The Pickering Program offers graduate fellowships to outstanding seniors and college graduates who want to serve as Foreign Service Generalists. These fellowships help finance two-year graduate programs, provide two summer internships, mentoring from a Foreign Service Officer, and other professional development activities. The program’s goals are to promote greater representation of the American experience and excellence in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The program is grounded in the principle that a broad range of perspectives strengthen diplomatic efforts and foster a comprehensive approach to global challenges. Fellows are selected based on demonstrated merit and financial need. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and is collaboratively administered by the Bureau of Global Talent Management and Howard University via a cooperative agreement.

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.