Since 2002, the National Association of Fellowships Advisors has coordinated biennial
summer study tours for fellowship advisors.
Previous trips have taken us to Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, and Taiwan. These study tours allow fellowship advisors to become familiar with universities, higher education systems, and the foundations that sponsor scholarships and fellowships for study in these countries.
Upcoming Study Tours
Germany and Austria Study Tour
Sunday, May 12 – Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Program fee: $2,300 (single room) or $1,850 (double room) – some meals included
Registration limited to 30 participants. Register here.
A great professional development tradition returns with our Study Tour to Germany and Austria from May 12 – 22, 2024! Join fellow NAFAns visiting scholarship foundations, educational and research institutions, and cultural attractions in Berlin, Weimar, and Vienna. Deadline to apply is March 29, 2024.
Questions? Please contact Study Tour Committee Chair Susan Albrecht (albrechs@wabash.edu).
DRAFT ITINERARY
ALL Items Subject to Change Until Confirmed.
Similar institutions will be substituted if any below cannot host us on desired dates.
Scholarship participants and alumni may be met at different tour stops than listed below.
All lodging, transportation, daily breakfast and selected other meals are included.
Sunday, May 12
- Individual arrival at Berlin hotel by 5:00 PM local time
- Welcome dinner; Program Outline
Monday, May 13 to Wednesday, May 15 (Berlin, Germany)
- Visit the German Parliament.
- Meet representatives and current participants in Fulbright, DAAD, CBYX, and International Parliamentary Scholarships.
- Meet with representatives of six Berlin area universities.
- Walking tour of the central city.
- A day trip will also be taken to either Potsdam or Frankfurt Oder (TBD) for a university visit and exploration.
Thursday, May 16 to Saturday, May 18 (Weimar, Germany)
- Including a city in the former East was a must for tour planners, as we wanted to offer advisors the chance to experience a taste of an area of Germany that is often overlooked by US fellowship applicants.
- Visit universities, research institutes, and cultural attractions.
- Meet with competitive fellowship awardees.
- Take a walking tour of Weimar.
Sunday, May 19 to Tuesday, May 21 (Vienna, Austria)
- Walking tour of Vienna
- Visit University of Vienna, Viennese University of Economics
- Visit Fulbright Austria Commission, OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalization), U.S. Embassy Vienna
- Meet with U.S. competitive fellowship awardees in Vienna
- Cultural Events (scheduled and optional) listed closer to tour date
- Tour closing dinner, discussion, evaluation
Wednesday, May 22
- End of Germany-Austria Study Tour; Depart for home or elsewhere…
Germany/Austria Study Tour FAQ
Q. What is the deadline to apply?
A. The deadline is March 29, but space is limited! With a maximum of 30 participants, registering sooner rather than later is highly advisable – whether you seek single- or double-occupancy.
Q. Is there an option for a double room?
A. Yes! In a first for NAFA Study Tours, a limited number of double rooms are available for NAFA participants. Registration is first come, first served, so line up a roommate to register together (or let us know your gender preference) as soon as possible.
Q. What does it mean to say registration is first-come, first-served?
A. There are a firm 6 spots available for double occupancy and 24 for single occupancy. If the doubles fill early, later registrants will only be able to register at the single rate. If the single rooms all fill early, the only way to register will be to select double occupancy.
Q. What costs are covered in the Tour fee?
A. All lodging, in-country transportation for items on the Tour itinerary, and listed cultural events are fully covered by the fee, as well as daily breakfasts, three lunches, and five dinners. Airfare, other meals, incidental expenses and souvenirs, and transportation costs outside of the listed itinerary points are not included in the Tour fee and must be paid individually.
Q. Will I need to pay the full amount at registration?
A. No, you will be charged a non-refundable $300 deposit, which may be paid via credit card or by check to be received by March 29, 2024. Payment of the remaining balance will be due by May 1, 2024.
Q. What are the exact dates of the Tour, with arrival and departure times?
A. We ask that all registered participants arrive at the Berlin hotel by 5:00 PM on Sunday, May 12th, and plan to depart Vienna no earlier than the morning of Wednesday, May 22nd.
Q. So the Tour starts in one city and ends in another?
A. Yes. We begin in Berlin, travel to Weimar, and end the Tour in Vienna.
Q. Where can I find out what the Tour stops are?
A. A draft itinerary is available above. Note that lodging and dates in each city are set, but other items are subject to change until confirmed closer to the departure date.
Q. Do I need a visa to take part in the Tour?
A. If you are a U.S. citizen with a current, valid passport, no visa is required. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you are responsible for ensuring you can legally enter the European Union, Germany, and Austria prior to departure in May.
Q. I heard U.S. citizens might have to pay to enter the European Union. Is that true?
A. Our current understanding is that this fee does not take effect until 2025. Should such a policy apply to our May 2024 trip, we will let you know immediately. Participants would have to cover that fee individually.
Q. I have (friends, students, colleagues) in Germany and Austria who would love to see me. How can I meet up with them?
A. We ask that Tour participants plan to take part in all scheduled events on the itinerary. However, there is free time built into the Tour (often evenings) to plan whatever you would like outside of official events. Any time marked “dinner on your own” could be an optimal time.
Q. Will there be vegetarian or vegan options for meals during the Tour?
A. We are requesting all vendors for NAFA-organized meals provide a vegan option. You may note specific food allergies or dietary restrictions on your registration form, and we will do our best to accommodate these.
Q. Are all events, transportation, etc. accessible for those with disabilities?
A. We are planning the Tour with maximum accessibility in mind. Do note we will be traveling by train and using public transportation for much of the Tour, including for hotel transfers, site visits, and city-to-city travel. If you require accommodations not typically available when using public transportation or train travel, please note this on your registration form and we will do our best to accommodate these.
Q. May my spouse or significant other be the second person in a double room and/or take part in Tour events?
A. All rooms and events are reserved for NAFA members only. Spouses or significant others may shadow the Tour but should arrange their own lodging and not expect to take part in any official Tour events. We will generally pre-book and pre-pay for our group as a whole. However, for any event that is truly free and open (e.g., a city walk hosted by one of our co-leaders), partners would be welcome to come along.
Q. Do I need to speak or understand German to take part in the Tour?
A. Nein! All events will be held in English, and the Tour leaders are fluent in German (some even in Austrian dialects!) if interpretation is needed.
Q. With whom will we be meeting in Germany and Austria, and who are my co-participants on the Tour?
A. Biographies of those we are meeting with will be available closer to the Tour date. We will also be requesting your biosketch prior to departure to let others on the Tour and our hosts know who each of us are, too.
Q. I’ve never been to Germany or Austria. Is there a way to get a brief orientation or cultural tips beforehand?
A. Our team will be providing a list of resources and we also hope to hold a couple of online information sessions prior to departure.
Q. Do I need to purchase insurance for my trip?
A. That will be a decision left up to you. Do note that NAFA is not responsible for travel cancellation or interruption, damage, loss, or theft of luggage and/or personal belongings, or for personal injury, accident and/or illness, so it is recommended that you have adequate insurance to cover these possibilities. Insurance packages are normally available through your airlines. GeoBlue is an oft-recommended provider whose coverage also includes evacuation.
Q. Are there options for family, friends, and colleagues to keep up with our travels?
A. Yes, we plan to blog daily during the Tour and are looking for volunteers!
Past Study Tour Recaps
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Study Tour went virtual. NAFA partnered with Marshall Scholarships to organize Marshall Mondays Brunch & Learn. This experience offered virtual tours, an introduction to university programs, lectures, and meetings with scholars.
Each Monday from June 1–August 14, the following campuses hosted a virtual event; recordings from these are available in the Member Library:
- University of Exeter
- University of Birmingham
- University of Southhampton
- University College London
- University of Warwick
- University of Manchester
- University of Liverpool
- University of Bristol
- University of East Anglia
- University of Nottingham
- Imperial College
- University of Durham
- University of Kent
China Study Tour – May 8–17, 2018
Leaders: CET Academic Programs and NAFAns Charlotte Evans & Brian Souders
Twenty NAFA members traveled to three cities in China in May 2018: Beijing, Harbin, and Nanjing. They visited Schwarzman College, Yenching Academy, Princeton in Asia, Fulbright scholars based in China, CET Beijing, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, and more.
Read more about the 2018 China Study Tour
United Kingdom Study Tour – June 3–15, 2018
Leaders: NAFAns LuAnn Saunders-Kanabay & Barbara Wise; Mary Denyer, Marshall Scholarship Administration
This ever-popular tour was sponsored by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, with cooperation from the Rhodes Trust at Oxford, the Gates Cambridge Trust at Cambridge and the Fulbright UK Commission at selected sites. To Cardiff and back, attendees learned about UK postgraduate education and funding, experienced select universities, and met with fellowship recipients.
United Kingdom Study Tour – June 2016
To Glasgow and Back! Thirty-four NAFAns learned about UK postgraduate education and funding and visited 17 universities in June 2016. Sponsored by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, Mary Denyer (Assistant Secretary and Head of Scholarship Administration) again hosted and arranged this ever-popular tour with cooperation from the Rhodes Trust and the Rothmere Institute at Oxford, the Gates Cambridge Trust at Cambridge, and the Fulbright UK Commission at selected sites.
Read more about the 2016 UK Study Tour
Germany Study Tour – June 2016
Nineteen NAFAns met with representatives from nine funding agencies and visited universities and research institutions that are members of the German Excellence Initiative. The tour was generously organized and supported by Fulbright Germany and the DAAD. NAFAns traveled to Berlin, Dresden, and Leipzig. Participants also met with U.S. students and fellowship recipients who shared their firsthand experiences with those programs.
Read more about the 2016 Germany Study Tour
Taiwan Study Tour – March 10–20, 2016
The Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (i.e., Fulbright Taiwan) and the Taiwan Ministry of Education, International Division, hosted members of the National Association of Fellowships Advisors in Taiwan. Led by Brian Souders and Jeanne Sokoloski, the Taiwan trip was the first, exploratory NAFA trip to Asia. A group of 12 NAFA members visited major Taiwanese universities where Fulbright partnership awards are offered (National Chengchi University, Cheng Kung University, and National Taiwan University), in addition to visiting two Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship sites throughout the country. The group benefited from being introduced to the Taiwanese education system; took part in discussions with the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs; met with Foreign Service Officers at the American Institute in Taiwan (the unofficial American embassy); and were introduced to the fellowships available in Taiwan to U.S. students and faculty.
United Kingdom – June 2014
NAFAns traveled from London to Cardiff, to Southampton, to Reading and East Anglia, visiting 14 different institutions of higher education. During the site visits, participants met with university administrators, as well as with U.S. students who were studying in the UK. Universities included UCL, Imperial, Kings College, Royal Holloway, Reading, Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff, Surrey, Southampton, Birmingham, Nottingham, East Anglia, and Cambridge.
United Kingdom Study Tour – May 2012
Study tour took participants “on the road,” traveling from London to Edinburgh to Cardiff, visiting with 13 different institutions of higher education. Accompanied by Mary Denyer, assistant secretary and head of Scholarship Administration of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, participants were hosted by many of the institutions. During the site visits, participants met with university administrators, as well as with American students who are currently studying in the UK. The agenda included the Universities of Southampton, Cambridge, Durham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Imperial, UCL, Kings, Bristol, Cardiff, Keele, Warwick, and Oxford.
Washington D.C. Study Tour – June 2012
This tour provided participants with a range of intensive workshops including a “science day” with visits to the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and presentations from other relevant foundations (e.g., Goldwater, EPA, DoD/SMART). There were also half-day workshops on the UK/Ireland (Marshall, Mitchell, Gates Cambridge, Rhodes), IIE (Fulbright, Gilman, Boren, Freeman-Asia), and Truman/Udall. Participants traveled using the easily accessible Metro system. The tour also included a group dinner and an evening of entertainment at either the Capital Steps or Pal Joey.
Germany Study Tour – January 2010
NAFAns traveled to Germany on a tour organized and supported by both the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Fulbright Commission. Participants learned about the German educational system and various fellowship opportunities, some of which fund professional internships. Scholarship advisors were able to talk with faculty and administrators during site visits to a variety of institutions.
United Kingdom Study Tour
This was the fourth time members of NAFA traveled to the United Kingdom to visit universities and meet with fellowship organizations. The weeklong tour went to London, Oxford, and Cambridge. Representatives from various universities throughout the UK also met NAFAns in London. Thank you to Mary Denyer, assistant secretary & head of scholarship administration of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, for organizing this tour.
Germany Study Tour – June 2008
During the first-ever Germany Study Tour, 26 NAFAns traveled to universities and met with students in Berlin, Bonn, and cities in Bavaria over the course of 10 days. The tour was generously subsidized by both the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Fulbright Commission.
United Kingdom Study Tour – June/July 2006
NAFAns spent four days at Cambridge for a symposium. The following universities gave presentations: The University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London, University of Manchester, School of Oriental and African Studies, Cardiff University, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Courtauld Institute of Art, University of East Anglia, University of Bradford, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The group then traveled through Southern England (including a visit to Rhodes House, Oxford) and Wales before taking a ferry to Dublin, Ireland. While in Dublin, the group visited a number of Irish universities.
United Kingdom and Ireland Study Tour – June 2004
Members of NAFA were able to experience first-hand higher education in England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland through site visits to universities. Participants were able to choose one week in either England or Ireland or both weeks. The following visits were part of this tour: London School of Economics and Politics, Imperial College, School of Oriental and African Studies, University College London, Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, Manchester, and Westminster.
In Ireland, the following sites were visited: University of Ulster, Queens University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Dublin City University, National University of Ireland, Cork, Limerick, and Maynooth.
United Kingdom Study Tour – June 2002
NAFA members visited universities in England and Scotland:
- England: London School of Economics and Politics, School of Oriental and African Studies, Imperial College, Oxford Brooks, Oxford, Cambridge, York, Durham.
- Scotland: Edinburgh, St. Andrews