Pursuing the FAIT Fellowship program is a big step toward a career in the Foreign Service. It’s also a major commitment on your part to not only complete your degree program, but also to fully participate in the opportunities provided by the U.S. Department of State for internships, professional development and mentorship. Your hard work is rewarded with an exciting career in the Foreign Service, supporting diplomacy through technology.

Before you begin the application process, use the checklist below to determine your eligibility to apply for the 2024 cohort of the FAIT Fellowship. If you can check off every item, you should be eligible to apply!

  • I am a U.S. citizen or will be U.S. citizen before the application deadline. (Note: You must be a U.S. citizen, not a permanent resident.)

  • I am pursuing (or plan to pursue) an IT-related degree program at a U.S.-based accredited college or university (this may be either an in-person or online degree program).

  • I will be enrolled full-time during the spring and fall semesters, starting in fall 2024 through spring 2026.

  • I will be on a timeline to graduate with a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in May 2026.

  • I hold a minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and will not fall below the minimum during the program.

  • I will be able to participate full-time in the State Department internships (in Washington, D.C. in summer 2025 and overseas at U.S. embassy or consultant in summer 2026).

  • If I am selected as a FAIT Fellow, I’m confident that I will be able to obtain and maintain security clearances, suitability requirements and minimum medical qualification standards.

  • If I am selected as a FAIT Fellow, I will agree to a minimum five-year commitment with the Foreign Service as an Information Management Specialist upon successful completion of the program and the State Department’s entry requirements.