APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED, RE-OPENS IN JUL
Scholarship Awarding University:
SeveralType of degree:
Master’s
Scholarship Deadline:
Applications for this scholarship will close on the 26th of October, 2023.
Scholarship Summary:
The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to attract the application of individuals from historically underrepresented groups as well as those with financial need (US citizens and residents only), who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Payne Fellowship Program awards up to thirty fellowships, valued at up to $52,000 annually, for a two-year program.
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.
Scholarship Applicant Criteria:
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must;
i. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
ii. Applicants must be between the ages of 18-55.
iii. Applicants must 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.
iv. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
Value of Scholarship:
The Payne Fellowship Program award includes;
i. 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;
ii. A $18,000 stipend for each academic year for room, board, books and other education-related expenses;
iii. Up to $10,000 per year in stipend, housing, transportation, and related expenses for summer internships.
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.
Scholarship Application Guide:
Scholarship Application Guide:
To apply;
i. If eligible, please go to the Payne Fellowship Online portal to submit an application.
A completed online application includes the following:
1) Background Information (e.g., name, contact information, international travel).
2) A personal statement (in 600 words or less) that discusses the applicant’s reasons for applying, interest in foreign affairs, commitment to pursue a USAID Foreign Service career and any relevant experience or information.
3) A statement (in 400 words or less) from the applicant that discusses his/her need for financial assistance to attend graduate school, including an explanation of:
i. The financial assistance received during undergraduate studies
ii. Overall education-related debt
iii. Ability/plans to pay for graduate school independently
4) Two letters of recommendation:
i. One from a faculty member who is well acquainted with the individual
ii. One from a community leader or other individual who can comment on the applicant’s non-academic accomplishments and his/her potential to serve as a USAID Foreign Service Officer.
Note: In the online application, applicants will identify recommenders, who will be contacted by the program and asked to submit letters electronically.
5) Proof of U.S. citizenship with a copy of: (choose one)
i. Birth certificate
ii. Certificate of U.S. citizenship
iii. U.S. passport
(Note: This should be uploaded in easy to read PDF format. Applicants are required to bring originals to the interview, if selected as a finalist.)
6) Student Aid Report (SAR) generated from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. If an applicant received financial aid during the most recent academic year, she/he is required to submit the SAR form. If an applicant did not receive financial aid during the most recent academic year, she/he must complete the FAFSA to generate a SAR for the 2022-2023 or the 2023-2024 academic year.
7) Official Financial Aid Statement from your senior year, if you received financial aid.
Note: Applicants will upload this into the application using PDF format. If you did not receive financial aid, you do not have to submit this.
8) Official Transcripts from ALL colleges and universities the applicant has attended for credit. Please use a school-generated transcript. An official transcript is best; a student copy is acceptable if it is in the format of an official transcript. (If selected for an interview, you will have to bring an official transcript, in a sealed envelope, to the interview.)
Note: Applicants will upload this into the application using PDF format. Find guidance notes for applying successfully.
A completed online application includes the following:
1) Background Information (e.g., name, contact information, international travel).
2) A personal statement (in 600 words or less) that discusses the applicant’s reasons for applying, interest in foreign affairs, commitment to pursue a USAID Foreign Service career and any relevant experience or information.
3) A statement (in 400 words or less) from the applicant that discusses his/her need for financial assistance to attend graduate school, including an explanation of:
i. The financial assistance received during undergraduate studies
ii. Overall education-related debt
iii. Ability/plans to pay for graduate school independently
4) Two letters of recommendation:
i. One from a faculty member who is well acquainted with the individual
ii. One from a community leader or other individual who can comment on the applicant’s non-academic accomplishments and his/her potential to serve as a USAID Foreign Service Officer.
Note: In the online application, applicants will identify recommenders, who will be contacted by the program and asked to submit letters electronically.
5) Proof of U.S. citizenship with a copy of: (choose one)
i. Birth certificate
ii. Certificate of U.S. citizenship
iii. U.S. passport
(Note: This should be uploaded in easy to read PDF format. Applicants are required to bring originals to the interview, if selected as a finalist.)
6) Student Aid Report (SAR) generated from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. If an applicant received financial aid during the most recent academic year, she/he is required to submit the SAR form. If an applicant did not receive financial aid during the most recent academic year, she/he must complete the FAFSA to generate a SAR for the 2022-2023 or the 2023-2024 academic year.
7) Official Financial Aid Statement from your senior year, if you received financial aid.
Note: Applicants will upload this into the application using PDF format. If you did not receive financial aid, you do not have to submit this.
8) Official Transcripts from ALL colleges and universities the applicant has attended for credit. Please use a school-generated transcript. An official transcript is best; a student copy is acceptable if it is in the format of an official transcript. (If selected for an interview, you will have to bring an official transcript, in a sealed envelope, to the interview.)
Note: Applicants will upload this into the application using PDF format. Find guidance notes for applying successfully.
ii. The Payne selection panel will choose finalists in the beginning of December 2023. Candidates selected for final consideration will be invited to participate in the virtual final-round interviews in mid-January. The program will strive to complete the selection process and make offers to thirty fellows soon after the interview.
Please note that applicants are generally applying for graduate school at the same time they are applying for the Payne Fellowship. Applicants should be in the process of applying to graduate school but do not have to be accepted.
Scholarship Website:
Find further information on this scholarship opportunity at the Payne Development Fellowship Page.
Scholarship Website:
Find further information on this scholarship opportunity at the Payne Development Fellowship Page.