Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026

FellowshipUSA · Washington · Hybrid

IAPS AI Policy Fellowship

Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS)

Application Deadline

Closed · February 2, 2026

Reopens ~Feb 2027

Official Page

The AI Policy Fellowship is a fully-funded, three-month professional development program run by the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS), a nonpartisan think tank working on AI governance at the intersection of national security and geopolitics. It helps people with strong judgment build practical policy skills for addressing frontier-AI challenges, working alongside IAPS researchers and mentors.

Roughly 30 fellows are selected each cohort across two tiers — Fellows and Senior Fellows. The program can be done fully remotely or in person in Washington, D.C., but every fellow attends a mandatory two-week in-person residency in D.C. at the start.

Benefits & funding

  • Stipend: US$15,000 for Fellows; US$22,000 for Senior Fellows, over the three-month term
  • Healthcare benefits and a professional development stipend
  • Travel and accommodation support for the two-week Washington, D.C. residency
  • Mentorship from IAPS researchers and access to its AI-policy network

Eligibility

  • Open to all nationalities; no technical background and no prior policy experience required
  • Demonstrated interest in IAPS’s research priorities and strong judgment about AI’s implications
  • The in-person D.C. option requires the right to work in the U.S. during the fellowship
  • The remote option is available in many countries, subject to country-specific legal and administrative constraints

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

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Application process

  1. 1
    Submit the online application form.
  2. 2
    Complete a 3-hour written task and a pre-recorded 30-minute interview.
  3. 3
    Attend a 60-minute live interview with an IAPS team member; approximately 30 fellows are selected.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadline (23:59 Pacific)

    Feb 2, 2026

  2. Selection finalized

    Late April 2026

  3. Mandatory in-person residency, Washington, D.C.

    Jun 1, 2026 to Jun 12, 2026

  4. Three-month fellowship term

    Jun 1, 2026 to Aug 21, 2026

  5. Next cohort applications expected to reopen (sign up to the IAPS newsletter for notice)

    Around January 2027

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