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Elliott School of
International Affairs

 

Partnerships, Fellowships & Grants

DACOR Bacon House Foundation Fellowship

Each year the DACOR Bacon House Foundation offers graduate fellowships for study toward a Master’s Degree in international affairs. These are $10,000 tuition-only grants. Recipients must be U.S. citizens. The fellowships are for study at any accredited graduate school in the United States.

Learn more about the DACOR Bacon House Foundation Fellowship

GWU-Grameen Bank & Trust Partnership

The university works with two programs affiliated with the Grameen Bank & Trust. The Internship Program with the Yunus Centre at the Grameen Bank & Trust offers internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students interested in working on development projects with the Grameen Bank & Trust. The internship provides valuable hands-on experience in microfinance, poverty reduction, and international development in Bangladesh. The Global Business and Microfinance Internship in Nepal is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to engage with top-tier institutions in the country.

International Internship Grant (IIG)

The Elliott School strongly encourages students to integrate their studies with practical international internship experiences. To help with this goal, GSS offers a limited number of competitive grants for Elliott School graduate students participating in unpaid or low-pay international internships. Currently enrolled Elliott School graduate students may seek an International Internship Grant via the IIG online application. 

These grants are designed to help defray the costs of an international internship, not to fully fund the experience. Students are encouraged to research outside funding sources before submitting a grant proposal.

Guidelines
  • You must have secured an internship or have started an internship at an organization that offers substantial opportunities directly related to your degree program and specialty.
  • Your internship must require at least 30 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks.
  • You must be a currently enrolled Elliott School graduate student and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • International students are eligible to apply, but the internship cannot be located in your home country or within the U.S.
  • The internship cannot be located in a country in which you have citizenship or foreign national status.
  • The internship must abide by the GW Global: Elliott School Travel Advisory policy.
Application Requirements

Only completed applications will be accepted; we will not consider your application unless you carefully complete the application steps, which include:

  • Application Summary
  • Basic personal and internship information
  • Current Resume
  • Completed and signed Internship Employer/Mentor Form
  • Faculty Support Form completed and signed by a GW faculty member
  • Interest essay (500 words maximum): Please submit an essay about why you want to complete this internship and how it relates to your immediate and long-term career goals.
  • Completed Personal Budget form including alternative sources of funding
  • Copy of most recent GW transcript (printable from the web; unofficial copies are accepted)

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

International Internship Travel Guidelines

Elliott School graduate students participating in an international internship must adhere to the following guidelines:

  • International Travel Registration:
    • Graduate students traveling to a Department of State (DoS) travel advisory Levels 1–3 and/or CDC Travel Health Notice Levels 1–2 destinations must complete the International Travel Registration at least 30 days before departure.
    • Before completing the proposal, students should review the DoS travel advisory level and CDC Travel Health Notice Levels for their specific region, as advisories may vary within a country and are subject to change.
    • Students planning to travel to a DoS Level 3 destination should prepare a backup travel plan to a DoS Level 1 or 2 destination in case travel guidance changes.
  • High-Risk Travel Proposal:

Students traveling to a DoS advisory level 4 and/or CDC travel health notice level 3-4 must apply for the High Risk Travel Proposal for Individual Travelers a minimum of 30 days before your departure date. Travel to DoS Level 4 and/or CDC travel health notices level 3-4 destinations will most likely not be approved.

Application Timeline & Deadlines

When to Apply?

 Applications OpenApplications CloseApplication Decision Sent by:Travel Registration Deadline
Summer 2025February 15, 2025March 15th, 2025March 21st, 202530 days before departure
Fall 2025June 15, 2025July 15, 2025Jul 21, 202530 days before departure
Spring 2026November 15th, 2025December 4th, 2025December 12, 202530 days before departure

 

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required in the application?

  1. Personal and internship information sections
  2. Completed and signed Internship Employer/Mentor Form
  3. Interest essay (500 words maximum): Please submit an essay about why you want to complete this internship and how it relates to your immediate and long-term career goals. Please limit it to 500 words.
  4. Faculty Support Form completed and signed by a GW faculty member
  5. Estimated Budget Sheet, including personal and alternative sources of funding
  6. Current resume
  7. Copy of most recent GW transcript (may be unofficial)

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Do you have to have your internship before the application deadline? 
Yes.

Does my internship have to be for a required time length?
Yes. Your internship must consist of at least 30 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks.

How do I find an internship? 
The Graduate Student Services (GSS) will work with you to secure an internship at an organization that offers substantial opportunities related to your program. Feel free to also check out our GSS International Internship and jobs abroad database.

What countries are covered by the International Internship Grant?
All countries where students are permitted to travel and that align with the GW Travel Policy.

Do I need recommendations from the faculty? 
You only need (1) one GWU faculty member to approve your application.

If I am a 2nd-year student, am I still eligible to apply for the International Internship Grant?
Yes, if you are a continuing student, you are eligible.

Do I need to be an Elliott School graduate student to apply for International Internship Grant? 
Yes.

Do I need language skills?
No. However, some employers do request language proficiency.

Can I combine an internship with a study abroad program?
Yes. As long as you meet the 30 hours per week and 10-week minimum duration requirements of your internship.

Can I be awarded the International Internship Grant twice? 
Yes, as long as you are a currently enrolled Elliott School graduate student with a GPA ≥ 3.0

Can I go to my home country?
No. The goal of the International Internship Grant is to enable students to experience new cultures beyond their native land.

What is the maximum award amount?
Up to $3,000. The award amount is determined by your proposed budget sheet.

Where is the proposed budget sheet?
It is a section within the online application.

When do I get the grant funding? 
Before you depart for your internship. The funding will be directly deposited into your bank account so long as you have set up your direct deposit account with GW. 

To apply, please go to go.gwu.edu/iig.

Please email [email protected] for more information. 

KAKEHASHI

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan promotes people-to-people exchange programs between Japan and the USA/Canada. More than 1,000 people are sent to or from Japan each year under the “KAKEHASHI” Project, which means a “bridge” between nations and cultures. Since 2018, the Elliott School of International Affairs has been lucky enough to be invited to participate in the KAKEHASHI Project, which involves an 8-day trip to Japan fully funded by the Government of Japan. Students have the opportunity to attend lectures and discussions with Japanese government employees and leaders in policy, research, and business. Students also participate in cultural site visits, events, workshops, and discussions with Japanese nationals, including a homestay with Japanese families. KAKEHASHI participants must be current Elliott School graduate students and U.S. citizens with a demonstrated interest in Japan and Japanese affairs.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF)

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program is a two-year, post-graduate leadership-development initiative open to graduate students and alumni. The application process begins in the fall of your final year of graduate school, at which time you will be notified whether you have been accepted and how to proceed. Every year, several Elliott School students are selected as PMF finalists.

GSS is available to assist semi-finalists and finalists throughout the process.

Please visit the PMF website for more information. 

Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations

The Harold W. Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations is a prestigious program that offers our nation’s most civic-minded students the opportunity to spend a summer working to solve some of our biggest national and global challenges.

Established in 1977 to honor Harold Rosenthal, a Senate staff member who was a victim of a terrorist attack while on official duty at age 29, this fellowship provides a select number of graduate-level students studying international affairs the opportunity to gain work experience in a congressional or executive branch office while participating in a series of professional development events.

Learn More about the Rosenthal Fellowship