International Affairs Fellowship 2026 Available
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has officially opened applications for its prestigious International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) for the 2026–27 cycle. Since its inception in 1967, the IAF has nurtured more than 650 alumni who now represent some of the most influential voices in U.S. foreign policy — including a former secretary of state, undersecretaries of state and defense, ambassadors, and senior academics.
Widely regarded as the “Jewel of the Council,” the fellowship offers mid-career professionals a transformative year working in a setting distinctly different from their current role, either inside the U.S. government, at an international organization, or within CFR itself.
Funding Package
The IAF is a 12-month fellowship starting in September, offering a stipend of $120,000 for the full year. Fellows serve as independent contractors rather than employees, meaning no employment benefits, such as health insurance, are provided. CFR facilitates placements for fellows coming from academia or the private sector into government or international organizations, while fellows from the federal government or U.S. military can opt to work in CFR’s New York or Washington, D.C. offices.
Selected fellows are expected to work on-site at least three (03) days per week, and some positions may require obtaining a U.S. security clearance. In addition, two or more fellows each year are recognized with the designation of International Affairs Fellow in National Security for projects focused on national security threats.
Short Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be U.S. citizens.
- Be mid-career professionals with a strong record of achievement in foreign policy or related fields.
- Hold at least a bachelor’s degree (advanced degrees preferred for academic candidates).
- Not be applying to any other CFR fellowship in the same year.
- Be willing to work in a professional environment substantially different from their current one.
Preference is given to candidates with limited prior government experience (for academic/private sector applicants) or those able to contribute to CFR initiatives in RealEcon, China strategy, technology, or climate (for federal government/military applicants).
Apply: https://www.cfr.org/fellowships/international-affairs-fellowship
Timeline
The application period for the International Affairs Fellowship 2026–27 runs from September 15, 2025, to October 31, 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews in February 2026, and final award decisions will be announced by March 31, 2026. The fellowship year will commence in September 2026.
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