Scholarship details
For the academic year of 2022-2023, the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program opens its application for the 2023 Fellowship award. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Howard University, attracts and prepares young talent for careers in diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State. The Department of Justice welcomes contributions from members of minorities, women, and individuals with demonstrated financial need for higher education. Based on the principle that diversity is the strength of diplomatic work, the program benefits diversity, including race, ethnicity, class, and diversity.
The fellowship is offered to promote positive changes around the globe, after completing a two-year undergraduate degree and meeting the admission requirements of the Department of Foreign Affairs, you will be eligible to become a Foreign Affairs Officer in Washington D.C. and the United States Embassy, enforces and State Department policy, Consulates or diplomatic missions around the world. Fellows also commit to a minimum of five years of service with the state Department of Foreign Affairs. The five-year program begins at the same time as that registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
If you are one of the students who are interested to pursue your career in public service in the USA, the fellowship is the right one for you!
Scholarship Provider: U.S. Department of State
About the Provider
The US State Department is the principal foreign affairs agency of the United States, and the Secretary of State is the President’s Director of Foreign Policy. The Department of State’s Department of Foreign Affairs is an agency of approximately 13,000 employees that represents the United States abroad and is dedicated to serving the needs of American citizens living and traveling around the world. More than 45,000 foreign workers working locally also hold jobs abroad.
The Pickering Program has contributed significantly to the diversity of the State Department and continues to do so. Partners now represent the United States in countries around the world, in locations as diverse as South Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Eurasia. They promote human rights, help American citizens abroad, promote prosperity and development, deepen the relationship between the United States and people around the world, and promote American values and interests around the world.
The program provides graduate scholarships to qualified college seniors and graduates who have committed to overseas service. The fellowship will be providing a two-year fund for a graduate program, two summer internships provide tutoring from a Foreign Service Officer, and provides developments on other professional activities. The program will ensure that the Foreign Service shows the face of America to foreign audiences and provides a source of educated women and men who pursue foreign service careers at the State Department and represent American interests abroad.
Scholarship Summary
- Academic Year: 2022-2023
- Applicant’s Nationality: USA
- Degree Level: Master’s Degree
- Field: International Affairs, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Management Science, Sociology, Leadership, Regional Studies, History, Communication.
- Number of Awards: 45
- Duration: Two Years
- Scholarship Award: Tuition fee and other benefits
- Scholarship Country: USA
- Renewable: Yes
- Offered Annually: Yes
Scholarship Eligibility
- The students must be a US Citizen
- Must have good academic achievements of a GPA of at least 3.2 on a scale of 4.0 by the time of the fellowship application.
- Must be seeking for admission of 2 years full-time in a master’s degree program in the USA and in eligible field courses related to the fellowship program.
Application Process
The students must be able to complete the application form provided on the official website of the program.
Application Required Documents
- Personal Information
- Personal Statements must be written in at least 600 words or less, that explain the reason for applying for the fellowship, interest, commitments to pursue their careers in foreign affairs, and other relevant experience and knowledge.
- Two Letters of Recommendation, from the individuals that can explain why you will be qualified for the fellowship. Please keep in mind that you need to include the contact info of the recommenders in the online application form.
- A statement of financial need (400 words or less) describing the applicant’s need for financial aid while attending college, including a description of financial aid received during undergraduate studies; total education-related debt; and graduate school and her ability/plan to pay independently.
- Official letter on the award of financial aid from the applicant’s final year of bachelor’s studies, if he received financial aid. Applicants must submit a financial aid letter with grants or loans if they have not received aid
- FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) for the 2022-2023 academic year. If the applicant received financial aid in the previous academic year, they must submit the SAR form. If an applicant did not receive financial aid in the last academic year, they must complete the FAFSA to generate a SAR for the academic year of 2022-2023.
- Proof of Citizenship may include the student’s passport and other certificates. Selected applicants will be required to bring original copies during the interview.
- Official transcript of records
- GRE/GMAT score
The Fellowship Committee will be evaluated all the submitted applications and select an estimated 90 finalists by mid-November. Program staff will notify successful and unsuccessful applicants of the decision by the end of November. Candidates selected for the final assessment will be invited to an interview and to complete a roughly written exercise.
The selected finalist will be participating in the final round which also includes the writing exercise and the interview which will be held between December 7 to 9 2022.
Scholarship Awards
The Fellowship Program will be awarding 45 fellows with awards amounting to up to $42,000 annually for two years for the payment of their tuition fees, books, accommodation, and other mandatory fees to further their master’s degree.
- $24,000 for the tuition fee
- $18,000 for the student’s stipends
Application Deadline
The deadline to complete and submit the application is until September 29, 2022.
