Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program is a U.S. State Department program administered by Howard University that aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The Program seeks individuals interested in helping to shape a freer, more secure and prosperous world through formulating, representing, and implementing U.S. foreign policy. The Program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need.

The Rangel Program selects outstanding Rangel Fellows annually in a highly competitive nationwide process and supports them through two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring, and professional development activities. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Fellows who successfully complete the program and Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy.

Rangel Fellows are committed to serving their country and promoting positive change globally. Individuals who have successfully completed the Rangel Program are now making a difference in countries throughout the world, including Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, China, Korea, Bangladesh, Spain, and Ireland.

Fellows who successfully complete the Rangel Program and Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments in the State Department Foreign Service in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy. Fellows are required to obtain and maintain medical, security, and suitability clearances in order to remain in the program.  Each Rangel Fellow who obtains a master’s degree is committed to a minimum of five years of service. Candidates who do not successfully complete the Rangel Program and the subsequent five-year service obligation may be subject to a reimbursement obligation. 

Deadlines

National Deadline: September 19, 2024

The Rangel Program awards 45 fellowships of up to $42,000 annually for a two year period for tuition, room, board, books, and mandatory fees for completion of a two-year master’s degree. This includes up to $24,000 per year for tuition and mandatory fees and an academic year stipend of $18,000. At the conclusion of two years of study, the Rangel Fellow is expected to have obtained a degree in international affairs or another area of relevance to the work of the Foreign Service (curriculum below) at a graduate school approved by the Rangel Program. Awardees are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 throughout their period of study.

New Rangel Fellows will participate in an orientation at Howard University in mid-May. 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, Foreign Service careers.

Rangel Fellows will participate in two internships. The first, an internship working on international issues for members of Congress in Washington, D.C., 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 U. S. Embassy or Consulate that takes place during the summer between the first and second years of graduate study. The Program provides support of up to $10,000 per summer.

Each Fellow will receive mentoring from a Foreign Service Officer throughout the duration of the fellowship.

Fellows must obtain graduate degrees in a field of study relevant to a career in the State Department Foreign Service, such as public administration, public policy, international relations, business administration, economics, history, political science, communications, or foreign languages at a graduate or professional school approved by the Rangel 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 Rangel Program.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be US Citizens
  • Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
  • Be seeking admission to enter graduate school in the fall of 2023 for a two-year program at a U.S. university in an area of relevance to the Foreign Service. They can be in the senior year of their undergraduate studies, graduating by June 2023, or they can be college graduates.
  • Personal background information
  • Personal Statement (600 word limit)
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • Statment of financial need (400 words)
  • Official financial aid award letter
  • FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR)
  • Proof of U.S. Citizenship
  • Transcript(s)
  • Copy of GRE/GMAT scores (optional)
  • Complete two NCA forms:
  • Launch your online application 
  • Complete and submit application by National Deadline on September 19, 2024.
  • Finalists will be notfied in November, with a Final Round of Select Fellows in December
  • Award offers will be made to 45 Finalists in December
  • Information on this page is intended to supplement, not supplant, your own careful review of the official Rangel website. If you find any discrepancy between the two, the Rangel 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: