The International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) has run at the Council on Foreign Relations since 1967, and it exists to close the distance between studying US foreign policy and making it. Each year eight to ten mid-career professionals spend twelve months on the other side of that divide. Scholars and people from business, NGOs and state or local government move into the federal government, into a New York or Washington-based international organization, or onto Capitol Hill. Federal and military officials move the other way, taking a research post at CFR in New York or Washington. CFR counts more than 550 alumni of the program. The year is full-time and in person: fellows are expected on site with their host organization at least four days a week.
Benefits & funding
- A stipend of $120,000 for the twelve-month term.
- A modest travel grant.
- Government track: a placement in a US government agency, in a New York or Washington-based international organization, or on Capitol Hill. Fellows drive the search themselves, CFR supports it, and the host institution makes the final decision.
- CFR track: a research post at CFR’s New York or Washington office, producing written work on the proposed research topic and contributing to ongoing CFR projects.
- Two or more awardees each year receive the designation International Affairs Fellow in National Security, sponsored by Janine and J. Tomilson Hill, for proposals on existing or emerging national security threats.
- Fellows are independent contractors rather than CFR employees, so no employment benefits are included and there is no health insurance.
Eligibility
- US citizenship is required.
- At least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. An advanced degree is preferred for applicants coming from academia; a doctorate is not required.
- Mid-career standing, a record of professional achievement, and a firm grounding in foreign policy.
- Applicants may not apply to other CFR fellowship programs at the same time.
- The track follows the current employer: academia, private sector, NGOs and state or local government apply on the government track; federal government and US military personnel apply on the CFR track.
- Placements at government agencies usually require a security clearance, a process the government controls.
- No age limit is published.
- Strong preference goes to candidates who have never received a CFR fellowship.
Can you apply?
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Eligible nationalities
USA
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Education required
Bachelor · Master · PhD
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Confirm eligibility and identify which of the two tracks applies.
- 2Apply online through CFR in the fall for the following fellowship year.
- 3Submit biographical, educational and employment information, together with two letters of support.
- 4Government-track applicants list preferred placements and the work they want to do, and are encouraged to approach prospective host offices early.
- 5CFR-track applicants submit a foreign policy research proposal.
- 6The selection committee reviews applications and interviews finalists.
- 7Awardees are notified in the spring and begin in September. Fellows waiting on a security clearance have until January 1 of the award year to start, and move to a placement with no clearance requirement if it does not come through.
Program timeline
1 November 2024
the last application deadline CFR published for this fellowship, for the 2025–26 cycle
the application window has closed; CFR published no closing date for it
2026–27 cycle
Fall 2026
applications open for the 2027–28 fellowship cycle
awardees notified
Spring 2027
the fellowship year begins
September 2027
latest start date for fellows still awaiting a security clearance
1 January of the award year
Twelve months after the start
the term ends