CIEE Global Institute – Berlin

What CIEE Global Institute – Berlin does

CIEE Global Institute – Berlin is a nonprofit educational exchange organization and the wholly-owned German subsidiary (CIEE Germany gGmbH) of US parent CIEE, Inc., headquartered in Portland, Maine. The entity delivers study abroad, international internship placement, and homestay programs primarily for US university and high school students, operating a dedicated campus in Berlin's Kreuzberg neighborhood (Gneisenaustraße 27) with eight classrooms, a 214+ bed residence hall, student lounges, and event spaces. Programs run across three annual cycles (Spring, Summer, Fall) and include credit-bearing block seminars in English, unpaid academic internships with Berlin companies, high school summer language courses, and semester/year placements at three partner Berlin Gymnasiums (John Lennon, Beethoven, Askanisches).

The core product portfolio comprises six integrated offerings: the Block Seminar Academic Program (six-week interdisciplinary courses), the International Internship Program (matching US students with Berlin host companies for unpaid credit-bearing work), the Homestay Program (placement with Berlin host families for cultural immersion), on-campus Campus Housing (214+ beds in the dormitory), the High School Language and Culture Summer Program (intensive German courses for grades 9–12), and Semester/Year Abroad Programs at partner German Gymnasiums. The underlying technology stack is modest and non-differentiated, consisting of standard commercial tools: DocuSign for digital signatures on internship agreements, Microsoft Bookings for scheduling host company calls, Microsoft Forms for partner questionnaires, and Google Maps embedded on the contact page.

The business model is fee-for-program: students pay tuition that bundles housing, health insurance, and academic credit services. Host companies receive interns free of charge and CIEE handles matching, paperwork, and oversight. Host families receive compensation from CIEE (rather than paying CIEE) for providing accommodation, breakfast, and dinner. GTM is primarily institutional, driven by partnerships with US universities for credit-transfer arrangements and direct outreach to Berlin host companies and host families. The organization is GDPR-compliant and operates as a gGmbH under a US nonprofit parent, with revenues reinvested into program delivery rather than distributed to owners.

Name

CIEE Global Institute – Berlin

Legal name

CIEE Germany gGmbH

Website

https://cieeberlin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CIEE Global Institute – Berlin is a nonprofit educational exchange organization operating a Kreuzberg campus with a 214+ bed dormitory and 8 classrooms, delivering study abroad programs, credit-bearing internships with Berlin host companies, homestay placements, and high school exchanges for US university and high school students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational exchange and study abroad services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University-Sponsored International Internships & Co-op Placements (EDAIAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate/Industry-Sponsored International Internship Programs (EDAIAFAH), Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAB), Internship Housing & Accommodation Services (EDAIAFAJ)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• International internship placement
• Homestay accommodation
• Educational exchange services
• Cultural immersion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Program Fees from Students: CIEE charges students for participation in study abroad and internship programs. Students receive housing, health insurance, and academic credit through the program. The internship matching services are free for host companies.
2. Host Family Compensation (Outbound): Host families receive a reasonable allowance to offset additional costs such as breakfast, meals, energy costs, etc. This is a cost to CIEE rather than a revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIEE Global Institute – Berlin delivers study abroad, international internship, and homestay programs for US university and high school students in Berlin. Programs combine block seminar coursework in English with unpaid credit-bearing internships at Berlin host companies and housing either in the on-campus dormitory in Kreuzberg or with local host families. The German subsidiary CIEE Germany gGmbH operates the campus, recruits host companies and families, and handles logistics including housing, health insurance, and academic credit transfer.

Product overview

CIEE Global Institute – Berlin operates as an educational exchange organization offering an integrated portfolio of study abroad, internship, and housing programs for U.S. university and high school students. The core offerings include: (1) Block Seminar Academic Program for semester study with interdisciplinary courses in English, (2) International Internship Program matching students with Berlin companies for unpaid credit-bearing internships, (3) Homestay Program placing students with local host families for cultural immersion, (4) Campus Housing providing on-campus dormitory accommodations in Kreuzberg, (5) High School Summer Language and Culture Program with intensive German courses, and (6) Semester/Year Abroad Programs at partner German gymnasiums. These programs can be combined—students may take block seminars while doing an internship and living either on-campus or with a homestay family. CIEE handles all logistics including housing, insurance, and academic credit transfer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homestay Program Cultural immersion housing option placing international students with vetted local Berlin host families. Includes accommodation with breakfast and dinner, a private bedroom, and shared family life to support language learning and cultural integration.
• International Internship Program Academic internship program that matches US university students with Berlin-based companies for unpaid, credit-bearing professional experience of 6–12 weeks. CIEE handles candidate matching, housing, health insurance, paperwork, and ongoing oversight.
• Campus Housing (CIEE Berlin Residence Hall) On-campus residence hall at Gneisenaustraße 27 in Bergmannkiez, Kreuzberg, with 214+ beds, fully furnished rooms with en-suite bathrooms, communal kitchens, study lounges, and laundry facilities.
• Block Seminar Academic Program Semester study abroad program of one, two, or three 6-week blocks covering cultural studies, communication, political science, business, health sciences, and STEM. Courses are taught in English and designed for transfer of US university credit.
• High School Language and Culture Summer Program Intensive four-week summer language program for US high school students in grades 9–12, with morning German language instruction (9am–12pm) and mandatory afternoon cultural activities. Available in two sessions in June and July.
• Semester/Year Abroad at Local Gymnasiums

Quantifiable outcome

• Students have been hired by host companies after their internships

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• US Universities (Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIEE Berlin partners with US universities to provide study abroad programs. Students from partner institutions enroll in block seminars at CIEE Berlin and receive academic credit transferable to their home universities. Programs run for one, two, or three 6-week blocks.
• John Lennon GymnasiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Berlin high school partnership for semester and year abroad programs. High school students attend regular classes at the Gymnasium while living with host families.
• Beethoven-GymnasiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Berlin high school partnership for semester and year abroad programs. High school students attend regular classes at the Gymnasium while living with host families.
• Askanisches GymnasiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Berlin high school partnership for semester and year abroad programs. High school students attend regular classes at the Gymnasium while living with host families.
• Berlin Host CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanies and organizations in Berlin host international interns at no cost. CIEE provides candidate matching, handles paperwork, and maintains oversight throughout the internship. Host companies benefit from motivated international talent for project support. Internship areas include Business, Marketing, Sales, Computer Science, Data Science, Design, Communications, Engineering, Humanities, Education, and Finance.
• Berlin Host FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin families host international students during their programs. All family models are welcome. Families provide accommodation, breakfast and dinner. Host families receive compensation and participate in community events organized by CIEE. Must have at least one adult over 25 in the household.
• CIEE, Inc. (Parent Organization)coreOthersCIEE, Inc. is the parent nonprofit organization headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA. The Berlin entity (CIEE Germany gGmbH) operates under the CIEE umbrella. CIEE, Inc. also organizes US-based programs for German students wanting to study in the USA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst / German Academic Exchange Service): German public-sector organization funding and supporting international academic exchange, including scholarship programs that bring foreign students to Germany. Comparable as an exchange funder/operator in the German market, though structurally distinct as a government-funded intermediary rather than direct program provider.

Others

• Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin) – International Office: Major Berlin university hosting international exchange students under its own partnerships. Comparable as a destination-side academic partner for CIEE Berlin's US university students, and as an indirect competitor for credit-bearing study in Berlin.

Direct peers

• AFS Intercultural Programs: Global nonprofit intercultural exchange organization offering high school and university-level study abroad and homestay programs across many countries. Comparable on nonprofit mission, homestay model, and high school/university student customer base.
• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): Direct peer offering study abroad programs across dozens of global locations through US university partnerships. Comparable on credit-bearing programs, US university distribution model, and multi-destination strategy.
• IES Abroad: Direct competitor offering study abroad and internship programs for US university students across multiple global cities, including European locations. Closely comparable on product, target customer (US university students), and bundled housing+academics+internship model.
• API (Academic Programs International): Direct peer running study abroad programs in Europe and Latin America, focused on US university students with credit-bearing courses and cultural immersion. Comparable on customer base and bundled academic program model.
• Arcadia University – College of Global Studies: Direct peer providing study abroad programs for US students in UK, Europe, Australia and elsewhere with credit-bearing academic programs and housing. Comparable on integrated academic/housing offering and US institutional customer base.
• CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Direct peer operating study abroad and internship programs in European and Latin American cities, serving US university students with credit-bearing academic programs and housing. Highly comparable on product/customer alignment with CIEE Berlin.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Broader incumbent with a much larger portfolio spanning language travel, study abroad, academic degree programs, and cultural exchange globally. Overlaps with CIEE Berlin on international student mobility but operates at significantly larger scale across more product lines.
• Goethe-Institut: German cultural institution operating language courses and cultural programs globally, including in Berlin. Overlaps with CIEE Berlin on language instruction and cultural immersion offerings for international students, though focused more on language than credit-bearing study.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciee-global-institute-%E2%80%93-berlin

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIEE Global Institute – Berlin