Germany
5 Young Professional Journalist Program
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length8-10 Months |
Award Type
Discipline-Specific Awards
Award Profile
Fulbright Germany’s journalists program provides talented early career U.S. journalists the opportunity to come to Germany for a research and practice-oriented experience and to gain insights into the political, economic, cultural, and social fabric of the host country. The 10-month stay starts in September and typically begins with the grantees undertaking individual research, followed by one or more internships with German media institutions. The website https://medialandscapes.org/country/germany offers further information on Germany’s dynamic media market.
Applications are open to candidates of all personal and academic backgrounds.
Please refer to the Fulbright Germany website for detailed information on the grant benefits.
Grant Length
Grant Period
8 - 10 months for Bachelor's and Master's Degree Levels.
Grants begin in mid-September, usually with an orientation meeting in Germany.
Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation: Grantees will participate in an online pre-departure orientation meeting and also participate in an in-country in-person orientation meeting organized by Fulbright Germany.
Candidate Profile
Applicants should be beginning professional journalists or recent graduates in journalism or related fields with no more than 7 years of professional experience.
Candidates pursue research on a self-directed and Germany-related project of their choice at a German university or at other relevant institutions. They should demonstrate clear project objectives and ideas of how to approach their project methodically, including the necessary resources (institutions, libraries, archives) and individuals that will contribute to the success of the project.
Candidates who have strong intercultural and leadership skills, and who have experience with and motivation for community engagement, are particularly encouraged. Adaptability, resilience, and openness are a requirement.
Applicants chosen as Semi-Finalists will need to submit work samples to Fulbright Germany.
For specific requirements regarding these work samples please see the Special Application Instructions below.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
When not tending to the terms of their grant, Fulbrighters in Germany have plenty of time to invest how they please. Many grantees become involved with or even host local groups, such as for further language exchange or any variety of outdoor activities, building enriching connections beyond their institution. Well connected by rail and bus, grantees in Germany have the chance to experience much more than their host city, particularly after the introduction of the Deutschland ticket.
Some cultural differences, such as Ruhezeit on Sundays or the pedestrian culture, are immediately apparent for grantees coming to Germany. However, over the course of their exchange, Fulbrighters become intimately acquainted with the full range of both similarities and differences between life at home and Germany.
Eligibility
4 Months
Applicants already enrolled in a master’s program in Germany, or who have already begun their academic program in Germany, are not eligible for Fulbright funding.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
In your Fulbright online application, please select Young Professional Journalist from the Award Name drop-down menu to be considered for this award.
Upon notification in January, semi-finalists must submit five journalistic work samples to Fulbright Germany for the selection committees. Please read carefully the description of required work samples:
- must be journalistic and published recently (within the 12 months preceding the application deadline in October)
- must show the coherence between the applicant's previous work and the project to be pursued while in Germany
- may include a mix of formats as long as the total number of pieces submitted does not exceed five
- must include the title of the piece, the date of publication, name of media, and the author
- printed work samples must be scanned and together with digital work samples merged into one pdf-document
- this document has to be sent to Fulbright Germany via email to: americanprograms@fulbright.de
- applicants must not send any additional application documents to Fulbright Germany
- deadline for submission is January 15, 2026
For questions, please contact Fulbright Germany via email: americanprograms@fulbright.de
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
German language skills need to meet the required language proficiency to pursue the envisaged project.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Applicants are responsible for arranging their own affiliation with higher education or research host institutions in Germany.
Before beginning the application process, candidates should research the best match to pursue research or to study, taking into consideration the faculty, achievements, publications, and research of the relevant research institute or university department, as well as their locations.
Applicants are required to solicit a meaningful letter of invitation/support from their host institution and include it in their Fulbright application. The letter should make clear reference to the applicant's project, explain the institution's motivation for hosting the applicant, confirm the feasibility of the project, and outline the cooperation and support which the host institution will offer to help achieve the applicant's goals. The invitation letter is a prerequisite for the affiliation/matriculation with the host institution as a visiting/non-degree-seeking student or researcher. The host institution (either university or research institute) must also provide documentation of affiliated student/researcher status in order for the grantee to apply and receive the required residence permit/visa for Germany.
In general, candidates are recommended to consult with the international offices of their intended host institutions regarding matriculation/affiliation requirements for Fulbright grantees.
All designated grantees must be officially affiliated/associated with the host institution be it a research institute or one of the 400 accredited German academic institutions. This may either be a full student (visiting/non-degree seeking) matriculation or a researcher status. The matriculation at a university facilitates access to university resources, public transportation passes, health insurance, and, most importantly, the residence permit. Affiliation with a research institute may provide the candidates with office and lab space, computer facilities, internet connection, library access, and help with securing a residency permit. The host institution (either university or research institute) must provide documentation of affiliated student/researcher status in order for the grantee to apply and receive the required residence permit/visa for Germany.
Grantees usually spend the first months of their grant studying and conducting independent research, followed by one or more internships or guest journalist positions at German media outlets or publishers. It is the sole responsibility of the grantee to secure an internship, if needed Fulbright Germany offers support in connecting grantees with helpful contacts.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
General one-time allowance of EUR 600
Additionally, one-time round-trip travel allowance of EUR 1,400
Additional Grant Benefits
- Health insurance (in addition to ASPE)
- Mid-year seminar
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
While American Fulbrighters in Germany will be pleased to discover an overall lower cost of living, depending on where one lives, these costs may differ widely. Generally, those based in smaller towns find the stipend is more than sufficient for covering their monthly expenses including some for leisure activities. However, for grantees based in larger cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, higher costs of living, especially for housing, mean the stipend is likely to be insufficient. Although in these cases the stipend should cover all or the majority of necessities, individuals based in a city should consider beforehand if they can feasibly manage to cover whatever their stipend does not.
The majority of grantees in Germany pay between EUR 300-500 per month for housing (although higher in cities, often between EUR 600-800), with nominal costs for auxiliary bills. For example, grantees can expect to pay as little EUR 20 a month for a cell phone plan. Depending on lifestyle, EUR 200 a month should comfortably cover food expenses.
Dependents
EUR 276/month and German health insurance coverage
Housing Arrangements
Applicants are responsible for their own housing arrangements and costs.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Additional Online Resources
What is Fulbright Germany?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImOplb6hWk