Fellowships are a great way to gain exposure to the world of international affairs and explore different career paths. Below you’ll find great fellowship opportunities offered by the Foreign Service and others.

The Department of State offers several fellowship opportunities for students. Explore more below:

Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program

Who: U.S. citizens who plan to attend graduate school and who are interested in a Foreign Service career. Members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service and those with financial need are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA.
What: Funding for two years of graduate study in a field related to the work of the U.S. Department of State and two paid summer internships, the first on Capitol Hill and the second at a U.S. embassy. After graduation, fellows must fulfill a five-year service commitment as a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State.
When/Where: First internship takes place in Washington DC the summer before the start of graduate school in the fall the second takes place at a U.S. embassy abroad. The graduate study takes place in a U.S. graduate school of candidate’s choice.
How: Apply via https://rangelprogram.org/graduate-fellowship-program/overview-eligibility/.
Funding: In 2023, the Rangel Program plans to award 45 fellowships of up to $42,000 annually for a two-year period for tuition, room, board, books, and mandatory fees for completion of a two-year master’s degree. This includes up to $24,000 per year for tuition and mandatory fees and an academic year stipend of $18,000.

Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships

Who: U.S. citizens planning to attend graduate school and are interested in a Foreign Service career. Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA.
What: Funding for senior year and the first year of graduate school, two paid summer internships with the U.S. Department of State. After graduation, fellowship recipients must fulfill a five-year service commitment as an FSO with the State Department.
When/Where: Two paid internships, the first of which is prior to the start of graduate studies in the fall. The graduate study takes place in a U.S. graduate school of candidate’s choice.
Where: U.S. graduate school of candidate’s choice.
How: Apply via https://pickeringfellowship.org/.
Funding: The Pickering Program plans to award 45 fellowships of up to $42,000 annually for a two-year period for tuition, room, board, books, and mandatory fees for completion of two-year master’s degrees. This includes up to $24,000 per year for tuition and mandatory fees and an academic year stipend of $18,000.

Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowships

Who: U.S. citizen undergraduate and graduate students in IT-related degree programs who meet the program requirements, including a 3.2 GPA or above (see website for details).
What: Opportunities for academic funding, internships, professional development and mentorship, and ultimately, an appointment (full-time position) as a Foreign Service Information Management Specialist (IMS).
When/Where: Academic year. There are two summer internships: one in D.C. and one abroad.
How: For more information including how to apply, visit https://www.faitfellowship.org.
Funding: The program offers up to $43,500 annually (for two years) in academic funding for tuition, room and board, books, mandatory fees and some travel expense.

William D. Clarke, Sr. Diplomatic Security Fellowship

Who: U.S. citizens seeking admission to a two-year full-time master’s degree program at a U.S.-based accredited institution who meet the program requirements, including a 3.2 GPA or above (see website for details).
What: Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Clarke DS Fellowship is a two-year graduate fellowship program designed for individuals who want to pursue a master’s degree and a career as a Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Special Agent in the Foreign Service. DSS Special Agents are sworn federal law enforcement officers.
When/Where: Fellows must pursue a full-time master’s degree program at an accredited institution of their choosing starting in fall 2025 and earn their degree in spring 2027, after attending four full-time consecutive spring and fall semesters. There are also two summer practicums: one with the Diplomatic Security Service in Washington, D.C. and one at an U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Fellows receive a living stipend during their summer practicums, as well as travel and housing allowances.
How: Apply via https://clarkedsfellowship.org/.
Funding: Financial assistance for tuition, as well as room and board (see website for details).

Colin Powell Leadership Program

Who: Fellowships are available for recent college. graduates and internships are available for students who are enrolled at accredited institutions of higher education.
What: The Colin Powell Leadership Program recruits highly motivated candidates from diverse backgrounds who possess the potential and aspiration to become future Civil Service leaders at the State Department. Both internships and fellowships will lead to full-time employment opportunities at the Department and are focused on developing future leaders through official training, mentoring, and on-the-job experience for long-term success.
When/Where: Academic year.
How: For more information including how to apply, visit https://careers.state.gov/interns-fellows/civil-service-fellowships/colin-powell-leadership-program/.
Funding: See website for details.

MBA Special advisor Fellowship

Who: U.S. citizens who are MBA graduates or in their second year of an MBA program with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
What: The fellowship program a unique opportunity for recent MBA graduates to work directly with senior leaders who oversee critical management functions to enable DOS’s diplomatic mission
When/Where: Academic year.
How: For more information including how to apply, visit https://careers.state.gov/interns-fellows/professional-fellowships/mba-special-advisor-fellowship/.
Funding: See website for details.

Nancy Pelosi Fellowship

Who: U.S. citizens enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a U.S.-based accredited institution and considered a rising sophomore at the start of the first summer internship in 2025. Applicants must hold a minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and demonstrate financial need and academic achievement. See the website for additional eligibility requirements.
What: Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Nancy Pelosi Fellowship is a fully funded, merit- and needs-based undergraduate fellowship program for students interested in public service.
When/Where: The 2025 cohort of the Nancy Pelosi Fellowship provides a transformational summer experience in Washington, D.C., including a five-week paid internship, professional development, career-enhancing activities and mentoring. Full financial support is provided for travel and temporary housing expenses.
How: Apply via https://nancypelosifellowship.org
Funding: Fully funded program includes a paid internship, travel and temporary housing expenses (see website for details).

USAID also offers several fellowship opportunities for students. Explore more below:

USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowships

Who: U.S. citizens in their senior year of college or graduates planning to attend a U.S. graduate school. Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA.
What: Fellows work on the front lines of some of the most pressing global challenges of our times: poverty, hunger, injustice, disease, environmental degradation, climate change, conflict and violent extremism. The fellowship is a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service.
When/Where: Two years, full time/Washington, D.C., and Department of State offices around the United States.
How: Apply via https://www.pmf.gov and https://www.usajobs.gov. Application opens for two weeks during September.
Funding: The Payne Fellowship provides up to $104,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities.

Presidential Management Fellowship

Who: U.S. citizen graduate students in the final academic year of their degree or U.S. citizens who have completed a graduate degree within two years of the application deadline, who have a clear interest in public service.
What: The premier federal government leadership development program, designed to develop a cadre of potential government leaders.
When/Where: Two years, full time/Washington, D.C., and Department of State offices around the United States.
How: Apply via https://www.pmf.gov and https://www.usajobs.gov. Application opens for two weeks during September.
Funding: Two-year appointment as a salaried federal government employee.

Below is a list of other fellowships that may be of interest:

Boren Awards for International Study— Boren Fellowships

Who: U.S. citizen undergraduate or graduate students.
What: The Boren Fellowships are designed to give graduate students maximum flexibility to pursue their academic goals alongside their study of the target language. Fellows may have an internship, pursue research, and continue academic study.
When/Where: Language courses during the summer in the U.S and in the fall overseas, with the option to continue overseas study into the spring semester.
How: Apply via https://www.borenawards.org/eligible-programs. Note that Boren Fellowship applicants commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
Funding: Boren Fellowships offer up to $12,000 for summer intensive language study. If requested, the maximum total combined domestic and overseas award amount is $30,000.

Fellowships at DACOR Bacon House Foundation

Who: Graduate or Undergraduate students studying at an accredited college or university.
What: The DACOR Foundation annually awards $250,000 in scholarships and fellowships to students pursuing careers in diplomacy, development and international relations. Its Education Committee is to provide fellowships and scholarships to students interested in the study of international affairs, and in some cases to dependents of Foreign Service families.
How: Visit https://www.dacorbacon.org/scholarships_fellowships.php for more information.
Funding: The DACOR Foundation annually awards $250,000 in scholarships and fellowships to students pursuing careers in diplomacy, development and international relations.

Below is a list of the five fellowship and scholarship programs that DACOR offers:

• Graduate Fellowships for Study of International Affairs: This fellowship awards $10,000 to go towards a master’s degree in international affairs. Typically, eleven schools participate in the program with five which participate each year. Those are: American University, Johns Hopkins, University Georgetown University, George Washington University and Tufts.
• Undergraduate Metro Scholarships to Encourage Study of Foreign Affairs: These scholarships give $6,000 toward the tuition of juniors or seniors in college who are committed to a major discipline related to foreign affairs.
• Dreyfus Scholarships for Dependents of Foreign Service Officers at Yale and Hotchkiss: The purpose of this substantial bequest by Ambassador Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr. is to support the education of children and grandchildren of Foreign Service Officers attending Yale University (undergraduate and graduate), and The Hotchkiss School.
• AFSA-administered Foreign Service Dependent Scholarships: Each year DACOR allocates $40,000 to be administered by the American Foreign Service Association for scholarships.
• Gantenbein Medical Fund Fellowship: This fellowship grants a total of $30,000 per year to a first-year medical student attending a selected medical school in the U.S.
• Sherry Barndollar Rock Scholarship for Meeting the Education Needs of Foreign Service Spouses and Partners: In honor of the late Sherry Barndollar Rock, a Foreign Service spouse who accompanied her husband on several foreign assignments, The Sherry Barndollar Rock Scholarship grants up to $4,000 annually to the spouses and partners of Foreign Service employees assigned abroad to pursue educational goals which may have been disrupted by the spouse’s Foreign Service career.