Annually around 120 talented young journalists from all around the world receive bursaries from IJP for a working visit to Germany and - in exchange - to more than 40 countries. The delegates work for at least six weeks as guest journalists in a foreign media organisation of their choice while at the same time acting as correspondents for their home newsroom.

The core purpose of the IJP's bursaries is the international exchange of media talents and opinion makers. For every German journalist taking part in a programme abroad a foreign colleague will work in a German media organisation. Where requested participants can also initiate a direct exchange. Hereby, the delegates gain valuable professional and personal experiences and impressions. At the same time, they contribute to an overall better representation of Germany abroad and more differentiated reporting within the German borders.

The IJP bursaries are a valuable additional qualification for all delegates. Many former participants have become foreign correspondents in their IJP destination country. It is remarkable how many German foreign correspondents are alumni of the IJP.

The IJP demand from their participants to work in a foreign media organisation and to investigate own stories on the ground. Core part of most programmes are also an introduction day, a mid term meeting and often also a final meeting. The introduction days aim to give the participants an opportunity to introduce each other and to prepare for the programme. Much valuable information is communicated in background briefings and talks with personalities of the political, economic and cultural field of the destination countries.
Depending on the parameters of the individual programme, the IJP award bursaries between 2,500 Euro and 5,000 Euro (US$ 2,500- 5,000). They are designed to cover the greatest part of the expenses while being abroad. A share of personal funds through the delegates is assumed.

Beyond the bursary programmes the IJP also organise an active alumni network to keep up the contacts of former delegates through regular alumni meetings (dinners, investigation trips, conferences) and a newsletter. Through these efforts meanwhile more than 1,600 former participants from more than 40 countries stay in touch with each other, the IJP and with their former host media.

For more information and an application form please direct your requests to the co-ordinators of the programmes. Addresses and the exact participation conditions are on the websites of the different programmes. General conditions for all applications.