Funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with financial support, mentoring and professional development to prepare them academically and professionally for a career in the U.S. 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.
Program benefits include:
- Graduate candidates: Up to $37,500 annually for tuition, room and board, books, mandatory fees and some travel expenses for a two-year master’s degree in fields related to the Foreign Service such as business administration, economics, public policy, international affairs, and other relevant fields.
- Two summer internships, one at a domestic office of the Department of State in Washington, D.C. and one overseas at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The program provides stipends, transportation and housing for these internships.
- Employment in the Department of State Foreign Service for those who successfully complete the program and Foreign Service entry requirements.
Pickering applicants must:
- be U.S. citizens;
- be college juniors for the undergraduate fellowship, or hold a Bachelor's degree at the start of the award year for the graduate fellowship;
- have a minimum GPA of 3.2;
- participate in all aspects of the program