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A (Free) Alternative to Studying Abroad:  

The Voluntary Social Year in Germany 

Birgit A. Jensen 

East Carolina University, USA 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Author Note 

 Birgit A. Jensen, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, East Carolina 

University. 

 Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Birgit Jensen, East 

Carolina University, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Mail Stop 556, 

Greenville, NC 27858. 

Contact: jensenb@ecu.edu 

  

 



 
 

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Abstract 

Many American college students cannot afford to study abroad at a time of their life when an 

immersion experience in a foreign country would benefit them the most. This article discusses 

the opportunity to live and volunteer in Germany or Austria on a modest, but adequate monthly 

stipend through the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr or Voluntary Social Year. A parallel program 

called Ökologisches Freiwilliges Jahr, concentrates on ecological volunteering. Volunteers can 

choose from a wide range of possible activities, expanding their international and professional 

expertise. In addition, these programs represent alternative paths to academic education, offering 

volunteers 25 weekend seminars per year designed to enrich them intellectually and socially.  

Because Germany is experiencing a shortage of volunteers, foreign volunteers are very welcome 

there. On average, 97,000 young men have spent their time annually in the German military 

during the last decade of the compulsory draft (2001-2011) with a year of civil service. By 2015, 

however, fewer than 39,000 volunteers worked in civil service, leaving approximately 58,000 of 

previously staffed volunteer spots vacant each year. This article outlines how a college graduate 

may obtain a volunteer position in Germany. 

 

  



 
 

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A (Free) Alternative to Studying Abroad: The Voluntary Social Year in Germany 

Many American college students cannot afford to study abroad due to financial or time 

constraints. Yet they are at an age when an immersion experience in a foreign country would 

benefit them the most: they are flexible and resilient enough to undertake a life-changing 

adventure; if they have hardly traveled before, this challenge will expand their social and 

intellectual horizons; their résumé most likely could use the highly desirable boost afforded by 

an extended international experience prior to entering the job market; and they are not moored 

yet in mortgages, careers, and/or committed relationships. After graduation, some graduates 

solve this dilemma of being caught between a lack of money or time during their college years 

and the desire to see the world by joining the Peace Corps, Rotaract, Lions Clubs International, 

United Nations Volunteers, or Kiwanis International. Others pay a fee to organizations that 

connect them to vetted volunteer projects across the globe. This article discusses another option: 

the opportunity to live and volunteer in Germany or Austria on a modest, but adequate monthly 

stipend through the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) or Voluntary Social Year. 

Background of the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr 

The FSJ was conceived of in 1954 as a time for diaconical service by the two main churches in 

Germany (i.e., the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches). Based on its popularity, the 

voluntary year of service became a governmentally-funded program in 1964. The funding, which 

is equivalent to the subsidies paid for tuition-free vocational training or university studies in 

Germany, recognizes the FSJ as an alternative path to education. As such, volunteers are 

obligated to participate in 25 educational days per year that usually are organized as five-day 

seminars. These weeks count toward the twelve months of service and all expenses are fully 

covered. Most of the German federal states or Bundesländer have designated meeting facilities 

https://www.peacecorps.gov/
https://www.rotary.org/en
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.php
https://www.unv.org/
http://www.kiwanis.org/home


 
 

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that resemble youth hostels. They may be situated in forests, castles, or fin-de-siècle mansions, 

on mountains or farms, by lakes or the ocean, and in towns (Figure 1).  

                                 

Seminarzentrum Gut Siggen, Schleswig-Holstein                     Sport- und Tagungszentrum Hachen, Hesse 

     

Bildungsstätte Burg Bodenstein, Thuringia                                                   Jugendbildungsstätte Bad Hindeland, Bavaria 

Figure 1. Sample locations of meeting facilities for the required education days. 

 

The seminars are designed to enrich the volunteers intellectually and socially. They establish 

contact between all the volunteers in a region for mutual support and companionship. Their 

academic topics vary, but may include courses in psychology, pedagogy, or political science. 

Further schooling focuses on psychological health and social justice, such as conflict resolution, 

gender studies, anthroposophy (i.e., therapeutic education to maximize mental well-being), peace 



 
 

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studies, and yoga. To obtain an impression of the variety of activities and lessons offered in a 

week-long seminar, visit the website of EOS (based in the state of Baden-Württemberg). 

Program Description of the FSJ 

The term “year” is essentially a misnomer, since the FSJ can last from 6 to 18 months, 

depending on the needs of the institution requesting a volunteer. The program is decentralized, 

meaning that each of the 16 federal states in Germany handles it differently. Most states, such as 

Baden-Württemberg, have established central websites that attempt to list available slots that are 

often organized by region, type of work, or specific criteria (e.g., a driver’s license is required, 

etc.).  Many young Germans rely on the ubiquitous means of public transportation to get around 

and don’t obtain the expensive driver’s license, so this is important information to know prior to 

applying.  

Any federally certified charitable, social, or public organization can request volunteers 

and obtain federal funds to pay them without going through a state-sponsored channel. 

Accordingly, the range of possible activities is enormous. Volunteers can choose from human 

rights agencies, schools, daycare programs, neighborhood groups, agricultural co-ops, refugee 

groups, sports clubs, museums, parks, animal rescue centers, community gardens, theaters, 

operas, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, cemeteries, libraries, youth programs, archaeological 

excavations, historic preservation sites, and city, state and federal governments. In keeping with 

Germany’s remarkable focus on environmental protection and alternative energy, a parallel 

program, called Ökologisches Freiwilliges Jahr, concentrates only on ecological volunteering. 

Volunteers are compensated for their work. Currently, the maximum monthly allowance 

is 381 EUR ($425) plus additional funding for room and board if these are not available within 

the organization’s buildings. In addition, all volunteers are fully insured (i.e., health, dental, 

https://eos-fsj.de/erlebnispaedagogik-deine-seminare/deine-seminare


 
 

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accident, unemployment, long-term care, and old age) and receive 20-26 days of paid vacation 

time and 12 days of paid holidays. They also are provided work clothes and monthly local 

transportation passes. The workload is 35 hours per week. 

The FSJ is open to anyone aged 18-27, with older volunteers entering the 

Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD; Federal Volunteer Service) instead. Like the FSJ, this program is 

intended to promote social solidarity through personal involvement; unlike the FSJ, it 

accommodates both employed and non-working (e.g., unemployed or retired) individuals by 

offering part- and full-time shifts. Their benefits are similar to those received via the FSJ.  

The Application Process and Preparing for the FSJ 

Foreign volunteers are very welcome in Germany to participate in the FSJ program. But 

what must a recent graduate do to find a volunteer slot abroad? Below are the listed 

requirements: 

1. Learn to speak German. Although most Germans speak English, some German-

speaking skills are highly recommended. There are numerous websites that teach 

beginning German. The federal language institute offers online courses and even 

some free resources. Many libraries own copies of the Rosetta Stone learning 

program. Self-motivated learners can study grammar online (e.g., DuoLingo, 

Parleremo, and Babbel) and then connect for speaking practice sessions with like-

minded individuals on language-exchange websites (e.g., italki, LingoZone, or 

busuu). 

2. Compose a German-style Lebenslauf which resembles an American resume with 

some important alterations. German Lebensläufe do not state honors, hobbies or 



 
 

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objectives and always sport the applicant’s passport-style photo on the upper left 

corner. Examples and templates can be found here: https://lebenslauf.com/ 

3. Find several appealing volunteer positions by searching for FSJ and identifying the 

federal state in which you wish to work.  

4. Send out emails with your Lebenslauf attached, introducing yourself and stating your 

German language skills. Be honest about them; you don’t want to arrive to find that 

you cannot do the job. 

5. Once an institution accepts you, obtain a passport and the International Driving 

Permit (available at an AAA office). Many U.S. states have a reciprocity agreement, 

allowing you to drive with your American license (check here whether your state 

participates: https://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/german-

drivers-license-reciprocity/), but the IDP is useful if you get stopped and your police 

officer is unclear about the rules. 

6. Open a checking account with a bank that doesn’t charge fees for international ATM 

withdrawals (e.g., Bank of America is linked with Deutsche Bank and waives all 

fees). This way you can withdraw cash at a Deutsche Bank ATM in the Cirrus 

network as soon as you arrive. The surcharges you save will pay for your first meal 

there! 

7. Apply for a credit card that doesn’t charge a currency exchange surcharge for 

international purchases (e.g., VISA card from Capital One). 

8. Join the expat community InterNations at https://www.internations.org/ for support 

and practical advice. Also, read the tips provided here: https://www.german-

way.com/ 

https://lebenslauf.com/
https://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/german-drivers-license-reciprocity
https://www.german-way.com/for-expats/living-in-germany/german-drivers-license-reciprocity
https://www.internations.org/
https://www.german-way.com/
https://www.german-way.com/


 
 

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9. Gather your medical records, especially a list of your vaccinations. You will undergo 

a medical examination at your place of assignment. 

10. In case your family and friends are not so tech-savvy, set them up with a Skype 

account or practice Facetiming with them. Be sure that your plan allows international 

roaming. If not or if it’s too expensive, German cell phone plans are cheap and you 

can use your laptop for Skyping. 

11. If your organization cannot provide you with housing, you can search for rentals here: 

http://www.wg-gesucht.de/. Your German host will also be able to help you, 

especially if your volunteer location is in a small town. 

Suggestions for Getting Acclimated Once Arriving in Germany 

What happens after you arrive? American citizens can enter Germany and stay as tourists 

for three months without a visa. You will probably land in Frankfurt and from there, travel to 

your assignment. There are two travel options: train or bus. Both are clean, efficient, and fast, but 

the bus will be much cheaper. Check with https://www.flixbus.com/ and 

https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml for prices. If you buy a train ticket, remember to 

purchase a seat reservation, too.   

  Once you have moved into your residence, you will need to visit some city offices. Your 

employer will provide you with a work contract and proof of health insurance, which you must 

bring to the Ausländeramt (or Ausländerbehörde) to obtain an Aufenthaltstitel (time-limited 

residence permit). After that, you will show your passport, Aufenthaltstitel, and lease at the 

Einwohnermeldeamt, which may also be called Bürgeramt or Bürgerbüro. There you will fill out 

a Meldeschein (registration certificate). Some people find the bureaucracy in Germany 

burdensome, but these registrations make sure that all people receive the social services they are 

http://www.wg-gesucht.de/
https://www.flixbus.com/
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml


 
 

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entitled to and that no one is homeless or uninsured. These precautions also lower the crime rate 

in comparison to the United States. In 2013, for example, there were 682 murders in Germany 

and 15,696 in the US (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2013), which represents rates 

of 0.85 and 4.88/100,000 inhabitants respectively. 

Because bills and salaries in Germany are paid via bank transfers, you will need a bank 

account. The following website contains some useful information: http://www.movingto-

berlin.com/german-bank-account/). While still in the US, open an account at the first bank 

mentioned: Deutsche Kreditbank.  

Germany is a social democracy with an enviable quality of life. Most people live 

comfortably, not ostentatiously and there is very little poverty. So, you will not see a large 

disparity between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. At first, many people will appear distant and 

even uninterested in you because they are ensconced in private lives. Most Germans stay right 

where they were raised. You should actively seek contacts and the more conversant you are in 

political and social matters, the more interesting your acquaintance will be. The fact alone that 

you are a FSJler will provide you with credibility and prestige in a society where intellectual 

proficiency trumps material possessions. To get the most learning out of this once-in-a-lifetime 

experience, you will need to stretch your mind while there, embracing the uncomfortable 

feelings of culture shock and accepting that realities are culturally constructed: what you 

accepted as “normal” in your home nation may be unusual or even unknown somewhere else. 

And who knows? You may fall in love with the culture and choose to stay on to earn a graduate 

degree tuition-free there.  

  

http://www.movingto-berlin.com/german-bank-account/
http://www.movingto-berlin.com/german-bank-account/


 
 

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Conclusion 

In 2015, both the FSJ and the BFD boasted nearly 39,000 volunteers, of whom 27,000 

served in the Voluntary Social Year. Among the older volunteers, the age cohort 51-60 was 

numerically the strongest, reflecting a trend toward early retirement. Another factor that has 

influenced the number of Germans choosing to serve in a voluntary capacity in the past is the 

recent elimination of the military draft. Beginning in 1961, conscientious objectors could choose 

to render civil services in federally certified institutions instead. This option was chosen annually 

by an average of 97,000 young men during the last decade of the draft from 2001-2011 

(Bundesamt für Familie, 2011). By 2015, fewer than 39,000 volunteers worked in civil service 

for society, of whom 27,000 fell into the FSJ category (Bundesfreiwilligendienst.de, 2015; 

Stemmer, 2009). This means that approximately 58,000 of previously staffed volunteer spots go 

unfilled each year. Germany is experiencing a significant shortage of volunteers with a strong 

commitment to social justice. Therefore, the country not only welcomes civic-minded people 

from other nations, but also strives to make their service there meaningful and pleasant.  

My experience affirms this conclusion. I began promoting the FSJ opportunity in my 

college classes only this semester. Two of my students applied immediately. Each sent out less 

than a dozen emails to institutions that provide services aligned with their majors or interests, 

and they received numerous replies. Within two weeks, both had secured volunteer positions. 

One student, who graduated with a degree in psychology and intends to go to medical school 

after this gap year, will start a one-year position in a psychiatric hospital in Berlin. The other 

student had majored in anthropology and is interested in working as a museum curator; he found 

a slot in a bicycle museum nestled in the scenic Rhön mountains. Moreover, both received their 

paperwork in German and English, were promised intensive support, and could set their starting 



 
 

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dates. The volunteer coordinator in the Rhön will personally pick up his American guest from a 

train station and drive him to the remote resort town. 

I anticipate that both volunteers will derive as many linguistic and internationalizing 

benefits from their year abroad as their peers who studied there, but at little cost to them. They 

will have gained practical work experience. In addition, they will have matured because of their 

service to others. And that, one can argue, is a reward in itself. 

 

  

 

 

  



 
 

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References 

Bundesamt für Familie und zivilgesellschaftliche Aufgaben (2011). Der 

bundesfreiwilligendienst. Statistiken. Retrieved from 

https://www.bundesfreiwilligendienst.de/servicemenue/presse/statistiken.html.  

Bundesfreiwilligendienst.de (2015). 2015: Statistik und aktuelle zahlen zum 

bundesfreiwilligendienst. Retrieved from https://www.bundes-

freiwilligendienst.de/news/bundesfreiwilligendienst-bfd/zahlen-statistik-2015.  

Stemmer, P. (2009). Freiwilligendienste in Deutschland – Expertise für das WZB. Zentrum für 

zivilgesellschaftliche Entwicklung. Retrieved from 

https://www.wzb.eu/sites/default/files/u13/expertise_stemmer-zze.pdf 2009 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2013). Global study on homicide. Retrieved from 

https://www.unodc.org/gsh/ 

 

https://www.bundesfreiwilligendienst.de/servicemenue/presse/statistiken.html
https://www.bundes-freiwilligendienst.de/news/bundesfreiwilligendienst-bfd/zahlen-statistik-2015
https://www.bundes-freiwilligendienst.de/news/bundesfreiwilligendienst-bfd/zahlen-statistik-2015
https://www.wzb.eu/sites/default/files/u13/expertise_stemmer-zze.pdf%202009
https://www.unodc.org/gsh/

