DW Traineeship 2028 in Germany (Paid Journalism Programme)

The DW Traineeship 2028 is an 18-month paid journalism programme at Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster. Trainees earn a monthly salary while they train in DW’s newsrooms in Bonn and Berlin and spend time in its bureaus abroad.

The programme is bilingual, in German and English. It is open to applicants of any nationality and has no age limit. DW takes twelve trainees, and the programme runs from January 2028 to June 2029.

What is the DW Traineeship?

Deutsche Welle publishes news for TV, radio and online in 32 languages. It has trained journalists for more than 40 years, and its traineeship (called the “Volontariat” in German) is one of the best-known journalism programmes in Germany.

Trainees learn the core skills of journalism and put them into practice straight away. Seminars and workshops cover TV presenting, multimedia storytelling, data journalism and working with AI tools. You work with DW’s editorial teams from the start, and recent trainees have spent placements in DW bureaus in Brussels, New Delhi, Riga and Washington.

What you get

• A monthly salary for the full 18 months
• Hands-on training in TV, digital and multimedia journalism
• Seminars on data journalism and AI in the newsroom
• Work in DW’s editorial departments in Bonn and Berlin
• Time in a DW regional bureau abroad
• A network that opens doors to careers at DW and in German and international media

You arrange your own visa and housing. DW’s FAQ says most trainees live in shared apartments.

Who can apply

• Applicants of any nationality, with no age limit
• A completed university degree in any subject, an apprenticeship, or a journalism school diploma by the start of the traineeship
• Journalism experience, or a strong wish to move into journalism from law, economics, science or technology
• German and English at the levels below

What are the language requirements?

You need both German and English. DW accepts three combinations:

• Native speaker of a DW programme language (such as French, Hausa, Kiswahili, Amharic, Arabic or Portuguese) with excellent English (C1/C2) and good German (B1/B2)
• Native or proficient English (C1/C2) with good German (B1/B2)
• Native or proficient German (C1/C2) with excellent English (C1/C2)

Good German means B1/B2 level. Parts of the assessment and the final interview are held in both German and English.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

No. DW does not ask for language certificates in the online application. You rate your own language skills honestly, and DW tests them during selection. You can still upload certificates if you have them.

Is there an age limit?

No. DW says clearly that there is no age limit and anyone can apply.

Do I need a journalism degree?

No. Any degree works. DW welcomes people switching into journalism from other fields. Experience in journalism is an advantage, and applicants with strong skills in using AI for journalism get preference.

Required documents

• Your online profile in DW’s application portal
• Certificates of your qualifications, in digital form (if you are still studying, upload them before the traineeship starts)
• The completed mandatory application tasks, which DW sends you after you register
• Language certificates (optional)

How to approach the application tasks

After you register, DW emails you a set of application tasks. These are mandatory, and DW warns that they can take time. This is where you show you think like a journalist.

• Start the tasks as soon as they arrive. Do not leave them for the final week.
• Pitch stories only you could tell: a topic from your country or community that an international audience has not heard.
• Show your angle, your sources and the format you would use: video, social clip, data story or article.
• If you use AI tools in your reporting, say how. DW gives preference to that skill.
• Write clean, simple English, and check your German parts carefully.

How to apply, step by step

1. Read the requirements and FAQ on the DW Akademie website.
2. Register in DW’s online application portal using the button at the end of this post.
3. Check your email for the confirmation message with your application tasks.
4. Complete the tasks and upload them, with your qualification certificates, to your profile.
5. Submit everything before 17 November 2026, 12:00 noon CET.

Applications sent by email are not processed. Use the portal only.

Selection process

Selection has three stages:

• Online application with the mandatory tasks
• Online assessment, with exercises in German and English
• Final interview with the selection committee, in German and English

Hundreds of people apply for twelve places. After the final round, DW calls successful candidates within two days. DW cannot answer individual questions about application status during selection.

Deadline

17 November 2026, 12:00 noon CET.

The portal opened on 13 October 2026 and closes at noon, not midnight. The application tasks take time, so register early.

Have a question?

Drop your question in the comments and we will do our best to help. If you work in journalism already, tell us what you would pitch, it helps the next reader.

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