Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship
Leveraging your passion for technology to serve the U.S. abroad.
If you’re pursuing an IT-related degree, the Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship could combine your passion for technology and love of travel into a rewarding career.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the FAIT Fellowship provides academic funding, two paid summer internships in the U.S. Department of State, mentoring, and professional development. Upon successful completion of the fellowship and the State Department’s entry requirements, FAIT Fellows receive an appointment in the Foreign Service as Information Management Specialists (IMSs).
The FAIT Fellowship program values varied backgrounds, including ethnic, racial, gender, and geographic diversity. Women, members of minority groups underrepresented in the Foreign Service, and those with financial need, are encouraged to apply.
Visit the FAIT Fellowship program website to see all benefits and eligibility requirements, view webinars and videos, and to apply for the program.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the FAIT Fellowship program, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time IT-related degree program at a U.S.-based accredited institution.
- Be on a timeline to earn your degree (bachelor’s or master’s) after attending four full-time semesters during your two years of the FAIT Fellowship program.
- Hold a minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the time of the application, and maintain this GPA throughout the program.
Additional eligibility requirements are detailed on the Eligibility page of the FAIT Fellowship website.
Program Components
Fellows receive tuition and stipend support for four semesters of academic coursework. Funds are intended to be used in two consecutive academic years, ending in degree completion; Fellows earn a Bachelor’s Degree OR a 2-year Master’s Degree in an IT-related major or program. Accredited online degree programs are permitted.
During this two-year program, FAIT Fellows complete two summer internships with the State Department:
- A domestic internship in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Department of State
- An international internship at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad
Throughout the program Fellows receive personalized mentoring and professional development opportunities. After successfully completing the program and meeting all the requirements of the State Department, Fellows commission into the Foreign Service and serve as an Information Management Specialist for at least five years.
Program Benefits
The two-year fellowship program provides:
- Up to $43,500 annually in academic funding for tuition, room and board, books, mandatory fees and some travel expense (see eligibility requirements).
- Stipends, housing and travel allowances for the two summer internships: A domestic internship in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of State and an overseas internship at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
- Personalized mentoring and professional development opportunities throughout the program.
Upon successful completion of the fellowship program and the State Department’s entry requirements, fellows receive an appointment in the Foreign Service as an Information Management Specialist. Fellows agree to a minimum five-year commitment upon entry into the Foreign Service.
Dates and Deadlines
Applications for the 2024 FAIT Fellowship cohort are being accepted September 12, 2023 to January 16, 2024, at 11:59 pm (EST). Please see the Apply page on the FAIT Fellowship website for details.
How to Apply
Please visit the FAIT Fellowship website for detailed information on required application documents and to access the application portal.
About Information Management Specialists
As an IMS, you will support and maintain hundreds of applications and provide IT services domestically and abroad at over 275 overseas posts in nearly 200 countries. You will serve your country by maintaining secure, reliable IT tools and resources to ensure that Foreign Service Officers, federal agencies and non-government partners can promote diplomacy while serving overseas. You will gain experiences that few other IT professions offer, including the reward of living in a foreign country while experiencing different cultures and helping to protect U.S. interests abroad.