Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship
Apply through Independent Application Process
» Scholarship's official website
Description
The Payne Fellowship Program awards up to thirty fellowships valued at up to $52,000 annually for a two-year program. The award includes up to $24,000 per year toward tuition and mandatory fees for completion of a two-year master's degree at a U.S. institution; a $18,000 stipend for each academic year for room, board, books and other education-related expenses; and up to $10,000 per year in stipend, housing, transportation, and related expenses for summer placements (see below). At the conclusion of two years of study, the Payne Fellow is expected to obtain a degree in international development or another area of relevance to the work of the USAID Foreign Service at a U.S. graduate or professional school approved by the Payne Program. Fellows must obtain master's degrees in international affairs or a related subject, such as economics, development, history, political science, environmental studies, agriculture, public health, urban studies, public administration, or public policy.
Fellows who successfully complete the Payne Program and USAID Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers with the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 18-55.
- Applicants must be seeking admission to enter graduate school for a two-year program at a U.S. university in the fall of the year of the start of the program. They can be in the senior year of their undergraduate studies, graduating by May of the year of the start of the program, or they can be college graduates.
- Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
Selection Criteria
A panel of individuals with experience in the USAID Foreign Service, international development, and academia makes selection recommendations for the Payne Fellowship. The selection panel will consider candidates' academic work, statements of interest, letters of recommendation, and honors and awards, as well as their community, extracurricular, and leadership activities. Consideration will be given to qualified applicants who, in addition to outstanding leadership skills and academic achievement, demonstrate financial need.Application Procedure
Visit the website for application information. The application typically opens in July with a deadline in late October.