Fellowship Obligations

Obligations and details related to the Pickering Fellowship.

Upon accepting the fellowship, you will sign an agreement that outlines your benefits and responsibilities as a Fellow. Fellows must meet and maintain all Foreign Service entry requirements including security, medical, and suitability requirements in order to remain in the program. Fellows also agree to a minimum five-year service commitment in the Department of State’s Foreign Service. The five-year service commitment begins upon entry into the Foreign Service. Failure to meet the obligations outlined in the fellowship agreement, including obtaining and maintaining required security and suitability clearances, meeting the minimum medical qualification standard, and passing required Foreign Service exams may result in your disqualification from the fellowship program and repayment to the U.S. Government of financial assistance received related to your education.

Acceptance into the Pickering Fellowship carries rigorous academic and professional obligations designed to ensure rapid integration into the Foreign Service pipeline:

Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT): For the 2027 cohort only, applicants who do not already have passing results from the FSOT and WE administered on/after October 2025 must take the FSOT in the October 2026 or January 2027 testing window. Applicants who do not have both test results by the application deadline may still apply by submitting:
- Passing FSOT results and confirmation of either having scheduled or taken the WE but are awaiting results, OR
- Confirmation of registration for the January 2027 FSOT with Pearson VUE.

Selected applicants who have yet to provide results for the FSOT and WE will receive a conditional offer, contingent on submitting passing FSOT and WE results before their academic program begins. Fellows who have not passed both tests by then will not be accepted to the Fellowship program.

Foreign Service Oral Assessment (FSOA): Fellows are required to take the FSOA for the first time no later than six months after beginning their graduate fellowship program. If unsuccessful on the first attempt, fellows must re-take the FSOA at every available opportunity, as directed by the Department of State, until passing or completing their degree requirements.

Department-Approved University Restriction: Fellows must select and enroll in a two-year master’s program from the official Department-approved list of institutions located within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This geographic concentration facilitates continuous engagement with Department leadership, participation in policy enrichment activities, and integration with interagency partners.>

National Defense University (NDU) Seminar: All fellows must successfully complete a mandatory two-week professional development seminar at the National Defense University focused on national security, joint operations, and interagency foreign policy strategy.
Repayment Obligation: Fellows who fail to meet academic standards, refuse to re-take the FSOA as directed, or do not fulfill Foreign Service entry obligations may be separated from the fellowship and required to reimburse the U.S. Government for all financial assistance disbursed in connection with their education.

Pickering Fellowship 2027 Timeline

Application Deadline: Pending
Notification of Finalists: Pending
Finalists Interviews: Pending
Notification of Fellowship Award: Pending
Fellowship Orientation: June 2027
Begin First Year of Graduate School: Fall 2027
Domestic Internship: Summer 2028
Begin Second Year of Graduate School: Fall 2028
Overseas Internship: Summer 2028 (post-graduation)
Entrance into A-100: Late 2029

When individuals are selected for the fellowship, the Department of State requests that they complete and submit a security clearance application. The time needed for security clearance determination varies depending on several factors. The security clearance process involves a comprehensive background investigation, conducted by the U.S. Department of State in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies. This investigation provides the information necessary to determine a candidate’s suitability for appointment to the Foreign Service and for a Top Secret security clearance. The process considers such factors as: failure to repay a U.S. Government guaranteed loan or meet tax obligations; failure to register for the Selective Service; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; unsatisfactory employment records; a criminal record or other violations of the law; drug or alcohol abuse; and less than honorable discharge from the armed forces.

Candidates who hold dual citizenship, have had extensive travel, education, residence and/or employment overseas, or who have foreign contacts, a foreign-born spouse, immediate family members or relatives who are not citizens of the United States, should be aware that the clearance process will take longer to complete. The background investigation includes interviews with current and previous contacts, supervisors, and coworkers.

Fellows must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance to remain in the program.

Pickering Fellows must meet the Department of State’s minimal medical qualification standard. After a fellow undergoes a pre-employment medical examination, the Bureau of Medical Services of the Department of State determines whether a fellow is medically qualified for hire as a Foreign Service Officer. The purpose of a medical review is to identify specific health needs and medical conditions that may require specialty management, follow-up, or monitoring.

Fellows must be able to meet the minimal medical qualification standard to remain in the program.

Upon completion of the background investigation and medical examination, a State Department Suitability Review Panel will examine your file (minus any privileged medical information) to determine your suitability for employment with the Foreign Service.

The attainment of U.S. foreign policy objectives depends substantially on the confidence of the public (both American and foreign) in the individuals selected to serve in the Foreign Service. The Department of State, therefore, requires the highest standards of conduct by employees of the Foreign Service, including an especially high degree of integrity, reliability, and prudence. Given the representational nature of employment in the Foreign Service, employees must observe proper standards at all times. The purpose of the suitability review is to determine, from the candidate’s total record, whether the candidate is indeed suitable to represent the United States. The Suitability Review Panel has the authority to terminate a candidacy.

In evaluating suitability, the Suitability Review Panel takes into consideration the following factors:

Misconduct in prior employment, including marginal performance or inability to interact effectively with others.
Criminal, dishonest, or disgraceful conduct.
Misrepresentation, including deception or fraud, in the application process.
Repeated or habitual use to excess of intoxicating beverages affecting the ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the employee’s position.
Trafficking in or abuse of narcotics or controlled substances.
Reasonable doubt as to loyalty to the U.S. Government.
Conduct which clearly shows poor judgment and or lack of discretion which may reasonably affect an individual or the agency’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities or mission.
Financial irresponsibility, including a history of not meeting financial obligations or an inability to satisfy debts.

Fellows must be able to obtain and maintain a suitability clearance to remain in the program.

More details about the suitability and security clearances and the minimum medical qualification standard can be found on the U.S. Department of State website (www.careers.state.gov). Potential candidates who believe they may have issues that could affect receiving the required clearances and/or meeting the minimum medical qualification standard should consider whether to move forward with their application at this time.