The ICWA Fellowship Programme

ICWA’s mission is to identify and cultivate rare potential, so we are looking for promise, curiosity and enthusiasm in our candidates. We consider whether a candidate is ready for the rapid personal growth the fellowship makes possible. Candidates with a passion for their project country and who are sufficiently prepared to take advantage of the opportunity we offer have the best chance of being awarded an ICWA fellowship. Extensive professional experience in the proposed area is not always necessary; fellowships are aimed at developing advanced knowledge and professional skills, not necessarily awarding research or reporting opportunities to those who already possess them

Requirements

Language Skills

We expect candidates to have the necessary language skills to allow to them to carry out their proposed project. Candidates proposing to go to China, Russia, Indonesia, India or Brazil, for example, should have proficiency in Chinese, Russian, Bahasa, Hindi (or another relevant language) or Portuguese. It is too costly and time consuming to start from scratch, so we expect enough language proficiency for candidates to be able to function in the local language within a few months of arriving in the country. Exceptions have been made for unusual languages or situations, but they are rare.

Criteria for Consideration

Candidates must be under 36 years of age at the time of the due date for the initial letter of interest.

U.S. citizenship is not a requirement, but candidates must show strong and credible ties to U.S. society. A proposed fellowship must hold the promise of enriching public life in the United States by enhancing the understanding of foreign countries, cultures and trends. Public service, social activism or contribution to wider understanding in the United States is our ultimate purpose, from a belief that the public can benefit from the knowledge and wisdom our fellows acquire.

Fellowship Activities

Fellows are required to write monthly newsletters made available through our website to institute members and other interested parties, including family, friends and professional associates of the fellows. While the institute has funded and will continue to fund artists, performers and others who find various ways to participate in the societies they study, the immediate fruits of fellows’ learning are communicated principally through writing. Fellows should be prepared to share their experience with a general, well-educated audience, and not only with specialists in their fields. Fellows work closely with the executive director, who serves as writing coach, editor and mentor.

While many fellows go on to pursue political or social causes at home and abroad, the purpose of a fellowship is to learn about other societies, not to change them. Fellows are not permitted to engage in overtly political activities during their fellowships. The institute does not accept any government funds. Fellows must preserve that independence in letter and in spirit.

Fellows should not expect to return to the United States during the two years of their fellowships. ICWA fellowships are immersive; a vital component of the fellowship experience is remaining, without interruption, in the area of study for the duration of a fellowship.

Applications and Deadlines

Those interested in applying for an Institute of Current World Affairs Fellowship should send an initial Letter of Interest and a resume or CV to the institute via email.

Deadlines

Applications for June 2018 appointment are due March 1st, 2018.

Applications are not considered on a rolling basis.

We are unable to respond to all inquiries, but will certainly answer those that fit our fellowship requirements.

Email: apply@icwa.org

For applications via post:

Institute of Current World Affairs

1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 605

Washington, DC 20036

For more information please check the Link