Launched in 1967, the International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) Program seeks to bridge the gap between analysis and action in foreign policy by inviting individuals from the academic, business, government, media, and religious communities to engage in a variety of policy studies and actively participate in policymaking. The distinctive character of the program lies in the contrasting experiences it provides at the juncture of policy research and policy formulation. Academic and other professionals from the private sector spend fellowship tenures in public service or in a policymaking setting, while government officials have the opportunity to study foreign policy issues in a scholarly atmosphere free from operational pressure.
CFR awards approximately ten fellowships annually to individuals with outstanding project proposals. In addition to providing fellows the opportunity to carry out research, the program integrates fellows in New York or Washington, DC, into the intellectual life of CFR. Fellows who are not in residence at CFR during their fellowship tenures will be invited to attend and participate in select CFR meetings and events. Generally fellows are placed at institutions in New York and Washington, DC.
The program is only open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents between the ages of twenty-seven and thirty-five who are eligible to work in the United States. CFR does not sponsor for visas. While a PhD is not a requirement, successful candidates generally hold advanced degrees and possess a strong record of work experience and firm grounding in the field of foreign policy. The program does not fund pre- or postdoctoral research, work toward a degree, or the completion of projects for which substantial progress has been made prior to the fellowship period.
Applications are primarily by invitation, on the recommendation of individuals in academic, government, and other institutions. Others who inquire directly and meet preliminary requirements may also be considered. Application materials will be forwarded to those invited to apply. Following a preliminary review by the selection committee, candidates selected as finalists will be interviewed. The selection committee deems the following criteria of particular importance: scholarly qualifications; achievements and promise; depth and breadth of professional experience; firm grounding in foreign policy and international relations; and a proposal that focuses on solutions to identified problems in U.S. foreign policy. Candidates are encouraged to plan a systematic approach to assessing the major substantive and process issues of their planned research. The proposal will be judged on the proposed work's originality, practicality, potential, likelihood of completion during the fellowship period, and the contribution it will make to the candidate's individual career development via a sufficiently contrasting experience.
The duration of the fellowship is twelve months, preferably beginning in September and extending into August. While deferment is typically not granted, requests for only up to one year will be considered on a case-by-case basis and under special circumstances. The program awards a stipend of $85,000. Fellows are considered independent contractors rather than employees of CFR, and are not eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance.
Please address all correspondence to:
Fellowship Affairs
Council on Foreign Relations
58 East 68th Street
New York, NY 10065
212.434.9489 fax 212.434.9870
fellowships@cfr.org
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