

If your native language is on this list, you can apply under the first profile above:

• 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
• Urdu

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Selection Process:

1. Online application: You submit your documents, work samples and tasks.
2. Online assessment center: About 50 to 60 applicants are invited at the end of May. Tasks include a timed writing test, a guided discussion with tutors and filming a TikTok video.
3. Final round: About 20 candidates move forward, and DW’s management makes the final decision. Selected candidates receive a phone call within two days.

Important Dates:

• Applications open: October 13, 2026, 12 p.m. (CEST)
• Applications close: November 17, 2026, 12 p.m. (CET)
• Online assessment center: End of May
• Traineeship starts: January 3, 2028
• Traineeship ends: June 2029

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Documents You Need Before You Start:

• A letter of motivation in German or English, maximum 700 words, in Arial font size 10 with 1.5 line spacing, with date and signature
• One current CV in Europass format
• A second CV in any format you choose
• Your university diploma or training certificate(s)
• Up to three work samples
• For citizens of countries outside the EU who currently live in an EU country: a copy of your passport and your residency permit

Rules for Your Work Samples:

• You can upload up to three samples in any format: video, audio, text or social media posts
• Samples must be in one of the DW program languages
• You can upload samples in more than one language if they are DW program languages
• A certified translation is not required
• Samples can be published or unpublished
• You must be the author of every work you send

Never send original documents unless DW specifically asks for them.

Visa and Immigration Information:

• Applicants from EU member states do not need a visa.
• All other applicants should ask about visa rules at the German embassy or consulate in their home country as early as possible, so they know which documents are required.
• Do not enter Germany on a tourist visa. A tourist visa cannot be changed later into the required visa or a training related residence permit.
• Only the immigration office or the German embassy decides on visas and residence permits. DW has no influence on the decision.
• If you have visa questions after arriving in Bonn, contact Bonn’s municipal immigration office.
• Bureaucratic procedures take time, so start early.

The same rules apply if you want to bring family or a partner. Only the immigration office or the German embassy can decide this.

Where to Learn or Improve Your German:

• DW Learn German (levels A1 to B2)
• Goethe Institut
• Deutsch Lernen
• Deutsch Akademie

How to Apply:

1. Register on the DW online application portal between October 13 and November 17, 2026.
2. Check your confirmation email. It contains a link to the mandatory application tasks.
3. Complete the questionnaire and the video application.
4. Upload proof of your studies or training.
5. Upload up to three work samples, such as videos, audio, texts or social media posts.
6. Answer the creative questions at the end of the application.

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