About the fellowship

Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA) offers a two-year immersive fellowship program of independent research and writing abroad.  ICWA is an American institution working to advance a profound understanding of global culture and affairs by supporting promising and motivated individuals as fellows. It is looking for candidates with promise, curiosity, noticeable background, and interest in its programs and whether they are ready for personal growth by undertaking the fellowship. If you are eligible, take the opportunity, and apply.

Quick details

Application deadline: 15 December 2020

Awarding institution: Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA)

Due appointment date: June 2021

Duration: 2 years

Location: Multiple

Benefits/remunerations

The amounts of the fellowship award vary, and the institute does not ensure it will fully fund any project. However, ICWA attempts to allocate its funds as equitably as possible while considering the fellowship area, living expenses, purpose, and scope of each fellowship.

What does it include?

This fellowship is a self-designed one, and strong candidates with enough competencies could propose compelling topics for their work project. Similarly, the program seeks to develop fellow’s local knowledge and writing skills.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates with these qualifications are eligible to apply:

•  Must be at the age of 35 at the submission time of the initial letter of interest.
• Being a U.S. citizen is not a requirement, but candidates must show firm and credible ties to US society.
•  Must possess outstanding written and verbal English-language skills and must have finished the current stage of their formal education. (Currently enrolled undergraduate students are not eligible to apply.)
• Candidates should have the necessary language skills to carry out their proposed projects and adequate proficiency for them to be able to function in the local language within a few months of arrival in the country.

Fellows’ responsibilities

This is a writing fellowship. Fellows should write monthly dispatches made available on ICWA’s website and email to institute advocates and other interested parties, including family, friends, and professional friends of the fellows. Fellows work closely under the executive director’s direction, who serves as a writing coach, editor, and mentor.

Communication of result

The final decisions will come out in early June for applicants who submitted letters of interest by the due date in December. A Selection Committee reviews the LoI and invites the most deserving of submitting a more detailed application.

How to apply for an ICWA fellowship?

The interested applicants can apply for an Institute of Current World Affairs Fellowship by sending an initial letter of interest and resume in English to the institute via email. (Post is also accepted.)

In your letter of interest, you would tell ICWA what you would do if you had a two-year, self-designed fellowship abroad and why you’re the appropriate person to undertake it. There is no length limitation for the letter of interest. Please mention your age.

Selected fellows will have to depart for their fellowships within six months of their selection.

ICWA cannot respond to all applications but will consider all applications in compliance with fellowship requirements.

Submission Email: apply@icwa.org

For more information about the fellowship, you may visit the ICWA’s website.