Are you interested in being part of a global effort to promote and protect U.S. agriculture and those who depend on it?  If so, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) International Agricultural Fellowship Program offers a unique opportunity to support U.S. agriculture and those who depend upon it. For those interested in this opportunity, FAS is offering a fellowship to support graduate studies, provide domestic and overseas internships, and offer professional development and mentoring.  Upon successful completion of a two-year master’s degree program in Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics, and pass the USDA’s FAS Foreign Service Assessment, will be offered a position in the Foreign Agricultural Service, embarking on a career in international service.

The FAS International Agricultural Fellowship program is a USDA program administered by Howard University that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding individuals who represent ethnic, gender, social, and geographic diversity and have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the USDA’s FAS Foreign Service.  The Program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need.

ELIGIBILITY

This is a highly selective program. To be eligible to participate, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be seeking enrollment into a two-year graduate degree at a U.S. university for fall 2024 in Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics.
  • Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

The Award

The FAS International Agricultural Fellowship Program (IAFP) plans to award at least two fellowships with up to$106,000 over 2 years for two-year graduate program at a U.S. university and for two summer internships. For academic support, the fellowship pays up to $24,000 per year for two years towards tuition, mandatory fees, and health insurance. It also provides a $18,000 annual academic stipend to cover living expenses for each of the two years.

The Degree

Fellows must begin a two-year graduate degree in Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics at a U.S. university beginning in fall 2024. To be eligible, prospective IAFP fellows must apply to the fellowship separately from their application to graduate school.  Prospective IAFP Fellows are expected to work toward a two-year master’s degree, attend full-time, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 throughout their period of study.  

Orientation

Fellows will participate in an orientation at Howard University in Washington D.C. in late May or early June.  The purpose of this orientation is to familiarize the Fellows with all aspects of the fellowship and to enhance their understanding of, and skills for, FAS Foreign Service careers.

Two Summer Internships (Domestic and Overseas)

Fellows will participate in two internships. The first, an internship working at the Foreign Agricultural Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., will occur in summer 2024 before the fellows begin their graduate degrees.  The second internship will be an overseas placement in a U.S. Embassy or Consulate that takes place during the summer between the first and second year of graduate studies.  The program provides a stipend for internship participation and offers support for travel, housing, and other related expenses.

Entry into USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

Those who successfully complete IAFP and pass the USDA’s FAS Foreign Service Assessment, will be offered a position in the Foreign Agricultural Service. Following the successful completion of the fellowship obligations, the fellows will enter a career-conditional appointment at FAS, in a position determined by FAS. If the fellow completes the FAS Foreign Service entry requirements, which includes passing the FAS Foreign Service Assessment, the fellow will enter FAS as a foreign Service Trainee (FST). If the fellow has not yet passed the FAS Foreign Service Assessment, the fellow will enter as a civil service employee and have the opportunities to take the FAS Foreign Service Assessment once employed. The five-year service requirement remains, whether the fellow is in the civil or foreign service.