Programs for
Highly motivated OWL students have a chance to be part of a unique experience in the New York metropolitan area and other regions in the United States. They can participate in the Professional Experience Program (PEP) and pursue an internship in the US.
Information about internships in the Campus OWL New York office can be found below (under the PEP sections).
Programs for
OWL Students
Highly motivated OWL students have a chance to be part of a unique experience in the New York metropolitan area and other regions in the United States. They can participate in the Professional Experience Program (PEP) and pursue an internship in the US.
Professional Experience Program (PEP)
Are you a student at one of the OWL universities? Do you want to gain work experience in the New York metropolitan area or other regions in the United States? The Professional Experience Program (PEP) by Campus OWL New York offers you the opportunity to pursue an internship in an international company or organization. PEP also includes a one-week skills seminar in NYC introducing you to intercultural competences and professional branding, as well as a virtual workshop after your time abroad.
PEP is your chance to gain valuable work experience in an international environment. Find out more about the program and the requirements in the call for applications and the FAQs.
The call for PEP25 was published on June 13, 2024 and closed on August 11, 2024.
PEP 2027 – Coming soon…
Are you interested in an internship in the USA? Apply by August 31, 2026 for the Professional Experience Program (PEP)! PEP is coordinated by Campus OWL New York, offers you the opportunity to gain insight into US work culture and gain practical work experience in the New York metropolitan area and other regions.
Campus OWL New York is the joint liaison office of the five public universities in OWL – Bielefeld University, Paderborn University, Hochschule Bielefeld – Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts, OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Detmold University of Music. The PEP internship program is open to full-time students from these universities in OWL.
The PEP program takes place during the summer term 2027; it includes a one-week introductory skills seminar in NYC and a 3-month internship in a company or organization in the New York metropolitan area or other regions.
The goal of PEP is to give students from OWL universities the chance to gain valuable international work experience and intercultural skills. Students from various disciplines can apply until August 31, 2026. For more information about PEP, the requirements, and the application documents, please refer to the call for applications. (coming soon)
PEP Info Event
The New York liaison office provides information about the Professional Experience Program (PEP).
Date: TBA
If you have any questions, please contact the Executive Director of Campus OWL New York Michael Paulus at paulus@campus-owl.org.
PEP 2026
The Special Skills Seminar Week part of our Professional Experience Program (PEP) took place between April 27 and May 1 2026.
It was the first time since 2024, with five interns from OWL on board, Mika Sempert from Bielefeld University & Paderborn University, Hanna Siggelkow from OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Ekin Aslan and Phillip Oberschmid from Hochschule Bielefeld and Joaquín Polo from Bielefeld University. Our sixth intern, Bela Härle from Hochschule für Musik Detmold could not attend the seminar but will do his internship later this year.
We had the chance to visit many long-established institutions, including American Council on Germany, Institute of International Education (IIE) and Columbia University, and reconnect with inspiring professionals from a wide range of sectors, hear their stories, and learn from their experiences. For everyone involved, it was an exceptional and enriching week and we are already looking forward to the next one.
Here is our brochure for the PEP 2026:
PEP 2025
The goal of PEP is to give students from OWL universities the chance to gain valuable international work experience and intercultural skills. For more information about PEP, the requirements, and the application documents, please refer to the call for applications on this website. Deadline to apply closed on August 11, 2024.
Important note: Given unforeseen staff changes in the New York office (as of September 3, 2024), this program will now only be offered in a reduced format.
Shortlisted students will need to proactively find a host company. Students who have been shortlisted and who have secured a host company will apply for a J-1 visa in cooperation with our visa sponsor German American Chamber of Commerce New York. The Campus OWL New York office will bear the costs for the visa fee as outlined in the call for application. The skills seminar week is expected to take place in April/May 2025 (pending adequate number of successful candidates for PEP25).
PEP 2024
Participants 2024 – third cohort of PEP students from OWL:
- Ariana Assad: Law Studies (Staatsexamen), Bielefeld University
- Carolin Bröker: Media Studies and Management (Bachelor of Arts), Paderborn University
- Kristine Fibich: Business Administration (Master of Science), Paderborn University
- Caitlin Otte: Landscape Architecture (Master of Science), TH OWL
- Martin Reimer: Mechanical Engineering (Master of Science), TH OWL
- Alina Wasielke: Business Psychology (Master of Science), HSBI
- Xiaoqi Zhou: Sound Engineering (Master of Music), HfM Detmold
PEP 2023
Seven students from OWL were part of the second cohort and experienced life and work in the United States from April to July 2023.
2023 participants:
- Betül Arik: Applied Entrepreneurship (Master of Science), TH OWL
- Nina Drabon: Interior Architecture (Master of Arts), TH OWL
- Ferris L. Fechner: Political Science and Economics (Bachelor of Arts), Bielefeld University
- Jasper Klein: Sound Engineering (Master of Music), Detmold University of Music
- Nicole Salvi: Business Law (Bachelor of Laws), HSBI
- Patrick Stachon: Production and Logistics Management (Master of Arts), HSBI
- Lena Thiesbrummel: English und Music Education (Bachelor of Education); English Literary & Cultural Studies and English Linguistics (Bachelor of Arts), Paderborn University and Detmold University of Music
PEP 2022
Eight motivated OWL students had the opportunity to gain valuable international work experience and enhance their future by participating in the pilot round of the Professional Experience Program (PEP).
2022 participants are:
- Michael Epp: Electrical Engineering (Master of Science), TH OWL
- Pascal Hansen: Computer Engineering (Bachelor of Science), Paderborn University
- Sibel Kaya: History, Economics & Philosophy of Science (Master of Arts), Bielefeld University
- Niels Neier: Philosophy (Master of Arts), Bielefeld University
- Christopher Opelt: Music & Sound Directing (Master of Music), Detmold University of Music
- Jana Schwede: Culture and Society (Master of Arts), Paderborn University
- Godo Zabur Singh: Integrated Design (Façade Design) (Master of Engineering), TH OWL
- Lukas Weidich: Computer Science (Master of Science), HSBI
Internship at Campus OWL New York
The Campus OWL liaison office offers 3-month internships for students studying at one of the OWL universities. The intern works closely with the Executive Director in the Campus OWL office in the German House in New York and is responsible for a variety of research, administrative and creative functions.
Internships in New York are possible as part of the PEP program in spring/summer (please indicate your interest in the PEP motivation letter).