Apply now: Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute for Youth 2024
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the U.S. Embassy in Oslo invite Norwegian high school students to apply for the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows (BFTF) Summer Institute.
The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship is a four-week exchange program designed to foster relationships between young Europeans and Americans to promote awareness of shared values. The four-week program allows students ages 16 to 18 to explore U.S. foreign policy priorities such as youth engagement, support for democracy and civil society, and economic prosperity. The program consists of a series of lectures, seminar discussions and presentations, as well as a wide range of practical lecturer- and mentor-led workshops. Course and classroom activities are complemented by community service activities, site visits, social and cultural activities, and homestays with American families to deepen participants’ experiences with U.S. society during their exchange.
During the program, participants also have the opportunity to discuss other topics such as democratic practices, conflict resolution, problem solving, communication skills, critical thinking, tolerance and respect for diversity, youth leadership, team building, disinformation and media. The program will explore how freedom of expression gives citizens rights and imposes responsibilities.
The program is scheduled to take place in person from June 22 to July 10, 2024. If travel and in-person participation are not possible due to Covid-19, the program will move to a virtual platform. The program is hosted by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
This program is funded by the U.S. Embassy Oslo and the U.S. Department of State.
To apply for this unique opportunity you should:
- be born between June 24, 2006 and June 24, 2008
- have very good knowledge of English
- Commit to enrolling in a secondary school or university in Norway upon completion of the program in fall 2024;
- demonstrate a genuine interest in learning more about the United States;
- Be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive summer program of community service and educational travel;
- become familiar with campus life, shared accommodation, travel and interaction with a multinational, diverse group of participants from across Europe and the United States;
- COVID19 vaccinations
We encourage high school students of all backgrounds (including students with disabilities) to apply.
How to apply:
- the inquiry form
- a copy of your preliminary high school grades
- your CV
- a document with three short texts in which you answer these questions:
- Why would you be the perfect BFTF 2024 participant? (maximum 200 words)
- Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you and what did you learn from this experience? (maximum 200 words)
- Which three Americans from history or fiction would you invite to dinner and a conversation, and why? Be creative! (maximum 200 words)
