Explore Fellowships that Support DEI

Many organizations provide fellowships that support students from diverse backgrounds:

• Opportunities that prioritize students of color
• Opportunities that prioritize women students
• Opportunities that prioritize students demonstrating financial need

Opportunities that Prioritize Students of Color 

Davies-Jackson Scholarship

The Davies-Jackson Scholarship presents a unique opportunity for students with exceptional academic records, who are among the first generation in their families to graduate college, to participate in a course of study at St, John’s College at the University of Cambridge. Scholars are admitted as affiliated students and have the opportunity to take the more advanced parts of a Cambridge degree course and qualify for a Cambridge BA in two years instead of the usual three. 

Study at the University of Cambridge for students in majors across the university; available to students who are among the first generation in their families to graduate college  

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) 

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity.  

Study abroad; available to undergraduate students   

Knight-Hennessy Scholars  

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program cultivates and supports a highly-engaged, multidisciplinary and multicultural community of graduate students from across Stanford University, and delivers a diverse collection of educational experiences, preparing graduates to address complex challenges facing the world. Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive up to three years of funding to pursue graduate study at Stanford. This includes the JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MS, DMA, and PhD programs, as well as joint- and dual-degrees. 

Scholarship for graduate studies at Stanford University, available to graduating seniors entering graduate school at Stanford 

Frederick Douglass-James Madison Fellowship   

The Frederick Douglass-James Madison Fellowship is a privately funded, $24,000 graduate fellowship offered to a person of color who is a United States citizen and who is a secondary level teacher or prospective teacher of American history, American government or civics to earn a master’s degree studying the Constitution. 

Scholarship for master’s program in American history, government, or civics; available to seniors planning to become secondary school teacher

Public Policy and International Affairs Program Junior Summer Institute  

The PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSI) Fellowship Program is a rigorous academic graduate level preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to public service careers. The program was started to address the lack of diversity across the spectrum of professional public service, including government, nonprofits, public policy institutions, and international organizations. The purpose of the JSI Fellowship is to prepare students to obtain a Master’s or joint degree, in public policy, public administration, international affairs, or a related field. 

Program preparing students for careers in public service; available to juniors

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program   

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship is a program that aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State in which they can help formulate, represent, and implement U.S. foreign policy. The Rangel Program selects outstanding Rangel Fellows annually in a highly competitive nationwide process and supports them through two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring, and professional development activities. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Fellows who successfully complete the program and Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy. 

Scholarship for students attending graduate school to prepare for careers in the Foreign Service; available to seniors  

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program    

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. The Program usually selects participants (known as “Rangel Scholars”) each year from universities throughout the United States. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Students live at Howard University, attend classes, and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard and at diverse locations around Washington, DC. 

Summer program about current issues in international affairs; available to sophomores and juniors  

Soros Fellowship for New Americans    

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans program honors the contributions of immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States. Each year, we invest in the graduate education of 30 New Americans—immigrants and children of immigrants—who are poised to make significant contributions to US society, culture or their academic field. Each Fellow receives up to $90,000 in financial support over two years, and they join a lifelong community of New American Fellows. The Fellows can study in any degree-granting program in any field at any university in the United States. 

Scholarship for immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing graduate study in a range of fields; available to seniors 

Udall Undergraduate Scholarship*   

The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment.  

Scholarship for study on issues related to Native American nations or the environment; available to sophomores and juniors  

Opportunities that Prioritize Women Students 

Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship    

The Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to promote positive change in the world.  Upon successful completion of a two-year master’s degree program and fulfillment of fellowship and Foreign Service entry requirements, fellows have the opportunity to work as Foreign Service Officers with the U.S. Department of State, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy, serving in Washington, DC or at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission around the globe. The Pickering Program plans to award 45 fellowships of up to $42,000 annually for a two-year period for tuition, room, board, books, and mandatory fees for completion of two-year master’s degrees.  This includes up to $24,000 per year for tuition and mandatory fees and an academic year stipend of $18,000. 

Fellowship for graduate study in preparation for a career in Foreign Service; available to seniors

Public Policy and International Affairs Program Junior Summer Institute

The PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSI) Fellowship Program is a rigorous academic graduate level preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to public service careers. The program was started to address the lack of diversity across the spectrum of professional public service, including government, nonprofits, public policy institutions, and international organizations. The purpose of the JSI Fellowship is to prepare students to obtain a Master’s or joint degree, in public policy, public administration, international affairs, or a related field. 

Program preparing students for careers in public service; available to juniors

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program 

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship is a program that aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State in which they can help formulate, represent, and implement U.S. foreign policy. The Rangel Program selects outstanding Rangel Fellows annually in a highly competitive nationwide process and supports them through two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring, and professional development activities. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Fellows who successfully complete the program and Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy. 

Scholarship for students attending graduate school to prepare for careers in the Foreign Service; available to seniors  

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program 

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. The Program usually selects participants (known as “Rangel Scholars”) each year from universities throughout the United States. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Students live at Howard University, attend classes, and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard and at diverse locations around Washington, DC. 

Summer program about current issues in international affairs; available to sophomores and juniors  

Opportunities that Prioritize Students Demonstrating Financial Need 

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program)  

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity.  

Study abroad; available to undergraduate students   

Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship 

The Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to promote positive change in the world.  Upon successful completion of a two-year master’s degree program and fulfillment of fellowship and Foreign Service entry requirements, fellows have the opportunity to work as Foreign Service Officers with the U.S. Department of State, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy, serving in Washington, DC or at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission around the globe. The Pickering Program plans to award 45 fellowships of up to $42,000 annually for a two-year period for tuition, room, board, books, and mandatory fees for completion of two-year master’s degrees.  This includes up to $24,000 per year for tuition and mandatory fees and an academic year stipend of $18,000. 

Fellowship for graduate study in preparation for a career in Foreign Service; available to seniors

Public Policy and International Affairs Program Junior Summer Institute

The PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSI) Fellowship Program is a rigorous academic graduate level preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to public service careers. The program was started to address the lack of diversity across the spectrum of professional public service, including government, nonprofits, public policy institutions, and international organizations. The purpose of the JSI Fellowship is to prepare students to obtain a Master’s or joint degree, in public policy, public administration, international affairs, or a related field. 

Program preparing students for careers in public service; available to juniors

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program  

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship is a program that aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State in which they can help formulate, represent, and implement U.S. foreign policy. The Rangel Program selects outstanding Rangel Fellows annually in a highly competitive nationwide process and supports them through two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring, and professional development activities. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Fellows who successfully complete the program and Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy. 

Scholarship for students attending graduate school to prepare for careers in the Foreign Service; available to seniors  

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. The Program usually selects participants (known as “Rangel Scholars”) each year from universities throughout the United States. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Students live at Howard University, attend classes, and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard and at diverse locations around Washington, DC. 

Summer program about current issues in international affairs; available to sophomores and juniors