Princeton in Latin America (PiLA), a nonprofit affiliate of Princeton University, places graduating seniors and early-career graduates in yearlong, full-time roles with community-focused organizations across Latin America and the Caribbean, in fields such as education, public health, conservation and community development.
Applicants join one candidate pool rather than applying for a specific post. PiLA reviews and interviews applicants, then nominates finalists to partners, who interview them and make the final placement decisions.
Benefits & funding
- Host partners provide housing, a subsistence stipend and other support; the package varies by placement.
- Fellows pay their own international airfare and visa costs (variable) and medical and evacuation insurance, estimated at $50–$60 a month.
- About 12 months, full time; leaving early outside emergencies ends fellowship status.
- PiLA provides pre-departure orientation, regular check-ins and alumni mentors.
Eligibility
- Graduating seniors and early-career professionals holding a degree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian university, or on track to graduate before the fellowship starts.
- Any nationality; for applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents some placements are unavailable, and international students should have graduated within the last 4 years (How to Apply page).
- Spanish: the apply page requires professional or advanced Spanish for nearly all placements; the GPS portal says many but not all, and applicants with limited Spanish may be considered where their skills strongly fit. Some placements use Portuguese.
- No explicit age limit, but PiLA rarely considers applicants more than five years past their bachelor’s degree.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Submit in the GPS portal by November 1, 2026, 11:59 pm ET: online form, three short motivation responses, an English résumé (two pages max) and unofficial transcripts.
- 2One academic or professional recommender submits through the portal by the deadline; only one is accepted.
- 3Pay the $100 nonrefundable fee; applications are not reviewed until it is paid or a waiver is approved (financial-aid and Pell Grant recipients may request a reduction).
- 4Semifinalists interview with PiLA, wholly or partly in the target language; finalists then interview with partners.
Program timeline
Applications open
September 8, 2026
Application deadline (11:59 pm ET)
November 1, 2026
November 2026–January 2027
PiLA review and interviews; status by late January
Partner interviews and offers
February–April 2027
June–August 2027
Fellowships begin (the portal calls this the 2027–2028 cycle; the apply page, 2026-2027)