The Humanity in Action Fellowship brings together international groups of current college and university students and recent graduates to explore compelling, current issues of liberal democracy, pluralism, human rights and social justice within the specific historical and cultural contexts of each of the program offices. Intensive and demanding, the virtual programs are an educational space for transatlantic dialogue, reflection and informed action. The Action Projects that Fellows implement in the second phase of their Fellowship experience promote democratic values and social justice in their own communities.

Programs Accepting Applicants from the US:

• Amsterdam Fellowship
• Berlin Fellowship
• Copenhagen Fellowship
• Mapping Democracy (US Program in Washington DC)

Check website for specific program dates: https://humanityinaction.org/apply-from-the-usa/

Cost:

The Humanity in Action Fellowship programs are fully-funded, with the exception of a small number of meals and the cost of airfare – which Fellows are responsible for financing. However, Humanity in Action provides full and partial stipends for all of those with documented need.

Humanity in Action's Mission and Network

Humanity in Action is a collaborative, international learning community of individuals from or based in eight European countries and the United States committed to the values of pluralism, liberal democracy, social justice, and human rights. We seek to promote these values through different forms of civic engagement shaped by the specific historical and cultural contexts in which we live.

• We educate to assess contemporary challenges to the values of liberal democracy and pluralism through a comparative and historical framework.
• We connect an ever growing transatlantic community to promote continual learning and collaboration.
• We inspire action for advancing social justice and equity.

After the four-week on-site educational programs, Fellows return to their home countries to develop and implement Action Projects to address social justice issues in their own communities and their own time. The Action Project implementation stage is not a full-time commitment and can be completed as a Fellow continues their college or university studies or career. Past Action Projects have ranged from the production of documentaries and theatrical plays to community organizing projects, campaigns and social enterprises.  

Graduates of the one-year Fellowship program then are invited to join a transatlantic network of over 2,000 alumni as Senior Fellows. Senior Fellows have developed careers as entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, journalists, researchers, performers, writers and professionals from all disciplines, united by a shared commitment to advancing human rights through civic engagement. Humanity in Action provides Senior Fellows with opportunities for continued learning and engagement through annual international conferences on both sides of the Atlantic, professional fellowship programs, study tours, grant competitions and more.

Applicants to the Humanity in Action Fellowship must be one of the following:

•  
• currently enrolled undergraduate students from the US or at US-based colleges and universities (sophomores, juniors, and seniors); or
• recent graduates (for the 2023 Fellowship, we define recent graduates as individuals from the undergraduate or graduate classes of 2020 and 2021. For undergraduates, we define recent graduates as individuals who attended accredited, four-year undergraduate colleges or universities in the United States, having graduated in spring 2020 or later); or
• currently enrolled, second-year community college students who plan to continue their secondary education; or
• currently enrolled Masters and PhD students at US-based universities.

If you are a United States citizen studying at a foreign university, you are eligible to apply to the Humanity in Action Fellowship through the United States. If you are a United States student studying at a university in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands or Poland, you may also be eligible to apply through the Humanity in Action offices in those countries. Please contact those offices directly to confirm your eligibility.

If you are a non-US citizen studying at a university in the United States, you are eligible to apply to the Humanity in Action Fellowship through the US office.

If you a student or recent graduate from and/or based in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, or Ukraine, please select this country’s name from this page to view their application information. If you are unsure through which country’s application you should be applying, please contact admissions@humanityinaction.org.

Applicants are encouraged to apply to all programs you are interested in.

More questions? Please reference our FAQs page for more information.

• sophomore
• junior
• senior
• graduate

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• International or Other Visa Status
• Undocumented

Apply at https://www.humanityinaction.org/apply-from-the-usa/usa-application-process/. 

Application Requirements for Applicants from the United States

• Personal Statement
• Short Answer Responses
• Essay Question Response
• Action Project Pitch Video
• CV / Resume
• Copy of Unofficial Transcripts
• One Letter of Recommendation and contact info for one other reference
• Application Fee of $20*

*Application fees may be waived for financial need. Please reference our FAQs page for more information.

The selection process involves two phases.

PHASE I

During the first phase, a panel of Humanity in Action staff, board members, and Senior Fellows reads over all of the applications and selects a pool of finalists for further review by the national Humanity in Action’s Selection Committees.

PHASE II

During the second phase, the Selection Committees read and evaluate all finalists’ applications and conduct group interviews with finalists. All finalists will be interviewed by a small panel of the Selection Committee together with two or three other finalists. The additional reference will be contacted at this point.

SELECTIONS

The final selections are made based on this second reading, reference information, and the interview.

Our Fellows commit to:

• participating in the full programming of the intensive four-week educational program as well as in pre-Fellowship calls and readings;
• delivering program assignments in a timely manner;
• share responsibility for creating a supportive, collaborative community of Fellows;
• completing their Action Project within 11 months of the on-site educational component of the program;
• sharing evaluations with Humanity in Action throughout and after the Fellowship to advance the program for future cohorts.

Humanity in Action

41 Flatbush Avenue, Suite 203

Brooklyn, NY 11217