FASPE Journalism Fellowship 2027: Eligibility, Funding & How to Apply

FASPE

Fellowships
Germany, Poland
September 16, 2026

The FASPE Journalism Fellowship 2027 is a two-week professional ethics program for journalism students and early-career journalists. The program takes place in Berlin and Poland from June 18 to July 2, 2027. FASPE says the fellowship is fully funded and covers program costs and related travel. The application deadline is January 3, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET. Applications are submitted online through FASPE’s Submittable portal.

Quick Details

Detail	Information
Opportunity Name	FASPE Journalism Fellowship 2027
Provider	FASPE – Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics
Program	Journalism
Host Countries	Germany and Poland
Main Locations	Berlin, Krakow and Oświęcim
Program Dates	June 18 – July 2, 2027
Duration	Two weeks
Eligible Applicants	Journalism students and early-career journalists who meet the program criteria
Eligible Nationalities	All eligible candidates regardless of citizenship or residency
Funding	Fully funded
Travel Support	Covered
Accommodation	Covered
Group Meals	Covered
Application Fee	Not specified on the official source
English Requirement	High-level written and spoken English
Application Deadline	January 3, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET
Application Method	Online through Submittable
Official Application	FASPE Submittable application portal

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What Is the FASPE Journalism Fellowship?

FASPE Journalism is an intensive program focused on professional ethics and ethical leadership in journalism.

The program uses historical examples from German and international journalism during the Nazi period as a starting point. Fellows then examine ethical questions that journalists and media organizations face today. FASPE states that the program is not a Holocaust studies course or a genocide prevention program.

The Journalism Fellows spend two weeks in Germany and Poland. The program includes seminars, site visits and discussions with faculty and other Fellows.

FASPE normally selects 13 to 16 Journalism Fellows each year. Journalism Fellows also travel with Fellows from the Medical and Clergy & Religious Leaders programs, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary discussions.

Who Can Apply for FASPE Journalism 2027?

FASPE lists three main eligibility routes for Journalism applicants.

You may be eligible if you:

Have some journalism experience, including experience in a college newsroom, are enrolled in a graduate program of any kind, and plan to work as a journalist.
Have completed an undergraduate degree and are working as a journalist.
Have completed a graduate degree and are working as a journalist.

FASPE gives preference to applicants whose journalism work has been published or aired by a recognized news organization. The organization also says it generally seeks journalists who are in the early stages of their careers, with total professional experience generally not exceeding 10 years.

FASPE also welcomes applicants from different professional backgrounds within journalism, including reporters, editors, photojournalists, documentarians and other storytellers.

Can International Students Apply?

Yes. FASPE states that eligible candidates can apply regardless of citizenship or residency.

Therefore, being outside the United States does not by itself prevent an eligible applicant from applying. However, applicants are responsible for their own visa arrangements. FASPE says it can provide documents needed to support visa applications but does not arrange visas.

For applicants from Afghanistan, the official source does not list Afghanistan separately as an eligible nationality. Instead, FASPE states that eligible candidates may apply regardless of citizenship or residency. Applicants should still check their individual eligibility before submitting the application.

What Does the Fellowship Cover?

FASPE describes its fellowships as fully funded.

According to FASPE, the funding is intended to cover program costs and related travel so that financial circumstances do not prevent participation. Covered costs include:

Travel to Berlin and the return flight
Transportation for group activities in Germany and Poland
Admission fees
Program materials
Hotel accommodation
Group meals
Pocket money for non-group meals

FASPE specifically states that travel costs to Berlin from locations outside the United States are also covered.

This is different from a scholarship that provides a monthly stipend for study. FASPE’s published funding information focuses on the costs connected to participation in the two-week fellowship.

Accommodation

Fellows stay in three-star hotels in Berlin, Krakow and Oświęcim.

FASPE states that Fellows normally share rooms with another Fellow, and single rooms cannot be arranged by FASPE.

What Will Fellows Study?

The Journalism program connects historical examples with current ethical questions in journalism.

Topics listed by FASPE include:

The role of journalists in reporting Nazi policies
Technology and journalism
Journalism and electoral politics
Holding people in power accountable
Advocacy journalism
The effect of normalizing harmful behavior through media coverage
Reporting in an environment where “fake news” claims are common
Ethical issues related to gaining access to people and institutions

The program is designed to help Fellows think about their personal responsibilities as journalists and the ethical choices they may face in their careers.

Required Application Documents

FASPE’s general application instructions list several application components.

1. Online Application Form

Applicants complete an online form through Submittable.

The form asks for basic personal information, educational history and information about recommenders and references.

2. Resume or CV

Applicants must provide a resume or CV.

FASPE asks applicants to include their education and employment history, along with relevant honors, awards and publications.

For Journalism applicants, published or aired work can be particularly useful because FASPE says preference is given to applicants with journalism work published or aired by recognized news organizations.

3. Transcripts

FASPE requires transcripts from higher-education institutions where applicants spent significant time.

Electronic transcripts and scans of paper transcripts are accepted. Unofficial transcripts are also accepted.

Screenshots of online transcripts are not accepted.

If a first-year student does not yet have grades, FASPE provides an alternative process involving a letter from the dean confirming enrollment and good standing.

4. Short Essay Questions

The 2027 Journalism application includes six short essay questions.

The combined answers should not exceed 1,800 words, and applicants are asked to upload their responses as one PDF.

The questions ask applicants about:

Why they want to participate in FASPE
What they hope to gain from the program
What they would contribute to discussions
Their understanding of professional responsibility
An ethical dilemma they have faced or may face
Their personal vulnerability to ethical violations
Their ability to take part in difficult and controversial discussions
A work of art that has influenced them

The essay section is an important part of the application because the questions ask applicants to reflect on their experiences, professional values and ethical thinking.

5. Two Recommendation Letters

Two recommendation letters are required.

Letters may come from academic faculty or professional references. For students, FASPE prefers faculty who have taught them in their current or most recent graduate program, although other academic references may also be accepted.

Early-career professionals may use a supervisor or another employer as a recommender.

The recommendation letters must be submitted directly by the recommenders.

The letters are due January 10, 2027, which is later than the applicant’s January 3 application deadline.

English Language Requirement

FASPE programming is conducted in English.

FASPE states that applicants do not need to know German or Polish. However, a high level of written and spoken English is necessary to participate in the program.

The official FAQ does not state an IELTS or TOEFL score requirement.

Therefore, an exact IELTS or TOEFL minimum is Not specified on the official source.

FASPE Journalism Fellowship 2027 Application Deadline

The application deadline is:

January 3, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET.

The Journalism program itself runs from:

June 18, 2027, to July 2, 2027.

There is an important difference between the main application deadline and the recommendation-letter deadline.

Applicant deadline: January 3, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET
Recommendation letters: January 10, 2027

Applicants should contact their recommenders early rather than waiting until the final day.

How to Apply for the FASPE Journalism Fellowship

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Check the Journalism Eligibility Rules

First, confirm that you fit one of FASPE’s Journalism applicant categories.

Pay particular attention to your education, journalism experience and career stage.

Step 2: Prepare Your CV

Prepare a clear CV showing your education, journalism experience, publications, awards and other relevant work.

If you have published or broadcast journalism work, organize the information clearly.

Step 3: Prepare Your Transcripts

Collect transcripts from the higher-education institutions that meet FASPE’s requirements.

Remember that screenshots of online transcripts are not accepted.

Step 4: Choose Your Recommenders

Choose two people who can provide meaningful information about your academic or professional experience.

Contact them before submitting the application and explain the deadline and submission process.

FASPE sends recommenders instructions for submitting their letters through the online system.

Step 5: Write the Six Essays

Read each 2027 Journalism question carefully.

The total response should stay within the 1,800-word limit.

Use specific experiences rather than general statements. Explain what you learned from difficult situations and how you think about ethical responsibility.

Step 6: Complete the Online Application

FASPE uses Submittable for its application.

All applications must be submitted through the FASPE Submittable application portal.

Step 7: Submit Before the Deadline

Submit your application by January 3, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET.

Also make sure your recommenders know that their letters are due by January 10, 2027.

What Happens After Applying?

FASPE says it aims to inform Fellows of acceptance by early to mid-March.

Selected Fellows must participate in the full program from beginning to end.

Before the program, Fellows receive reading materials and must complete one or two short writing assignments. Completing these assignments on time is a condition of participation.

During the fellowship, Fellows are expected to participate in seminars, site visits, walking tours, group meals and other planned activities.

After the program, Fellows must complete a capstone project related to historical or contemporary ethics in their professional field.

Practical Tips for Applicants

These are preparation suggestions, not additional official eligibility rules.

Start the Essays Early

The six questions require personal reflection. Give yourself enough time to think about your examples and edit your answers.

Use Real Journalism Experiences

When discussing ethics, use real situations from your studies, reporting, newsroom work or other relevant experiences when possible.

A specific example can explain your thinking more clearly than a general statement.

Prepare Your References Early

Do not wait until the application deadline to contact your recommenders.

They have their own submission deadline, and the letters must come directly from them.

Check Your English Carefully

Because the program requires strong written and spoken English, review your essays carefully for clarity, grammar and organization.

Explain Your Ethical Thinking

The application is not only about journalism experience. The questions also ask about professional responsibility, ethical dilemmas and difficult discussions.

Show how you think, not only what positions or jobs you have held.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Waiting until the final day to start the essays
Exceeding the 1,800-word total essay limit
Sending screenshots instead of acceptable transcripts
Forgetting to request recommendation letters
Giving recommenders too little time
Providing vague answers without real examples
Ignoring the exact questions in the application
Assuming an IELTS or TOEFL score is required when FASPE has not published such a requirement
Using unofficial application websites
Missing the difference between the January 3 applicant deadline and January 10 recommendation deadline

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the FASPE Journalism Fellowship fully funded?

Yes. FASPE describes its fellowships as fully funded and says it covers program costs and related travel. Covered costs include travel, transportation during group activities, admission fees, program materials, hotels, group meals and pocket money for non-group meals.

Can international students apply?

Yes. FASPE states that eligible candidates may apply regardless of citizenship or residency.

Can Afghan journalists apply?

FASPE does not publish a separate Afghanistan-specific eligibility rule on the official pages reviewed for this article. It states that eligible candidates can apply regardless of citizenship or residency. Afghan applicants should therefore check the Journalism eligibility criteria and their visa requirements before applying.

Does FASPE require IELTS or TOEFL?

The official FAQ says that a high level of written and spoken English is necessary because the program is conducted in English. It does not specify an IELTS or TOEFL score requirement. Therefore, a specific minimum score is Not specified on the official source.

What is the FASPE Journalism Fellowship deadline?

The 2027 application deadline is January 3, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET. Recommendation letters are due January 10, 2027.

How long is the Journalism Fellowship?

The 2027 Journalism Fellowship runs for two weeks, from June 18 to July 2, 2027.

Where does the program take place?

The Journalism Fellowship includes travel and activities in Germany and Poland. FASPE’s FAQ identifies Berlin, Krakow and Oświęcim as the three cities where Fellows stay during the program.

Do I need to be a current student?

Not necessarily. The Journalism program accepts both eligible graduate students and early-career journalists who have completed undergraduate or graduate education and are working as journalists.

Official Website

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