THE ICWA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
What would you do with two years to study anything in the world?
The ultimate aim of the ICWA fellowship program is to cultivate deep expertise in foreign countries and cultures. We achieve that by supporting fellows over two-year periods during which they carry out immersive programs of self-designed, independent study abroad. An ICWA fellowship represents a generous investment in a fellow’s future.
ICWA’s mission is to identify and cultivate rare potential, so we are looking for promise, curiosity and enthusiasm in our candidates. We consider whether a candidate is ready for the rapid personal growth the fellowship makes possible. Candidates with a passion for their project country and who are sufficiently prepared to take advantage of the opportunity we offer have the best chance of being awarded an ICWA fellowship. Extensive professional experience in the proposed area is not always necessary; fellowships are aimed at developing advanced knowledge and professional skills, not necessarily awarding research or reporting opportunities to those who already possess them.
Strong candidates generally propose compelling fellowship topics. Given our interest in achieving wide geographic distribution over time, we generally are less inclined to select projects in countries where we currently or very recently have had fellows. We are naturally drawn to areas of the world and topics that are less well understood and are relevant to the United States. Candidates are encouraged to browse ICWA’s archives to see the kind of projects that the institute has supported.
