Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship

A four-week summer fellowship for German high school students to study U.S. foreign policy priorities, leadership, and civic engagement through lectures, seminars, workshops, community service, site visits, and homestays. The program fosters transatlantic relationships and includes follow-on project implementation upon return to participants' home communities. The 2026 edition is hosted by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and emphasizes youth engagement, democracy, and civil society development. All program costs are covered by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.

Round-trip international airfare, program costs (housing including homestays, local activities, meals and academic programming), adult chaperones for flights, and limited health benefits through ECA’s ASPE program.

This program is only open to German citizens and legal permanent residents of Germany, ages 16–18, who are highly proficient in English and committed to enrolling in high school or university in their home countries in fall 2026. Preference is given to individuals who have not previously traveled to the United States on private or U.S. government-sponsored programs.

Visa (J-1) arrangements are handled for selected participants.