International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars

The fellowship is for twelve months. Selected fellows will begin their one-year fellowship between June and September. Fellows must arrange a paid sabbatical with their home universities. The program will match 50 percent of the fellow’s base salary for the academic year at their university (up to a maximum of $80,000 for the year) as well as provide modest assistance for moving expenses for those who need to relocate for the fellowship. Fellows are considered independent contractors rather than employees of CFR and are not eligible for employment benefits, including health insurance. No indirect costs can be deducted from the stipend award.

CFR assists fellows in finding a suitable placement for their fellowship. However, all placements are made at the discretion of the host institution. CFR cannot guarantee placement at any particular agency, office, or organization. The fellowship is intended as a full-time in-person experience for the duration of the fellowship; fellows should expect to work on-site with their host organization or agency at least three days per week.

Fellows seeking to spend their fellowship working at a U.S. government agency likely will need to obtain a security clearance. The process for obtaining a security clearance can be lengthy, and the U.S. government alone determines when a clearance can be granted. Because of the time needed to obtain a security clearance, affected fellows need to be flexible about their fellowship start date or be willing to begin their fellowships in a position that does not require a security clearance. Placements at international organizations and on Capitol Hill typically do not require security clearances.

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Applicants must be full-time tenured professors at a U.S. college or university whose research and teaching focuses on international relations, U.S. foreign policy, or other related fields.
• Applicants must have arranged a paid sabbatical with their home university.
• Applicants must hold a PhD.
• Applicants must propose to spend a year working on peace and security issues in the U.S. government or at an international organization.

The IAF for Tenured International Relations Scholars does not fund pre- or postdoctoral research, work toward a degree, or the completion of projects on which substantial progress has been made before the fellowship begins. The program is meant to be a transformational experience that gives tenured academics the opportunity to work in a policymaking setting. Preference is given to candidates with no significant work experience in the U.S. government or at an international organization.

The IAF for Tenured International Relations Scholars program is not accepting applications for the 2026-27 fellowship year.

Selection as an IAF for Tenured International Relations Scholars is based on the following criteria:

• scholarly qualifications
• professional experience and accomplishments
• the merits and feasibility of a proposal that addresses a relevant U.S. foreign policy topic
• the contribution the fellowship will make to the candidate’s insight on policymaking and its application to the candidate’s future research and teaching on international peace and security issues

The selection process is highly competitive. CFR awards up to five fellowships annually. A strong preference is given to candidates who have never received a CFR fellowship.

For more information, please contact [email protected].