# NSLI-Y vs CBYX: Which Program Is Right for You?

Both are U.S. State Department exchange scholarships for high schoolers, but they answer different questions: NSLI-Y is about learning a critical language such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean or Russian, usually over a summer, while CBYX is a full academic year living with a German host family and attending a German school. The eligibility rules link them, so the order you do them in matters.

Side-by-side comparison of [National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-security-language-initiative-for-youth-nsli-y) and [Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) — High School](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-cbyx-high-school). A blank row is a fact we do not hold — not a zero, and not a no.

## At a glance

| | NSLI-Y | CBYX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cost | Varies — see Cost and funding | Varies — see Cost and funding |
| Application deadline | November 12, 2026 | November 3, 2026 |
| Grade eligibility | Grades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | Hybrid | In person |
| Location | Various (abroad), International, United States | Nationwide (placement in Germany), International, United States |
| Program dates |  |  |
| Application destination | nsliforyouth.org | usagermanyscholarship.org |
| Organizer | U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs | U.S. Department of State and German Bundestag |

## National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)

A merit-based scholarship for American high school students to study critical languages abroad, or online.

Full profile: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-security-language-initiative-for-youth-nsli-y (markdown: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-security-language-initiative-for-youth-nsli-y.md)

## Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) — High School

A U.S. Department of State and German Bundestag scholarship for high school students to study abroad in Germany.

Full profile: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-cbyx-high-school (markdown: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-cbyx-high-school.md)

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is cheaper, NSLI-Y or CBYX?

NSLI-Y: Varies — see Cost and funding. CBYX: Varies — see Cost and funding. Confirm each figure on the program's official page before budgeting.

### Can I apply to both NSLI-Y and CBYX?

The application destinations are evaluated independently. NSLI-Y: nsliforyouth.org. CBYX: usagermanyscholarship.org. Review each provider's current instructions before assuming either application is open or compatible with the other.

### Which is better for college applications, NSLI-Y or CBYX?

We do not rank enrichment programs by admissions value. Use the comparison to assess whether each program's documented constraints fit your situation, and check the details that decide it for you on each program's official page.

### What grades can apply to NSLI-Y and CBYX?

NSLI-Y: Grades 9–12. CBYX: Grades 9–12. Eligibility can change between cycles, so confirm it on each program's official page before applying.

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