Deadline: 29-Sep-22
Interested in a career serving U.S. interests abroad? If so, the Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to promote positive change in the world.
Upon successful completion of a two-year master’s degree program and fulfillment of fellowship and Foreign Service entry requirements, fellows have the opportunity to work as Foreign Service Officers with the U.S. Department of State, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy, serving in Washington, DC or at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission around the globe.
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program is a U.S. Department of State program administered by Howard University that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people, who represent ethnic, gender, social, and geographic diversity and have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State. The Program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need.
Funding Information
The Award: 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.
Program Components
- The Degree: Fellows must obtain graduate degrees in international affairs or a related subject such as public administration, public policy, international relations, business administration, economics, history, political science, communications, or foreign languages at a graduate school approved by the Pickering Program. Law degrees do not satisfy this requirement. Fellows are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 throughout their period of study. Applicants apply to two-year graduate programs at US-based universities simultaneously with their application to the Pickering Program.
- Orientation: Fellows will participate in an orientation at Howard University in late May 2023. The purpose of this orientation is to familiarize the Fellows with all aspects of the fellowship and to enhance their understanding of, and skills for, Foreign Service careers.
- Two Summer Internships (Domestic and Overseas): Fellows will participate in two internships. The first, an internship working at the US Department of State headquarters in Washington, DC, will occur in the summer in between their first and second year of graduate study. The second internship will be an overseas placement in a US Embassy or Consulate that takes place during the summer after fellow's graduation. The program provides additional support for summer travel, housing, and other related expenses.
- Mentoring: Fellows will receive mentoring from a Foreign Service Officer for the duration of the fellowship.
Eligibility Criteria
This is a highly selective program. To be eligible to participate, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
- Seek admission to a two-year, full-time, on-campus, master's degree program at a US-based graduate institution to begin in the fall of 2023 in an academic field relevant to the work of the Foreign Service (public policy, international affairs, public administration, business, economics, political science, management science, organizational development/leadership, sociology, or regional studies).
For more information, please visit Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship.
For more information, visit https://pickeringfellowship.org/graduate-fellowship/overview-and-eligibility/