How to Apply

The application for the FAIT Fellowship 2027 is now open!

The final deadline to submit your application is December 7, 2026, at 11:59 pm (EST). Any applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Please take note of your local time zone.

Before you apply:

When you are ready, click the Apply Now button below.   This will take you to The Washington Center’s program application portal login page. If you have not yet registered, click “Create an Account.” Once you are in the program application portal, click the Apply Now tab and select FAIT Fellowship.

<p>APPLY NOW</p>

FAIT Fellowship Timeline

Below is a general timeline for the 2027 cohort of the FAIT Fellowship program.

  • October 15 – December 7, 2026: Applications accepted
  • January 2027: Notifications of finalist selections are sent via email
  • January 2027: Finalists participate remotely in the interview and selection process
  • June 2027: Orientation for selected FAIT Fellows 2027 cohort
  • June – August 2027: Domestic Internship (10 weeks), Professional Development Series
  • September 2027: Enter the junior year of your undergraduate program OR the first year of your graduate program
  • May 2028: Finish your spring semester
  • May – August 2028: Overseas internship (10 weeks)
  • September 2028: Fall semester begins (final year of your undergraduate or graduate program)
  • May 2029: Final opportunity to pass the Foreign Service Specialist Assessment (FSSA) before graduation
  • May 2029: Graduate with your bachelor’s degree or your master’s degree
  • September 2029: Enter the Foreign Service as a Diplomatic Technology Officer

Application Documents

Your application must include:

U.S. passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers

You will need to submit an unofficial copy of  transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended for two or more semesters.

Explain why you want to pursue a career in the Foreign Service (750 words max.):

Maximum two-page resume that highlights your leadership skills (read this article for tips)

If you received financial aid during the most recent academic year, you are required to submit a Financial Aid Letter listing grants or loans.

  • If you received financial aid during the most recent academic year, you are required to submit your FAFSA Submission Summary.
  • If you did not receive financial aid during the most recent academic year, you must complete the FAFSA to generate a FAFSA Submission Summary.

Use this as an opportunity to address any financial hardship or impactful adversity you may have experienced that affects your overall financial standing. You may also include:

  • Assistance you received during your undergraduate studies
  • Your overall education-related debt
  • Your ability/plans to pay for graduate school and/or your junior and senior years of undergraduate (depending on whether you are applying for the Graduate or Undergraduate Fellowship).

Select recommenders who can explain why you are uniquely qualified for the fellowship.

  • If you were enrolled in a degree-granting program within the last two years, the letter must be from a professor or faculty member who knows you.
  • If you have been in an online program, you may select an individual who is familiar with your academics, professional work, or volunteer/community activities.
  • If you are returning to graduate school after a couple of years, choose someone who is familiar with your academics, professional work, or volunteer/community activities.