Eligibility Requirements for the FAIT Fellowship

The Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship offers undergraduate and graduate fellowships. All fellowships for the 2027 cohort begin in fall 2027. Undergraduates may qualify for a one-year or two-year fellowship, depending on when they expect to graduate. Graduate fellowships last two years.

All applicants must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen when you submit your application.
  • Be enrolled, or planning to enroll, in a full-time IT-related degree program at a U.S.-based accredited institution.
  • Hold a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Undergraduate Fellowship

Your expected graduation date determines whether you’re eligible for a one-year or two-year fellowship.

Two-year fellowship (graduate in spring 2029)
To be eligible, you must be on track to earn your bachelor’s degree in spring 2029 after four full-time semesters as a fellow. This option is open to:

  • Students enrolled full-time in an IT-related bachelor’s degree program at a four-year college or university.
  • Community college students in an associate degree program who are seeking admission to a full-time, IT-related bachelor’s degree program starting in fall 2027.
  • Students in an accelerated IT-related bachelor’s/master’s degree program.

One-year fellowship (graduate in spring 2028)
To be eligible, you must be enrolled full-time in an IT-related bachelor’s degree program at a four-year college or university and be on track to graduate in spring 2028 after two full-time semesters as a fellow. One-year fellows receive one year of academic funding at the same annual rate as two-year fellows.

Graduate Fellowship (Two Years)
You must be seeking admission to a full-time, IT-related master’s degree program starting in fall 2027 and be on track to graduate in spring 2029 after four full-time semesters.

As a selected FAIT Fellow, you must:

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher throughout the fellowship.
  • Receive and maintain a Top Secret security clearance, pass a suitability review and meet the minimum medical qualification standard. We’ll guide you through each step. (See Clearance Processes.)
  • Pass the Foreign Service Specialist Assessment (FSSA) and the Diplomatic Technology Officer Test (DTOT) by the time you graduate.
  • Serve as a Foreign Service Diplomatic Technology Officer after completing the fellowship and the U.S. Department of State’s entry requirements. Two-year fellows commit to five years of service, and one-year fellows commit to three years.

Questions about eligibility? Email FAITFellowship@twc.edu.