The U.S. Department of State is accepting applications for the Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship Program now through January 16, 2024. The two-year need and merit-based fellowship program, administered in cooperation with The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC), is intended for talented and diverse students in an IT-related post-secondary degree program, including accredited online degree programs.
The FAIT Fellowship is part of the Department of State's ongoing efforts to diversify the ranks of Information Management Specialists serving in the U.S. Foreign Service. The FAIT program encourages applications from populations traditionally underrepresented in the Foreign Service that reflect the diversity of the United States, as well as those with financial need. Undergraduates entering their junior year or graduate students entering a two-year master's degree program in an IT-related field are eligible to apply for this opportunity.
Students selected for the FAIT Fellowship program will receive academic support of up to $43,500 annually for tuition, room and board, books, mandatory fees, and some travel expenses for the two-year program. They will also receive stipends, housing, and travel allowances for two internship experiences, one at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., and one at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Upon successful completion of the Fellowship program and meeting the State Department's entry requirements, Fellows will receive an appointment in the Foreign Service as an Information Management Specialist.
Up to 15 fellows are chosen annually in a competitive selection process, with special consideration given to those with financial need. Applicants for the 2024 application cycle must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application.
- Hold a minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the time of the application and maintain this GPA throughout participation in the program.
- For the undergraduate fellowship:
- Community college students in an associate degree program must be seeking admission to enter a full-time, IT-related bachelor's degree program in Fall 2024 and on a timeline to graduate in Spring 2026.
- Four-year college/university students must be enrolled full-time in an IT-related bachelor's degree program and on a timeline to graduate in Spring 2026.
- Students enrolled in an accelerated IT-related bachelor's/master's degree program must be on a timeline to graduate in Spring 2026.
- For the graduate fellowship:
- Individuals must be seeking admission to enter a full-time, IT-related master's degree program in Fall 2024 and on a timeline to graduate in Spring 2026.
