Overview
Applicants interested in fellowships for political scientists and journalists, or interested in the APSA-MCI Telecommunications Congressional Fellowship for scholars and journalists with a focus in telecommunications, should apply directly to APSA here.
Qualifications
For Political Scientists
Political Science fellows have completed a PhD in the last 15 years or will have defended a dissertation in political science by November of the fellowship year. The program is open to scholars in all fields of study within political science who can show a scholarly interest in Congress and policymaking.
For Journalists
Journalist fellows are early and mid-career print and broadcast journalists (including online journalists) who have a professional interest in Congress. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree and two to ten years of professional experience in print or broadcast journalism, which may include or consist of experience in professional online journalism.
For the APSA-MCI Telecommunications Fellowship
Applicants for the APSA-MCI Telecommunications Congressional Fellowship are early and mid-career journalists and scholars in all disciplines and fields with a professional interest in public policy and telecommunications. Applicants may be scholars who have completed a terminal degree in the last 15 years or will have defended a dissertation by November of the fellowship year, or may be journalists who cover this topic with two to ten years of professional experience in either print or broadcast journalism (including online journalism).
For All Fellowship Categories
Preference is given to those without extensive Capitol Hill experience.
Stipend
Recipients of the APSA Congressional Fellowship will receive a stipend of $60,000. The stipend covers the 9.5-month period of the fellowship from November to August and is paid in twelve installments starting in September of the fellowship year. Fellows also receive funds to cover travel to and from Washington, DC, and funds for a trip to the district of the Member of Congress for whom they work.
Application Procedure
The application period for APSA-sponsored fellowships opens in fall and closes in January. The application must be submitted online and include:
- a detailed resume or cv
- a 750-word personal statement explaining how participation in the fellowship relates to the applicant's professional goals
- one sole-authored writing sample (political scientists and MCI-communications scholars) or news article, broadcast script, or clip (journalists)
- the names and contact information for three professional references who have agreed to write letters of recommendation
Applicants will be notified if selected for an interview, which will be held around March of the application year. Applicants are notified of the final status of their applications shortly after the interviews.
Optional Programs
Applicants may apply through the fellowship application form for two optional programs that take place in September and October, immediately before the start of the main fellowship year in November:
Applicants may apply for either or both programs. Applicants who apply for and are accepted to both programs may participate in these two programs concurrently. Applicants must be selected as APSA Congressional Fellows in order to be selected for the optional programs, but selection as a Congressional Fellow does not guarantee selection for either program. Applicants will be notified of their selection for any optional programs at the same time they are notified of their selection as Congressional Fellows.
Applicants for the Congress and Foreign Policy course submit a 250 word description of their background in foreign policy and professional interest in the course.
Applicants to the Steiger Fund submit a 500 word proposal, including a concrete work plan, describing the project subject, its proposed scholarly contributions, the project aims, and the expected outcomes.
Successful applicants to the William A. Steiger Fund will receive an additional stipend for September and October when they are working on their supported research project.
The Congressional Fellowship Program will cover the cost of tuition for fellows selected for the Congress and Foreign Policy Course.