Frequently Asked Questions
APPLYING TO FASPE
How do I apply?
Please visit the How to Apply page for more information.
When do applications open, and what is the deadline?
We are currently accepting applications for the 2026 Fellowships through Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 11:59pm EST.
Given that the study of the Holocaust is a central component of the program, does the Fellowship primarily encourage Jewish students to apply?
No. FASPE seeks future leaders and thoughtful thinkers. There are no religious, racial, ideological, political, gender, or socioeconomic preferences for our applicants. Our Fellowship trips are interdisciplinary, meaning that Fellows who study and work in different professions travel and attend site visits together. Every year, our alumni report that participating in the Fellowship with individuals with different backgrounds and worldviews is one of the most enriching components of the program. We welcome and encourage all interested applicants fall within eligibility guidelines to apply.
Since FASPE is based in the United States, do I need to be an American or reside in the U.S. to apply?
No. All eligible candidates are welcome to apply regardless of citizenship or residency. Any visa arrangements have to be made by the Fellows themselves. FASPE will provide necessary documentation to support visa applications, but does not have the capacity to arrange for visas.
I am no longer in school, can I still apply?
Yes. All FASPE programs also accept early-career professionals. Eligibility guidelines differ according to program.
To confirm your eligibility for a FASPE program, please refer to the program for which you are interested in the Fellowships tab.
Do I need to have current professors write my letters of recommendation?
No. Letters of recommendation can come from former professors (whether from a graduate or undergraduate program) or from supervisors at work.
How do my recommenders submit their letters of recommendation?
Once you submit your application through our online application portal on Submittable, an email will automatically be sent to your recommenders with instructions on how to upload a letter via the online portal. Please make sure to inform your recommenders of this process ahead of time, so that they can have their letters finished and prepared to upload.
What should my recommenders include in their letters?
If your recommenders seek guidance on what to include in their letters, please convey that we are looking for the following:
- A discussion of any of your academic work and/or work or other experiences that would enrich this program with its focus on contemporary professional ethics.
- Information about how actively you participate in class discussions and/or an assessment of your verbal and written expression.
- Details about how you have reacted in emotionally and intellectually intense classroom exchanges or work experiences, especially when confronted with a diversity of world views and political orientations.
- Details about your ability to work and travel in small groups.
- An assessment of your potential to be a leader in your field, based on a comparison of your strengths and weaknesses compared to others who have followed similar paths.
- Any other information that he/she finds relevant.
What do the essay portions of the application entail?
Essay questions vary by program! See the How to Apply page for more information (note: this is usually the most time-consuming part of the application process, so be sure to give yourself enough time to complete it!).
When will I learn whether I have been awarded a Fellowship?
FASPE aims to inform all Fellows of their acceptance by early-to-mid March.
FUNDING & TRAVEL
FASPE says its Fellowships are fully funded. What does this mean?
FASPE is committed to covering all program costs and related travel so that financial ability does not affect participation. Costs covered include:
- Roundtrip economy-class airfare from the US to Europe.
- All transportation costs for group travel and activities in Germany and Poland.
- All admission fees.
- All program materials.
- All hotel costs.
- All group meal costs.
- Pocket money to cover non-group meals.
If I am traveling to Berlin from outside the United States, will my travel costs also be covered?
Yes. FASPE will cover travel costs to Berlin from other points of origin and the return flight.
When do the Fellowship Programs generally take place and how long do they last?
Each FASPE Fellowship program lasts two weeks. The 2026 program dates are:
Law, Business, and Design and Technology: May 22, 2026 - June 5, 2026
Medical, Clergy & Religious Leaders, and Journalism: June 19, 2026- July 3, 2026
What is your COVID-19 vaccination policy?
The health
Do I need to participate in the entire program or can I leave early/start late?
All Fellows are required to attend their Fellowship Program from start to finish.
What if the Fellowship Program overlaps with my academic year or exam schedule?
FASPE has consistently worked with schools to allow Fellows to adjust academic and exam schedules and requirements, including by allowing Fellows to take an exam during the program.
Who are my travel companions?
Although there are six separate FASPE Fellowship Programs, there are currently two Fellowship trips to Europe. The Business, Law, and Design & Technology programs travel together on one trip, and the Medical, Clergy, and Journalism programs travel together on the second trip. Fellows on each trip travel together, visit sites together, participate in several interdisciplinary seminars and share meals and accommodations.
What are lodging arrangements during the program? Do I get my own room?
Fellows stay at three-star hotels in each of the three cities that FASPE visits: Berlin, Krakow and Oświęcim. In each city, each Fellow shares a room with one other Fellow. Roommates are rotated halfway throughout the program to give Fellows an opportunity to get to know each other. FASPE cannot provide or arrange for single accommodations.
What if I have special dietary requirements or other special requirements?
FASPE makes every effort to accommodate a Fellow’s dietary or other requirements. At each meal there is a vegetarian option available and FASPE will do its best to accommodate those who are vegan, have other food requirements or allergies or are observing particular religious dietary laws. In addition, FASPE will try to accommodate those who have other religious or health requirements.
How much walking is involved during the program? How does FASPE get to sites and restaurants?
On average, Fellows can expect to walk at least one to two hours a day while on the program. Fellows participate in walking tours in both Berlin and Krakow, walk to and from most sites and meals in those cities and spend two days walking through the Auschwitz Memorial Museum. Trips of longer distances, such as to the House of the Wannsee Conference in Berlin and travel between Krakow and Oświęcim, are made by bus. Fellows travel as a group from Berlin to Krakow halfway through the program.
PROGRAM INFO & ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Who leads the FASPE programs?
Each Fellowship Program is led by two faculty members who either are recognized academics in the field or who practice in the field, and a professional historian. All faculty members are trained in the contemporary ethical issues of their discipline. In addition to faculty, all trips are accompanied by several FASPE staff members, some of whom also teach particular seminars.
What is required of each Fellow during the program?
Fellows are required to be well-prepared and participate in all program activities, including all seminars, walking tours, site visits, group meals and other planned group activities. Each Fellowship program usually also involves some smaller group activities in which Fellows meet several times on their own to work on a particular project.
What is required of a Fellow prior to starting the program?
Prior to starting the program, Fellows are sent a packet of materials that includes the required reading assignments: articles, original source documents and book excerpts. FASPE also provides books for recommended background reading. All costs related to purchasing and sending these materials are covered by FASPE. In addition, ahead of the program, Fellows are also required to complete one or two short writing assignments in response to a prompt. Handing in the writing assignments in due time before the trip is a prerequisite for being able to participate in the program.
Do Fellows have any obligations following the program?
Yes. Following the program, Fellows are required to complete a capstone project on a question of historical or contemporary ethics in their professional field on a topic of their choosing. This project might take the form of a final paper, but in some programs, the project consists of a news article, a sermon, a case study or blog post(s). Fellows are given more detailed information regarding the final project specific to their Fellowship at the start of the program. Each year, several of the final papers or projects from each discipline are chosen to appear in that year’s annual FASPE Journal. A number of Fellows have also gone on to publish their final papers in established academic journals or general media outlets.
What languages do I need to speak in order to participate in the program?
FASPE programming is conducted in English. It is not necessary for participants to have any knowledge of German or Polish, but a high level of fluency in English, both written and spoken, is necessary.
What is the role of FASPE Alumni Fellows?
FASPE now has nearly 1,000 Fellows in its alumni community. FASPE considers its alumni Fellows to be an integral part of FASPE, and it is committed to providing support and resources for their continued development as ethical leaders and practitioners. FASPE hosts an annual reunion as well as regular regional events for its Fellows, and it offers opportunities for continued professional development.
Fellows are also partners in FASPE’s program development and outreach. During the program, Fellows often form meaningful professional and personal ties with other Fellows and FASPE faculty that last and grow throughout the years. Recently, a Alumni Steering Committee has been established, which helps initiate and coordinate our activities in this field.
Can I receive academic credit for participating in FASPE?
FASPE does not grant academic credit, but some institutions do grant academic credit for participating in the program. Fellows should inquire with their schools to find out if they can obtain credit for participating in FASPE, and FASPE will be happy to provide any necessary documentation.
Whom should I contact if I have any further questions?
For further questions regarding FASPE’s Fellowship Programs, please contact applications@faspe-ethics.org