The Thomas R. Pickering Undergraduate 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 Pickering Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship seeks to recruit talented students in academic programs relevant to international affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management, and science policy. The goal is to attract outstanding students from all ethnic, racial, and social backgrounds 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 from academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the Department, who are dedicated to representing America’s interests abroad

The fellowship award includes tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees during the junior and senior years of college and during the first year of graduate study. Each year’s award also includes reimbursement for books and for travel (one round trip per academic year, up to a set maximum amount). The Fellow must commit to pursuing a master’s degree in international studies at one of the graduate schools participating in the program. Participating graduate schools provide financial support in the second year of graduate study based on need.

In the 2012 Fellowships, financial support of up to $40,000 annually for actual expenses for the senior year of college and the first year of graduate study will be provided by the Department of State through the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. 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. Participating schools provide financial support in the second year of graduate study based on need.