The Overseas Press Club Foundation, affiliated with the Overseas Press Club of America, runs the Scholar Awards for students who want careers as international correspondents.
Winners take either a scholarship for independent reporting or a fellowship that funds time in a news bureau such as AP, Reuters or Bloomberg. The programme targets students starting out, not mid-career journalists.
Benefits & funding
- US$3,000 scholarship for independent work, or US$4,000 fellowship toward time in a leading news bureau.
- Bureau stints can last up to several months.
- Winners must attend the March 2027 awards events in New York City (two days of training and networking).
Eligibility
- Enrolled full-time in a degree programme at the deadline, as a college junior, senior or graduate student.
- One of: a U.S. citizen at a U.S. college or university; an international student at a U.S. college or university; or a U.S. citizen at a university abroad.
- A shown interest in international journalism; travel abroad is not required.
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.
“An applicant should be a college junior, senior or graduate student enrolled in a full time degree program at the application deadline … To be eligible to apply, you must be currently enrolled full-time in a university program and meet one of the following criteria: … You are an U.S. citizen studying at a U.S. college or university … You are an international student studying at a U.S. college or university; or … You are a U.S. citizen studying at a university abroad.” Eligibility
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Prepare a one-page cover letter, a one-page resume and one work sample (print, photo, video or audio; non-print samples add a ~500-word context piece).
- 2Combine everything in English into one file (translate work in other languages) and submit via the online form by 15 November 2026.
Program timeline
Application deadline
15 Nov 2026
Winners contacted
Mid-Jan 2027
Awards events, New York City
Mar 2027