International Affairs Fellowship
The CFR International Affairs Fellowship offers mid-career professionals a year-long placement to conduct policy-relevant research and gain hands-on experience in U.S. foreign policy settings.
Funder: Council on Foreign Relations
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: $120,000 stipend for 12 months plus a modest travel grant; 8–10 fellowships awarded annually.
Summary: Immersive fellowship for mid-career professionals to advance U.S. foreign policy research and practice through placements in government, international organizations, or CFR.
Description
Established in 1967, this fellowship is designed to bridge the gap between academic study and the making of U.S. foreign policy by offering mid-career professionals an immersive, career-transforming experience. Fellows spend a year in a new professional environment—such as a U.S. government agency, an international organization, or the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)—working on research and policy-relevant projects. The program aims to cultivate the next generation of scholar-practitioners and has a distinguished alumni network in the U.S. foreign policy community.
Fellows are expected to work on-site at least four days per week. The program offers both a government track (for applicants from academia, the private sector, NGOs, or state/local government) and a CFR track (for federal government or U.S. military applicants). The experience is intended to be transformational, with a strong emphasis on career development and contributions to U.S. foreign policy.
