Summer Work Program
For over fifty years, the German Department’s Summer Work Program has offered Princeton students a unique opportunity to improve their language skills while learning about Germany or Austria.
You will live in a typical environment and learn, through everyday contact, about people’s attitudes, values, and aspirations. You will be part of the country’s work force and will be integrated into its social structure.
The Department of German works closely with the Princeton Alumni Association of Germany and with a number of other organizations that have adopted the Princeton Summer Work Program as an outstanding model for strengthening German-American friendship and cultural exchange.
News: New Partnerships for SWP
In July 2010, the Princeton Alumni Association of Germany received an award by the initiative “Germany – Land of Ideas”, sponsored by the German government, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and leading corporations, for having presented one the most innovative 365 ideas in Germany for 2010. The idea is to establish an endowment modeled on the Princeton German Summer Work Program and to include students from other leading American universities, thus significantly expanding the base for German-American economic, academic and cultural cooperation in the United States.
Read more about the award for the PAAG here, here and here.
About the Internships
The Summer Work Program places students in jobs with German & Austrian companies and institutions. Internships ordinarily last for eight weeks, usually from mid-June to mid-August.
In cooperation with our partner organizations in Germany, we have considerably expanded the range of positions that will be available to Princeton students in coming years. In recent years, we have been able to offer internships in the following sectors:
- Banking and Finance
- Insurance
- Consulting
- Marketing and Office Work
- Museums and Theaters
- Media: TV, Radio, Newspapers, Publishing
- Engineering: Automotive, Electronics, Energy, Chemical
- Architecture, Construction, and Real Estate
- Research Institutions (Economics, Environmental)
- State Government and Politics
- Medical Clinics
- Law
These companies and institutions are located in various cities across the three countries, such as Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Mainz, Munich, Vienna, and Wiesbaden.
Eligibility
Any student can apply with at least a B- grade in German 107 (fourth semester), i.e. satisfactory competence in German. The application procedure includes a short interview in German. Unfortunately, seniors are not eligible.
Salaries vary depending on the internship. The Program has recently added a number of non-paying internships, particularly in cultural and governmental institutions. Although we cannot guarantee funding for these positions, in previous years we have been able to offer a number of scholarships to cover living expenses. In addition, you may wish to apply to a number of centrally administered Princeton funding sources once you have been accepted into this program.
Accommodation and Transportation
Housing: In a few cases the companies provide housing; otherwise, in the past, students have made their own arrangements. SWP will assist students in arranging housing if necessary.
Transportation Costs: The costs for a round-trip plane ticket to Europe and any transportation within Europe are usually borne by each participant. Students who need assistance may apply to the German Department for travel assistance grants. In the past, the department has been able to offer travel subsidies for up to $1,000.
Summer Earnings for Financial Aid Students: Because the Program is educational, the Princeton Financial Aid Office will modify its expectations with regard to the usual obligation of scholarship students to earn money during the summer. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office directly.
How to Apply
Application forms for the Summer 2012 program will be available at the SWP office (224 East Pyne Building). Or click on the links below to download them. The forms will be available starting October, 2011.
The deadline for handing in the applications is OCTOBER 31st, 2011. This includes the application form, a resume/CV, a passport photo, and a letter of recommendation sent to the SWP by a teacher.
Contact
For more information, please contact Alana King, Assistant to the Director of the Summer Work Program.
Office hours: Mondays, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm; alternatively, email to arrange another time.
Office: 224 East Pyne Building
Phone: (609) 258-4132
E-mail: swp@princeton.edu
Important Documents
Summer Work Program Application – 2012
Letter of Reference – 2012