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.

In the 2012Fellowships, 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, laboratory fees and one round- trip ticket per academic year between the Fellow’s residence and the academic institution, pending availability of funds.