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CFR Fellowships 2027–2028: Paid Council on Foreign Relations Opportunities for Foreign Policy Professionals, Journalists, Technologists and Researchers

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Professionals seeking to build influential careers in foreign policy, international affairs, national security, journalism, technology, diplomacy and policy research should have the Council on Foreign Relations Fellowships on their radar for the 2027–2028 cycle.

The Council on Foreign Relations, commonly known as CFR, operates an extensive portfolio of fellowship programs intended to give accomplished professionals opportunities to move beyond their usual professional environments, deepen their policy expertise, build international networks and gain direct exposure to policymaking, research or overseas institutions.

CFR describes its fellowships as transformational opportunities for professionals with a demonstrated commitment to careers in foreign policy. Depending on the program, selected fellows may work at CFR itself, within policymaking institutions, at international organizations or at host organizations overseas.

The opportunities are particularly notable because several provide substantial financial support. Depending on the fellowship, awards can include annual stipends of approximately $90,000 to $120,000, monthly stipends, travel assistance, or—in the case of the Technologist-in-Residence Fellowship—a ten-month salary of $143,325 plus potential relocation assistance and employment benefits.

However, applicants need to pay close attention to the individual program requirements. CFR does not operate one universal fellowship application. Each fellowship has its own target audience, professional requirements, research focus, placement arrangement and selection criteria.

Current Application Status for CFR Fellowships 2027–2028

Prospective applicants should carefully distinguish between the current fellowship year and the next application cycle.

As of August 2026, CFR states that the application window for many 2026–2027 fellowship programs is already closed. Eligible candidates are instead being advised to apply when applications open in fall 2026 for the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle.

CFR has not yet listed a single universal closing date for the upcoming cycle on the fellowship pages reviewed. Candidates should therefore monitor the official CFR fellowship pages and, where available, subscribe to fellowship application alerts.

The International Affairs Fellowship in India is an important exception: CFR currently states that the program is not accepting applications for the 2027–2028 fellowship year.

Types of Fellowships Available Through CFR

CFR divides its fellowship opportunities into several broad groups.

Overseas Fellowship Programs

These programs allow selected professionals to spend significant periods working and conducting research abroad.

Current programs listed by CFR include:

  1. International Affairs Fellowship in Canada
  2. International Affairs Fellowship in India
  3. International Affairs Fellowship in Indonesia
  4. International Affairs Fellowship in Japan
  5. Chung Mong-Koo International Affairs Fellowship in the Republic of Korea
  6. Robert A. Belfer International Affairs Fellowship in European Security

Domestic Fellowship Programs

CFR also offers fellowship opportunities primarily based in the United States, including:

  1. International Affairs Fellowship
  2. Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship
  3. Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship
  4. Technologist-in-Residence Fellowship

Fellowships Available Through Nomination or Invitation

Several specialized CFR fellowships do not use the same public competitive application process.

These include:

  1. Historian-in-Residence Fellowship
  2. Military Fellowship
  3. National Intelligence Fellowship
  4. State Department Fellowship on Technology Diplomacy

Together, these programs allow CFR to engage professionals from government, academia, journalism, technology, research, security and other fields relevant to international affairs.

1. International Affairs Fellowship

The flagship International Affairs Fellowship, or IAF, dates back to 1967 and is designed to bridge the divide between studying foreign policy and actually participating in policymaking.

The fellowship aims to develop scholar-practitioners by allowing successful applicants to work in an environment substantially different from their regular professional setting.

CFR reports that the program has produced more than 550 alumni, including senior government officials, diplomats, scholars and leaders from multiple sectors.

Fellowship Structure

The program operates through two major tracks.

Government Track

Professionals coming from academia or the private sector may spend the fellowship working in the U.S. government or at an international organization located in New York or Washington, DC.

Applicants identify potential placement preferences and are encouraged to explore host organizations early.

Some U.S. government placements may require security clearance.

CFR Track

Applicants coming from the federal government or U.S. military can be placed within CFR itself.

These fellows conduct research, produce written work and contribute to policy-related projects alongside CFR experts and staff.

The fellowship is designed as a full-time and largely in-person experience.

Financial Support

The fellowship:

Fellows are treated as independent contractors rather than CFR employees and therefore do not receive normal employment benefits such as health insurance through the fellowship.

Basic Eligibility

Applicants must generally:

CFR does not require a PhD for university applicants, although successful academic candidates often possess advanced qualifications.

Application Requirements

Applicants are generally expected to provide:

CFR typically awards approximately eight to ten International Affairs Fellowships each year, making this one of the larger fellowship cohorts within its portfolio.

2. International Affairs Fellowship in Canada

The International Affairs Fellowship in Canada was launched in 2016 and is sponsored by Power Corporation of Canada.

The fellowship aims to deepen mutual understanding between emerging leaders in the United States and Canada.

Selected mid-career U.S. professionals spend between six and twelve months at a Canadian institution while developing deeper expertise in Canada and U.S.-Canada relations.

Professionals from fields including academia, government, business, journalism, NGOs and think tanks are encouraged to apply. Previous experience working on Canadian issues is not required.

Financial Support

The program provides:

The fellowship is designed as a full-time, in-person experience, and fellows should normally expect substantial on-site participation with their Canadian host institution.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

CFR normally awards approximately one to two fellowships each year.

3. International Affairs Fellowship in India

The International Affairs Fellowship in India was created with support from Bharti Enterprises and aims to strengthen relations and professional understanding between rising leaders in India and the United States.

Selected U.S. professionals can spend between three and twelve months conducting research in India, establishing professional networks and developing deeper knowledge of Indian politics, society and international affairs.

Candidates can come from academia, business, government, journalism, NGOs and think tanks. Prior India experience is not mandatory, and knowledge of Hindi or another local language is not required.

Fellowship Funding

The fellowship provides:

CFR may assist fellows in identifying suitable host organizations in India.

Important 2027–2028 Status

Applicants should take particular notice of the current status of this program.

CFR presently states that the International Affairs Fellowship in India is not accepting applications for the 2027–2028 fellowship year.

Candidates interested specifically in India should therefore monitor CFR for future announcements rather than assuming applications will open with the other IAF programs.

4. International Affairs Fellowship in Indonesia

The International Affairs Fellowship in Indonesia enables mid-career U.S. professionals to spend between three and twelve months conducting research and developing professional relationships in Indonesia.

The program is sponsored by Yayasan Persahabatan Indonesia Amerika Serikat, or the Indonesia-USA Friendship Foundation.

Professionals from academia, business, government, journalism, NGOs and think tanks can be considered.

Prior experience working on Indonesia is not required.

Financial Benefits

Successful fellows may receive:

The program is designed as a full-time, in-person experience.

Eligibility

Candidates generally need to:

Knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia is not required.

CFR generally awards one to two fellowships annually under this program.

5. International Affairs Fellowship in Japan

Founded in 1997 and sponsored by Hitachi, Ltd., the International Affairs Fellowship in Japan focuses on strengthening cooperation between rising leaders in the United States and Japan.

The fellowship allows mid-career professionals to conduct research at Japanese host institutions on geopolitical and policy issues affecting U.S.-Japan relations.

Possible areas of focus can include matters such as:

Applicants may come from academia, business, government, media, NGOs and think tanks.

Fellowship Benefits

The program provides:

The program is full-time and intended to be conducted primarily in person at the fellow’s Japanese host institution.

Eligibility

Applicants must generally:

Knowledge of Japanese is not required.

CFR generally awards approximately three to five fellowships per year, making the Japan program one of the larger overseas IAF programs.

6. Chung Mong-Koo International Affairs Fellowship in the Republic of Korea

The Chung Mong-Koo International Affairs Fellowship in the Republic of Korea, sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company, focuses on strengthening ties between emerging leaders in the United States and South Korea.

Selected mid-career professionals can spend between three and twelve months conducting research in South Korea, developing professional networks and contributing to public discussion surrounding U.S.-Republic of Korea relations.

Financial Support

The fellowship offers:

The program is intended to be full-time and in person.

Eligibility

Applicants should generally:

Knowledge of Korean is not required.

Application Period

CFR states that eligible candidates can apply in fall 2026 for the 2027–2028 fellowship cycle, with awardees expected to be notified by spring 2027.

A specific closing date is not currently stated on the fellowship page.

Approximately one to two fellows are selected each year.

7. Robert A. Belfer International Affairs Fellowship in European Security

The Robert A. Belfer International Affairs Fellowship in European Security enables mid-career U.S. professionals to spend several months working and conducting research in Europe.

Potential host institutions may include:

The primary focus must relate to European security and the wider U.S.-European relationship.

Fellowship Funding

The fellowship runs for approximately four to twelve months and provides:

Applicant Profile

Eligible applicants should generally:

CFR gives preference to candidates who have not previously accumulated substantial professional experience in Europe.

Approximately one to two fellowships are awarded annually.

8. Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship

Journalists interested in international affairs have a specialized CFR opportunity through the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship.

Launched in 1949, the program is named after influential journalist Edward R. Murrow and is designed to support responsible, analytical international journalism.

One fellowship is normally awarded each year to a distinguished foreign correspondent or editor.

What the Fellow Does

The selected journalist receives time and institutional support to pursue substantial independent work rather than remaining tied to routine daily reporting deadlines.

Possible work can involve:

The fellow also participates in CFR’s research and events community.

Financial Benefits

The fellowship:

The fellow may be based in New York or Washington, DC.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Preference is given to senior-level professionals.

Applicants generally submit a proposal describing the major foreign-policy or international issue they intend to examine, together with professional information and two letters of support.

9. Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship

Researchers specializing in nuclear weapons and nuclear-security policy should consider the Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship.

Sponsored by the Stanton Foundation, the program supports postdoctoral scholars conducting policy-relevant work concerning nuclear security.

Relevant areas can include:

The fellow spends approximately twelve months at CFR’s New York or Washington, DC office.

Fellowship Benefits

For the 2027–2028 cycle, CFR states that the fellowship will provide a $110,000 stipend, paid in twelve monthly installments.

The fellow also receives mentorship from a senior CFR researcher and is expected to produce at least one policy-relevant document during the fellowship year.

Eligibility

Applicants must generally:

CFR normally selects one Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow each year.

10. Technologist-in-Residence Fellowship

One of CFR’s particularly distinctive opportunities is the Technologist-in-Residence Fellowship.

Sponsored by the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, the fellowship targets mid-career technology practitioners with deep technical expertise.

Potential backgrounds can include:

The program is intended to bridge the divide between technical practice and policymaking.

Financial Package

Unlike many CFR fellows who operate as independent contractors, the Technologist-in-Residence becomes a CFR employee.

The program provides:

The fellowship normally begins in September and is based in either New York or Washington, DC.

Eligibility

A significant distinction is that the program does not state U.S. citizenship as its primary eligibility requirement.

Instead:

CFR specifically emphasizes that relevant experience should extend beyond simply writing about technology or managing projects containing technology components.

Strong candidates may have hands-on experience designing, building or deploying technical systems.

11. Historian-in-Residence Fellowship

The Historian-in-Residence Fellowship is intended for distinguished historians interested in connecting historical scholarship with contemporary foreign-policy challenges.

The fellowship is supported by a grant from David M. Rubenstein.

Participants can work from CFR’s New York or Washington, DC office and are expected to develop substantial historical scholarship, including work toward a book that extracts contemporary policy lessons from important historical events.

Fellowship Responsibilities

The historian may be expected to:

The fellowship may run for up to 24 months.

Salary is commensurate with experience and includes standard benefits.

Eligibility and Application

The program can include:

Candidates need an outstanding or demonstrated record of historical writing and research.

However, there is no ordinary public application process.

Participation is by invitation only.

12. CFR Military Fellowship

The CFR Military Fellowship provides selected officers from the United States armed services with an opportunity to spend a year in residence at CFR in New York.

Participating services can include the:

The program provides officers an opportunity to deepen their understanding of international relations through research, study, CFR meetings and engagement with CFR’s professional network.

CFR normally awards approximately six Military Fellowships each year.

This is not a conventional open fellowship application.

Military leadership nominates outstanding officers from the respective services. Interested personnel should use their relevant military professional-development or posting channels to determine eligibility and nomination procedures.

13. National Intelligence Fellowship

Established in 1999, the National Intelligence Fellowship provides a senior U.S. intelligence officer an opportunity to engage with CFR’s work on international affairs.

The selected fellow interacts with CFR researchers, members and experts while developing a broader understanding of the political, military, diplomatic and economic dimensions of international affairs.

At the same time, the fellow contributes intelligence-community expertise to CFR’s understanding of national security and foreign policy.

This is also a nomination-based opportunity.

Candidates from the intelligence community are nominated through the Office of the Director of National Intelligence before being interviewed by CFR.

Interested candidates should therefore pursue the appropriate internal government process rather than attempting to submit a standard public CFR fellowship application.

14. State Department Fellowship on Technology Diplomacy

Established in 2024, the State Department Fellowship on Technology Diplomacy addresses the growing relationship between technological change, diplomacy and national security.

The program enables an eligible U.S. Department of State professional to spend a year at CFR’s New York or Washington, DC offices.

Research can address key technology-policy priorities involving areas such as:

The fellow participates extensively in CFR’s meetings, research community and policy discussions.

Who Can Participate?

This program has highly specific eligibility.

It is open only to U.S. Department of State direct-hire employees.

Interested candidates are directed to the appropriate professional-development unit within the State Department for detailed eligibility and application procedures.

How Much Funding Do CFR Fellowships Provide?

Financial packages vary considerably across programs.

Some of the publicly stated awards include:

Amounts for shorter overseas fellowship periods are generally prorated where CFR specifically provides for shorter placements.

Who Should Consider Applying?

The CFR fellowship portfolio is particularly relevant to established or emerging leaders whose professional work intersects with international affairs.

Depending on the particular fellowship, suitable professional backgrounds may include:

Many of the open competitive fellowships focus on mid-career professionals, which means they should not automatically be treated as entry-level opportunities for recent graduates.

Applicants need to review the requirements of their chosen fellowship carefully before preparing an application.

Common Application Requirements

Although exact requirements differ, many publicly competitive CFR fellowships require some combination of the following:

  1. Basic personal and biographical information
  2. Academic history
  3. Employment and professional history
  4. A research or project proposal
  5. Proposed host institution or placement information
  6. Explanation of the applicant’s foreign-policy interests
  7. Explanation of how the fellowship will contribute to professional development
  8. Two letters of support

Overseas fellowships commonly require project proposals connected with the relevant bilateral relationship or region.

Specialist programs require more focused proposals. For example, Stanton applicants propose nuclear-security research, while Technologist-in-Residence applicants focus on the relationship between technology, foreign policy and national security.

How CFR Selects Fellows

CFR describes its competitive fellowship selection processes as highly selective.

Although individual criteria vary, successful applications are generally assessed according to considerations such as:

For several programs, CFR also states that preference is given to applicants who have not previously received a CFR fellowship.

Important Difference Between a Fellowship and a Degree Program

Applicants should understand that most CFR fellowships are professional-development opportunities rather than academic scholarships.

Several programs explicitly state that they do not finance:

The objective is typically to create a transformational professional experience that takes the fellow into a new professional environment and develops new expertise, research or policy experience.

The Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship is a notable specialist exception because it is specifically structured for PhD-level and postdoctoral nuclear-security scholars.

Deadline and Application Timeline for CFR Fellowships 2027–2028

Prospective candidates should pay close attention to the cycle they are viewing.

For many CFR programs:

2026–2027 applications: Closed.

2027–2028 applications: Expected to become available in fall 2026.

Selection notification: CFR states for several programs that successful applicants will be notified by spring 2027.

At present, the official pages reviewed do not publish one common final application deadline for the 2027–2028 cycle.

Candidates should therefore monitor CFR’s individual fellowship pages rather than relying on an old deadline from a previous application cycle.

Candidates may also register for CFR’s application alerts where these are available.

Again, applicants interested in India should note that CFR specifically says the International Affairs Fellowship in India will not accept applications for 2027–2028.

How to Prepare Before Applications Open

Candidates interested in the upcoming cycle can use the period before applications open strategically. Click HERE, for more information.

1. Identify the Correct Fellowship

Do not apply simply because a fellowship offers a large stipend.

Your professional history and proposed work must closely match the fellowship’s objectives.

A cybersecurity engineer, international journalist, nuclear-policy researcher and U.S.-Canada specialist should not necessarily target the same program.

2. Develop a Focused Proposal

For proposal-based programs, applicants should identify a policy issue that is:

3. Demonstrate Career Impact

Applicants should be able to explain why spending several months away from their current professional environment will materially expand their expertise.

The application should establish what the candidate can learn, contribute and ultimately bring back into their professional career.

4. Prepare Strong Letters of Support

Many CFR fellowship applications require two letters of support.

Potential referees should understand both the applicant’s accomplishments and why the proposed fellowship represents a meaningful progression in the candidate’s professional trajectory.

5. Research Potential Placements

Applicants for overseas or government-track opportunities may benefit from researching institutions where their project could realistically be undertaken.

A strong proposal is more persuasive when the proposed placement clearly aligns with the research question and fellowship objectives.

Why CFR Fellowships Are Valuable for Foreign-Policy Professionals

CFR fellowships combine several elements rarely found within a single professional-development opportunity.

Successful fellows may gain:

The value therefore extends beyond the financial award.

The fellowship experience is designed to influence how participants approach policy, scholarship, technology, journalism or public service after completing the program.

Official Fellowship Information

Candidates should use the official Council on Foreign Relations Fellowships page as the primary source for current programs, application availability, eligibility requirements and future deadline announcements.

Because individual fellowship conditions can change between application cycles, applicants should check their selected program again when the 2027–2028 application window formally opens.

Conclusion

The Council on Foreign Relations Fellowships 2027–2028 represent a diverse collection of high-level professional-development opportunities for people working across foreign policy, government, journalism, academia, national security, technology, nuclear-security research and related disciplines.

CFR’s portfolio includes overseas opportunities in Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Europe, as well as domestic programs for foreign-policy professionals, journalists, nuclear-security scholars and experienced technologists.

Financial packages can be substantial. Depending on the program, fellows may receive stipends of up to $120,000, monthly overseas allowances, travel support or, in the Technologist-in-Residence program, a ten-month salary of $143,325.

Most applicants should remember that these are not general scholarships for students. CFR’s main fellowship portfolio is heavily oriented toward accomplished professionals—often at the mid-career level—who already demonstrate a credible record of achievement and a serious connection to foreign policy or the particular discipline covered by the fellowship.

For candidates who meet those requirements, preparing early is advisable. Many 2026–2027 application windows have already closed, while CFR indicates that applications for numerous 2027–2028 programs will become available in fall 2026. Applicants should watch the official CFR fellowship pages for the opening of applications and publication of exact deadlines.

For more global opportunities, click HERE.

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