Power of 4
Work area(s)
Team
Description & Requirements
We invite German-speaking university students between their bachelor’s and master’s to join our gap year program to gain valuable work experience. Instead of choosing between internships in different industries, you’ll have the opportunity to explore several within a year.
Experience four internationally renowned organizations
In one year, you’ll complete an exclusive 11-week internship at four companies. The most exciting part of our program is that you can secure a spot in all four companies with one application:
- Allianz: As part of the leading insurers & asset managers, you’ll be involved in board-related, strategic transformations.
- Bain & Company: As a leading global consultancy, Bain offers exciting tasks and early responsibility working on a broad range of client projects.
- Deutsche Telekom: This in-house consulting unit shares how to help shape the transformation of Europe’s leading telecommunications provider, driving digitization at a global level.
- FC Bayern Munich: As the world’s largest football club, FC Bayern offers the opportunity to work in Strategy & Business Development on a wide range of topics – from sports-related projects to fundamental business challenges.
Gain first-hand insights on the latest challenges for businesses.
Experience working in insurance, consulting, sports, and telecommunication.
Your teams will share tools they use to address day-to-day challenges.
Work alongside some of the best in their field.
Prepare yourself optimally for your master’s degree and career
Gain practical experience with top international employers in various industries.
Benefit from training and mentoring opportunities.
Connect with employees from all companies and other program participants.
Get to know valuable contacts who will support you on your career path.
How to apply for this program
We are looking for outstanding German-speaking university students of all fields who are about to graduate with a Bachelor's degree, and plan to take up a master's course in the following year.
Apply in 2026
The application deadline for the Gap Year Program 2026 has already passed. You can expect to hear back from us regarding your application by end of January 2026. The application phase for the Gap Year Program 2027 will start in fall 2026.
When applying please make sure to include all of the following documents and address your application to Karolin Bednorz:
- CV, cover letter,
- high school graduation diploma,
- university certificates,
- and any letters of reference from former jobs, if applicable.
Please indicate your preferred office location(s) in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. We only consider exhaustive applications, so make sure to apply accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
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Who can apply for the gap year program?
We are looking for outstanding German-speaking university students of all fields who are about to graduate with a Bachelor's degree, and plan to take up a master's course in the following year.
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What language should my documents be in?
Feel free to submit your documents in either German or English.
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What happens on selection days?
Selection days will be virtual events with two parts:
- Before the interview day, all companies will present themselves and provide special insights.
- On the day itself, there will be three individual interviews.
Our goal is to get an impression on what your motivation for the gap year program is, what you expect to get out of it, what relevant experience you have gathered so far, and also what drives you in your personal life. We'll also discuss case studies from our projects with you, which will help us assess your problem-structuring and solving skills as well as your creativity. To prepare for the interviews, click Interview Preparation to find helpful tips and case examples. Another valuable source is the case interview community PrepLounge, where you can solve case studies in an interactive process.
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Who will have access to my application file?
During the selection process, all partners in this cooperation – Allianz SE, Bain & Company, FC Bayern München e.V., and Deutsche Telekom AG – will have access to your documents. By uploading your application, you agree to allowing said partner companies and their associated companies to view your application file and store it for the purposes of the gap year candidate selection.
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In what sectors or functions will I do my internships?
During your gap year, you will complete a total of four internships at four international companies. All the functions you'll get to know in the course of your internship will have a strategic focus.
- At Allianz, you’ll work in units that are steering the organizational and business transformation of the company, such as the Chief Transformation Office or Global HR Strategy. Here you will deal with current transformation topics such as agility, skills development, the use of AI and process mining for the core business or generational diversity in the organization.
- As part of a consulting team, you will take responsibility for individually defined sub-projects at Bain. For instance, you may learn about identifying attractive merger targets in a due-diligence process, research relevant market information for a consumer goods supplier, analyze an automotive company's competition in Europe, conduct expert interviews at a pharmaceuticals group, or do comparative analysis of a utility company's competitive standing.
Your focus will be defined individually, in terms of both content and industry, and we'll try to accommodate your personal preferences. - Working at FC Bayern Munich's international strategy division, you'll be involved in implementing the company's broader corporate strategy, which goes far beyond the soccer club as such. Activities can range from a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of sustainability partnerships for international sports clubs and associations all the way to working on dedicated workshops on social sustainability at FC Bayern.
- Telekom offers you an opportunity to get to know their in-house consulting function. You'll be involved in developing exciting and multifaceted transformation project for the company's top management, ranging from go-to-market strategies, to efficiency, and technology driven projects.
Do you have personal preferences or specific areas of interest for your internship? Before starting, you will discuss these with the respective companies, and we will do our best to ensure your preferred focus.
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What is the timeline for the program?
For the Gap Year Program 2026, you can expect the following timeline:
- Application deadline: December 7, 2025
- Feedback on your application: End of January 2026
- Online interview training: February 20 & 27, 2026
- Company presentations: March 18, 2026
- Interview days: March 19-20, 2026
- Feedback on interview days: from March 23, 2026 onwards
- Start of program & kick-off event: September 2026
- Start of first internship: September 2026
- Start of second internship: November 2026
- Start of third internship: February 2027
- Start of fourth internship: June 2027
- End of program & closing event: August 2027
For the Gap Year Program 2027, an updated timeline will follow.
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Where exactly will I be serving my internships?
We offer you the following locations for your internships:
- Allianz: Munich
- Bain: Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, or Zurich
- Deutsche Telekom: Bonn
- FC Bayern: Munich
The choice of location(s) is all yours. Just let us know your preferences during the application process.
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Are these paid internships?
All internships will be paid, with the compensation depending on the individual partner company.
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If I am not admitted to the gap year program, will I still be able to apply for a position with Bain?
Absolutely. We look forward to receiving your application anytime.
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Who should I reach out to if I have further questions about the program?
If you have further questions please contact:
Karolin Bednorz - Coordinator, Recruiting
- E-mail: thepowerof4@bain.com
- Phone: +49 89 51231991
