Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program

The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). If you want to work on the front lines of some of the most pressing global challenges of our times — poverty, hunger, injustice, disease, environmental degradation, climate change, conflict and violent extremism – the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development provides an opportunity to advance U.S. foreign policy interests and reflect the American people's compassion and support of human dignity. The Payne Fellowship, which provides up to $104,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities, is a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service.

The Payne Fellowship Program awards up to thirty fellowships valued at up to $52,000 annually for a two-year program. 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 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.

Deadlines

National Deadline: October 24, 2024

Fellowships for Graduate Studies  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.

Orientation New Payne Fellows will participate in an orientation at Howard University in May, shortly after their selection. The purposes of this orientation are to familiarize the Fellows with all aspects of the fellowship and to enhance their understanding of, and skills for, international development careers.

Two Summer Placements Payne Fellows will participate in two internships. The first, an internship working on international issues in Washington, DC, will occur in the summer after being selected and before the first year of graduate study. The second will be an overseas internship in a USAID Mission that takes place during the summer between the first and second years of graduate study.  The program will provide stipends, housing, and transportation.

Mentoring Each Fellow will receive mentoring throughout the duration of the fellowship as well as during his/her early employment at USAID.

Curriculum Fellows must obtain graduate degrees in international affairs or a related subject such as development, economics, history, political science, public administration, communications, public policy, business administration foreign languages, agriculture, environmental sciences, or urban planning at a graduate or professional school approved by the Payne Program. Studies in law do not satisfy this requirement.  Applicants apply to two-year graduate programs at U.S. universities simultaneously with their application to the Payne Program.

Employment/Contractual Obligations Fellows who successfully complete the Payne Program and USAID Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as USAID Foreign Service Officers.  Each Payne Fellow who obtains a master’s degree is committed to a minimum of five years of service as a USAID Foreign Service Officer. Candidates who do not successfully complete the Payne Program and the subsequent five year service obligation may be subject to a reimbursement obligation

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be U.S. citizens.
  • Be seeking admission to enter graduate school in the fall of 2024 for a two-year program at a U.S. university.  They can be in the senior year of their undergraduate studies, graduating by June 2024, or they can be college graduates.
  • Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
  • Completed online application
  • Personal Statement (600 word limit)
  • Statement discussing financial need (400 word limit)
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
    • Payne's sample recommendation form here
  • Proof of US Citizenship
  • Student Aid Report (SAR) generated from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
  • Official Financial Aid Statement from applicant's senior year
  • Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities the applicant has attended for credit
  • Complete two NCA forms:
  • Launch your online application
  • Complete and submit application by National Deadline on October 24, 2024
  • Candidates selected for final consideration will be invited to Washington, D.C. for interviews in mid-January
  • Information on this page is intended to supplement, not supplant, your own careful review of the official Payne website. If you find any discrepancy between the two, the Payne website takes precedence.
  • Though you should seek out others’ advice and feedback on your application, the essays should be your original work (no one should be writing your essays for you). UC’s Student Code of Conduct applies.

If you're interested in a career in international affairs, you may want to explore these other options, too: