Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship Program (United States)

The Pickering Program provides graduate fellowships to qualified college seniors and college graduates committed to joining the Foreign Service. The fellowship helps finance two-year graduate programs, provides two summer internships, offers mentoring from a Foreign Service Officer, and provides other professional development activities. The Pickering Program continues to ensure that the Foreign Service reflects the face of America to foreign audiences and provides a source of trained women and men dedicated to pursuing Foreign Service careers with the Department of State and representing America’s interests abroad.

The Pickering 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 Foreign Service entry requirements, fellows have the opportunity to work as Foreign Service Officers in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy, serving in Washington, DC and at U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic mission around the globe. Fellows also agree to a minimum five-year service commitment in the Department of State’s Foreign Service. The five-year service commitment begins upon entry into the Foreign Service.

Program Components

• 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.
• 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 U.S.-based universities separately from their application to the Pickering Program.
• Orientation: Fellows will participate in a weeklong orientation at Howard University during June 2025. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 Foreign Service Officers 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 U.S.-based graduate institution to begin in the fall of 2025 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).
• The Program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need.

For more information, visit Pickering Foreign Affairs Program.