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
Please keep an eye on this space for more information about 2026….
Past Study Tour Recaps
Germany and Austria Study Tour – May 12 – 22, 2024
Study tour lead: Susan Albrecht
NAFAs traveled to Berlin and Weimar, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, and met with representatives of and current participants in Fulbright, DAAD, CBYX, International Parliamentary Scholarships, Fulbright Austria Commission, OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalization), and U.S. Embassy Vienna. Participants visited local universities in each city as well as various cultural landmarks.
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