Professional Fellowships

Below are a few fellowship and scholarship opportunities through individual organizations. These fellowships offer paid work (usually for a period of one year) upon completion of your degree. Current students may also apply for these fellowships if they plan to graduate by the June after the application deadline. Many deadlines are in early fall – note that many of these fellowships are for US citizens, but other countries have equivalent fellowships.

Please also visit the APSIA Fellowships & Scholarships page to find additional fellowship and scholarship opportunities that are available.

For Undergraduate students and Alumni with at least a BA:

• Bienecke Scholarship Program for Graduate Studies is for college juniors of exceptional ability and achievement to receive $34,000 for graduate school in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. UW Deadline in January.
• Carnegie Junior Fellows Program matches fellows with senior associates- academics, former government officials, lawyers, and journalists from around the world- to work on a variety of international affairs issues in DC. UW deadline in November.
• The Christianson Grant is awarded to individuals aged 18-28 who have arranged their own work abroad programs. Proposed programs must be at least 6 months in length and emphasize a work component. Application deadlines in March, July & October.
• Fulbright Program funds a year abroad for individually designed study/research projects or an English Teaching Assistantship. UW deadline in September. US Citizens Only. (International students interested in the Fulbright Program must apply through the binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassies.)
• National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) Next Generation Fellowship is a year-long fellowship at NBR’s headquarters in Seattle. Fellows will collaborate with leading scholars to conduct independent research and participate in the briefing of research findings to the policymaking community in Washington, D.C.
• The Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program is for young people who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Payne Fellowship, which provides up to $90,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities, provides a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service. Application deadlines in January. US Citizens only.
• Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program offers financial support through graduate school. The goal of the Fellowship Program is to attract outstanding students who enroll in two-year master’s degree programs in public policy, international affairs, public administration, or academic fields such as business, economics, political science, sociology, or foreign languages, who represent all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds and who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State. Application deadlines in January. US Citizens Only.
• Rangel International Affairs Fellowship aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service. Each year, the Rangel Program selects 20 fellows (from about 200 applicants) and helps support them through two years of graduate study, internships and professional development activities, and entry into the Foreign Service. Application deadlines in January. US Citizens Only.
• The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides a $30,000 stipend for a graduating college senior to pursue one year of public service anywhere in the world. The award allows recipients to engage in a meaningful public service activity for one year before proceeding on to graduate school or a career.Application deadlines in January.
• The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship Program invites college graduates (and those who will have graduated by the start of the program) to apply for full-time, six-to-nine month fellowships in Washington, DC. Outstanding individuals will be selected to work with nonprofit, public-interest organizations addressing peace and security issues. Application deadlines in October.
• The Princeton in Latin America/ Asia/ Africa Program: Partners with NGOs and multilateral organizations and places highly qualified recent college graduates in year-long service fellowships with nonprofit, public service, humanitarian, and government organizations.

For Graduate students and alumni with at least a Master’s:

• Alfa Fellowship Program in Russia is a high-level professional development exchange program placing qualified young professionals in work assignments at leading organizations in Russia in the fields of business, economics, journalism, law, and public policy. Deadlines in December.
• The Asia Foundation invites recent post-graduate degree holders or those who will have their degree by the program start date to apply for opportunities as Junior Associates in Asian Affairs in the Foundation’s offices in San Francisco or Washington, D.C. These short-term affiliations are to further the professional development of individuals specifically interested in Asia. Deadlines in April and August for summer and autumn programs.
• Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship allows those with a Master’s or PhD to serve in professional placements as “special assistants” in foreign government ministries or institutions and to gain hands-on public sector experience in participating foreign countries while simultaneously carrying out an academic research/study project.Deadline in February. US Citizens Only.
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program funds a year abroad for individually designed study/research projects or an English Teaching Assistantship. UW deadline in September. US Citizens Only. (International students interested in the Fulbright Program must apply through the binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassies.)
• Human Rights Watch Fellowships in International Human Rights are for students and graduates of law schools or grad programs in journalism, international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines from universities worldwide.Deadlines in October.
• Presidential Management Fellowship is a flagship federal leadership development program at the entry level for advanced degree candidates. In addition to salary and benefits, your 2-year government appointment will provide a fast-paced opportunity to gain experience and develop your talents. After successful Program completion and job performance, the PMF may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances a term appointment lasting 1-4 years) in the competitive service. Deadlines in September. US Citizens Only.
• Betty Jane Narver Policy Fellowship through the Washington State Budget & Policy Center, offers a year-long part-time paid fellowship position for future policy leaders. It is open to any currently enrolled graduate student in a college or university, and recent graduates with a master’s degree or Ph.D. Deadlines in September.
• National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) Next Generation Fellowship is a year-long fellowship at NBR’s headquarters in Seattle. Fellows will collaborate with leading scholars to conduct independent research and participate in the briefing of research findings to the policymaking community in Washington, D.C.
• NBR – Chinese Language Fellowship Program seeks to train a new generation of scholars who possess deep understanding of China’s contemporary politics, society, and modern history, as well as fluency in Chinese language. It provides fellowships of up to $50,000 to American graduate students whose work focuses on China policy issues to spend a year taking part in intensive Chinese language training at an institution of the fellow’s choice, generally in China or Taiwan.
• NNSA Nonproliferation Graduate Fellowship Program. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) is developing future leaders for global nuclear security. The year-long program offers exceptional graduate-level students a salary, benefits, and hands-on experience, as well as specialized training, career development, and professional networking with NNSA experts and leading researchers. The NGFP selects roughly 50 Fellows out of about 200 applications each year. Deadline: October 3. US Citizens Only.
• The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship Program invites college graduates (including current graduate students) to apply for full-time, six-to-nine month fellowships in Washington, DC. Outstanding individuals will be selected to work with nonprofit, public-interest organizations addressing peace and security issues.Application deadlines in October.
• White House Fellows Program individuals typically spend a year working as a full-time, paid Fellow to senior White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries and other top-ranking government officials. Deadlines in January. US Citizens Only.
• The Veterans Innovation Partnership is a public-private alliance from the Department of State to offer to U.S. citizen veterans of the American armed forces a one-year paid fellowship to gain experience by working in a U.S. Government international affairs agency.