DW Traineeship 2028 in Germany | Paid 18-Month Journalism Program (12 Places)
You want a career in international journalism. However, most newsrooms ask for experience you cannot get without a first job. The DW Traineeship 2028 solves this problem with a paid, 18-month training program at Germany’s international broadcaster.
Deutsche Welle (DW) is selecting only 12 trainees from around the world. In addition, there is no age limit, and a degree in any subject is accepted. Still, you must know both German and English. This guide explains the DW Traineeship 2028 requirements, the DW Traineeship 2028 salary, key DW Traineeship 2028 dates and every step on the DW traineeship application portal.
Applications close on 17 November 2026 at 12:00 noon CET. So start early, because the questionnaire and video tasks take time. Every fact below comes from DW Akademie’s official pages.
Quick Answer
The DW Traineeship 2028 is a paid, 18-month bilingual journalism program run by Deutsche Welle in Bonn and Berlin, from 3 January 2028 to June 2029. It is open to all nationalities with a completed degree, but German and English are both mandatory. You must apply online through DW’s career portal by 17 November 2026, 12:00 noon CET.
DW Traineeship 2028 Overview: Key Details
- Organisation: Deutsche Welle (DW), through DW Akademie
- Program type: Paid journalism traineeship (DW-Volontariat)
- Location: Bonn and Berlin, Germany, plus one foreign bureau
- Duration: 18 months (3 January 2028 to June 2029)
- Places: 12 trainees
- Salary: Monthly salary (amount not published on the official page)
- Open to: All nationalities, with no age limit
- Languages: German and English are both mandatory
- Application: Online only, with a questionnaire and a video application
- Deadline: 17 November 2026, 12:00 noon CET
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DW Traineeship 2028 Salary and Benefits
- Monthly salary: DW pays every trainee a monthly salary, according to its official FAQ. However, DW does not publish the amount on its public pages. Some blogs quote figures between €2,196 and €2,473 before tax, but we could not confirm these on DW’s site.
- Multimedia training: You learn TV, radio and online journalism. Topics include TV moderation, multimedia storytelling, data journalism and working with AI tools.
- Expert seminars: Renowned trainers lead seminars on all key journalism topics.
- Newsroom placements: You work inside DW editorial departments in Bonn and Berlin.
- Foreign bureau placement: You also spend time at one DW bureau abroad, in Brussels, Washington, Jakarta, Jerusalem, Riga or Delhi.
- Your own content: Through journalism projects, you develop your own ideas, from the first pitch to technical production.
- Career prospects: After the traineeship, DW mentions a “prospect of ongoing contract” with DW worldwide. This is a possibility, not a promise.
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What the DW Traineeship Does Not Cover (Visa, Housing, Flights)
- Visa: DW does not arrange visas. Its FAQ asks you to check visa rules with the German embassy in your home country.
- Housing: DW does not provide accommodation. According to the FAQ, most trainees live in shared apartments.
- Flights and relocation: Travel and moving costs are not confirmed on the official page.
- Family visas: DW cannot decide this. Only the German embassy or the local immigration office can.
- Scholarship funding: This is a paid job-style training contract. It is not a fully funded scholarship.
DW Traineeship 2028 Requirements and Eligibility
You can apply if you meet all of these points:
- Education: You hold a completed university degree, college degree or apprenticeship, in any subject.
- Language profile: You fit one of three profiles. First, a native speaker of a DW language with excellent English and good German. Second, a native English speaker with good German. Third, a native German speaker with excellent English.
- Experience: You have initial journalistic experience, or you want to switch to journalism from another field.
- Skills: You are creative, active on social media, and able to work under deadlines and in a team.
- Availability: You can be present at DW for the whole 18 months.
DW welcomes applicants of every nationality and sets no age limit. Backgrounds in technology, IT, science, politics, economics or law are especially welcome. Even so, DW also invites people from very different fields, such as nurses, chefs, pilots and football referees.
DW Traineeship German Language Requirement
Yes. DW’s FAQ states that knowledge of both German and English is mandatory. Non-native German speakers need good German, not perfect German. DW publishes news in 32 languages. However, we could not verify the full language list on the official page, so check the FAQ before you apply.
Who Is Not Eligible for the DW Traineeship
- Applicants with no German skills
- Applicants without a completed degree or apprenticeship
- Anyone who needs to keep another job during the 18 months
- Applicants who send documents by email instead of the portal
- Applicants who skip the questionnaire or the video task
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DW Traineeship Acceptance Rate: Be Realistic About Your Chances
DW does not publish an acceptance rate or the number of applicants. Even so, only 12 places are open worldwide, so competition is very strong.
Selection runs in three stages. First, you complete the online application tasks. Next, shortlisted candidates take an online assessment. Finally, the best candidates meet a selection committee.
Your chances improve if you already have published work, an active social media presence and working German. On the other hand, if your German is still basic, this cycle may be too early for you. In that case, use the next year to improve it, since DW and other organisations offer German courses.
Documents Required for the DW Traineeship 2028
Confirmed on the official page:
- Registration in the DW online career portal
- A completed questionnaire (sent to you by email after you register)
- A video application
Not confirmed on the official page (prepare them anyway):
- An updated CV in English
- Your degree or apprenticeship certificate
- Proof of your German and English skills
- Links to your journalism work, such as articles, videos or social media posts
DW’s FAQ simply advises you to have “all necessary documents available” before you start. The portal shows the final list.
Who Should Apply for the DW Traineeship in Germany?
- Early-career journalists who speak good German and excellent English
- Professionals who want to move into journalism from law, economics, science or IT
- Native speakers of one of DW’s 32 broadcast languages
- Social media creators with strong storytelling skills
- Graduates of any subject who can commit to 18 months in Germany
How to Apply for the DW Traineeship 2028 (Application Portal Steps)
- Check your language profile: Confirm that you meet one of the three language profiles listed above.
- Read the official FAQ: DW explains the process, documents and selection stages there.
- Open the application portal: The link works only between 13 October and 17 November 2026.
- Register and check your email: After registering, you receive a confirmation email. It contains a link to the application tasks, with the tasks attached.
- Complete the questionnaire: Answer every question carefully. The tasks are mandatory for a valid application.
- Record your video application: Plan enough time, because DW warns that the tasks may be time-consuming.
- Upload everything before the deadline: Submit all tasks to your profile before 12:00 noon CET on 17 November 2026. Never send documents by email, because DW will not process them.
- Prepare for the next stages: Shortlisted candidates take an online assessment and then meet the selection committee. After the final round, DW calls successful candidates within two days.
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DW Traineeship 2028 Dates and Deadline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 13 October 2026, 12:00 noon CEST |
| Application deadline | 17 November 2026, 12:00 noon CET |
| Online assessment | Not confirmed on the official page |
| Final selection round | Not confirmed on the official page |
| Traineeship starts | 3 January 2028 |
| Traineeship ends | June 2029 |
DW Traineeship Deadline in Your Time Zone
| Country | Local deadline (17 November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Ghana | 11:00 am |
| Nigeria | 12:00 noon |
| Egypt | 1:00 pm |
| Kenya and Saudi Arabia | 2:00 pm |
| UAE | 3:00 pm |
| Pakistan | 4:00 pm |
| India | 4:30 pm |
| Bangladesh | 5:00 pm |
Frequently Asked Questions
The DW Traineeship (DW-Volontariat) is an 18-month, bilingual, paid journalism training program by Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster. Trainees learn TV, radio and online journalism through seminars and newsroom placements in Bonn, Berlin and one foreign bureau.
The DW Traineeship is one of the main entry routes. You need a completed degree, initial journalism experience, good German and excellent English (or the reverse for native German speakers). After the traineeship, DW mentions a prospect of an ongoing contract.
Yes. DW’s FAQ says knowledge of both German and English is mandatory. Non-native German speakers need good German, along with excellent English.
DW confirms that trainees earn a monthly salary. However, the official pages do not publish the exact amount. Figures on other blogs could not be verified on DW’s site.
The deadline is 17 November 2026 at 12:00 noon CET. That is 3:00 pm in the UAE, 4:00 pm in Pakistan and 4:30 pm in India.
No. The 2027 intake has already started. The current call is for the DW Traineeship 2028, which begins on 3 January 2028.
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