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Application

Applications for the Fall 2026 term are no longer being accepted. Applications for the Spring 2027 term of the fellowship will open in October 2026. See below for details about eligibility and the application requirements.

All current undergraduates from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, and Holy Cross College are eligible to apply. Applicants can be part of any college or major, and we welcome applicants who are not regularly involved in political activities on campus. Moreover, we welcome applicants from all political and ideological backgrounds who are interested in engaging seriously and respectfully with speakers and fellow students who may disagree with them.

Please note that current fellows must reapply to continue in the fellowship, and students who are studying abroad in the fall semester are not eligible to apply. Also, because we are only able to accept a limited number of fellows each semester, students should only apply if they are committed to participating fully in fellowship programming and events. In a typical semester, fellows are expected to participate in one weekend seminar and around 5-10 other events--most of which take place in the mornings or evenings in order to avoid normal class times.

To apply, students must provide basic personal information and the following materials:

    • Resume/CV (one page maximum)

    • Personal Statement

For New Applicants: Please answer the following questions in no more than 1,000 words (total):

        1. What do you hope to gain from the serious study of politics, law, religion, and public life in the Tocqueville Fellowship?

        2. How does the Tocqueville Fellowship align with your academic, professional, or vocational interests and aspirations?

        3. What distinct contribution do you think you would make to the fellowship?

For Returning Fellows: In no more than 1,000 words (total), please explain:

        1. What specific experience or aspect of the fellowship was most meaningful to you during your most recent semester in the fellowship? What impact has the fellowship had on your intellectual, spiritual, and/or vocational development?

        2. Why another semester in the program would be valuable to you. What would you hope to gain from it? What would you contribute? To what extent will you be able to prioritize the fellowship in the coming semester?

Returning fellows who will be seniors during the 2026-2027 academic year can also choose to be considered for a "Senior Fellow" position. Two seniors (one female, one male) will be chosen to play a leadership role in the fellowship for the entirety of their senior year. Working closely with Tyler Castle, they will help brainstorm fellows programming (especially social programming), serve as mentors for younger fellows, and invest back in the fellowship in various ways. This is an honorific position (not a paid one), and the time commitment is not onerous.

If you have any questions, please contact CCCG Associate Director Tyler Castle (tcastle2@nd.edu).