Pickering Fellowship
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program is postponed pending updates from the U.S. Department of State. The program is collaboratively administered by Howard University and the Bureau of Global Talent Management via a cooperative agreement. The program seeks to attract and prepare outstanding individuals 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.
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 U.S.-based universities separately from their application to the Pickering Program.
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.
Eligibility
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 U.S.-based graduate institution to begin in the fall of 2024 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). Open application; students and alumni are welcome to consult with our office.
Deadline
National Deadline: Postponed indefinitely pending updates from the U.S. Department of State
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