The ICWA Fellowship is run by the Institute of Current World Affairs, a Washington, DC non-profit incorporated in 1925. It sends young professionals abroad for two years of self-designed study, travel and writing in a country or region of their choice outside the United States.
Fellows write a monthly dispatch for the institute. The fellowship does not fund degrees, books, discipline-specific academic research, news coverage or freelance journalism.
Benefits & funding
- Full financial support for two years, for the fellow and any immediate family who come along.
- No salary: funding covers living costs, amounts vary, and ICWA does not guarantee to fully fund every project.
- Fellows are expected to live modestly and stay in their area of study, not returning to the US except in extreme circumstances.
- The executive director acts as writing coach, editor and mentor.
Eligibility
- Under 36 on the due date for the letter of interest.
- Any nationality, but candidates must show strong and credible ties to US society.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Current phase of formal education completed: no enrolled undergraduates; postgraduate students may apply if they finish and can start within six months of selection.
- Enough of the local language to function in it within a few months of arrival.
- The project must be outside the US and promise to deepen American understanding of foreign countries; no war zones, and no overtly political activity during the fellowship.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“US citizenship is not a requirement but candidates must show strong and credible ties to US society. … Applicants must have excellent written and spoken English-language skills and must have completed the current phase of their formal education. (We do not accept applications from currently enrolled undergraduate students.)” Eligibility
Age requirement
≤ 35 yrs
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Application process
- 1Wait for the next call: the 2026 cycle is closed, and ICWA expects to announce the next one in early 2027 through its newsletter and social media.
- 2Send a letter of interest (no set length) and a CV in English through the online form, stating your age.
- 3The strongest applicants are invited to submit a more detailed application.
- 4Final decisions come in mid-November; ICWA does not reply to every applicant.
Program timeline
15 June 2025
last general letter-of-interest deadline (2026–28 fellows)
final decisions
Mid-November
Within six months of selection
fellows depart
next call expected
Early 2027