Saturday, January 7, 2012

The Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship


The Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship

Note: The Pickering Graduate Fellowship selects individuals seeking admission to graduate school for the following year. This program is for graduating seniors.

Mission

The Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program provides funding to participants as they are prepared academically and professionally to enter the United States Department of State Foreign Service. Women, members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, and students with financial need are encouraged to apply.
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. The program develops a source of trained men and women who will represent the skill needs of the Department and who are dedicated to representing America's interests abroad.

Fellowship Information

The 2012 Fellowships offer financial support of up to $40,000 annually for actual expenses during the first and second years of graduate school. This funding is to help cover tuition costs first then room and board, books, mandatory fees and one round- trip ticket per academic year between the Fellow’s residence and the academic institution, pending availability of funds.
Eligibility & Selection Criteria
Eligibility requirements include the following:
  • Only individuals who are United States citizens at the time of application will be considered.
  • Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • At the time of application, candidates must be seeking admission to graduate school for the following academic year. Winners are expected to enroll in a two-year, full-time master's degree program in either public policy, international affairs, public administration, or in an academic field such as business, economics, political science, sociology, or foreign languages (U.S. graduate institutions only).
  • A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale must be maintained throughout participation in the program.
Consideration will be given to qualified applicants who demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and academic achievement in programs relevant to the work of the U.S. Department of State, such as international affairs, management, communications, history, political science, economics, and foreign languages. Consideration will also be given to a candidate who demonstrates financial need. The number of fellowships will be determined by available funding.
Finalists will be invited to participate in an interview process.
http://www.woodrow.org/higher-education-fellowships/foreign_affairs/pickering_grad/application.php
NOTE: The application for the 2012 Thomas Pickering Graduate Fellowship competition is now open.
All application materials are due by January 30, 2012.