Weiser Diplomacy Fellowship

The Weiser Diplomacy Center is pleased to offer several Weiser Diplomacy Fellowships that will provide financial awards to admitted MPP students with demonstrated academic and professional achievement and deep interest in diplomacy and related aspects of international affairs.

  • Overview

    The Weiser Diplomacy Center is pleased to offer several Weiser Diplomacy Fellowships that will fund admitted MPP students with demonstrated academic achievement who express deep interest in pursuing knowledge and practical policy skills related to diplomacy and foreign affairs in areas including international security, development, and/or human rights. 

    Fellowships are awarded to several incoming master’s students each year. Students receive up to $30,000 per year from 2023-24, which is up to $15,000 in tuition support each semester for a maximum of two years of graduate study in international policy or international economic development. 

    All newly admitted MPP students are eligible to apply for Weiser Diplomacy Fellowships. We will review applications for merit while considering applicants’ other sources of financial support received from UM and from outside fellowships when issuing awards.

    Fellows with at least $15,000 in tuition may wish to accept the full amount as tuition support. Fellows who do not require the full $15,000 in tuition support, either because they obtain a GSI position or for other reasons, may draw up to $3,000 as stipend (please note this is deemed taxable income) and devote some or all of the remaining $12,000 to any tuition shortfall they may have. 

    Eligibility


    Demographics funded

    • Newly admitted MPP students

    Citizenship funded

    • Any

    Programs funded

    • Graduate

    Timeline

    Call for applications is sent out to all admitted graduate students in March. Selected students are notified by mid April.

    To apply

    • Complete the application form
    • Submit a current resume
    • Submit a 1-page single-spaced statement of interest

    What elements of my Ford MPP application, if any, would be viewed in conjunction with my application for the fellowship?

    The reviewing committee does not view your Ford MPP application. 

    What classes are Weiser fellows required to take and what opportunities are fellows involved in at the Weiser Diplomacy Center?

    There are no specific course requirements, but we hope and expect that our fellows will strive to deepen their knowledge and interest in international policy issues by participation in courses offered in the international policy and international economic development concentrations and through their participation in our large offering of extracurricular activities. 

    Do fellows have any special programs, courses, events, or special projects they are to attend or work on to advance and enhance their studies?

    Our fellows are part of a close-knit Ford School community of students with international policy interests. They regularly contribute to our events and participate in activities (symposia, conferences, seminars, policy simulation exercises, workshops and career talks among others). Additionally, they often benefit from our many other funding and research opportunities and partnership contacts. They meet with many of the top policy practitioners and Ford School alumni we invite, and they represent Ford School on and off campus in a variety of student groups and competitions that we bring to their attention. We often engage our fellows for their leadership and knowledge in international policy, such as asking them to lead Q&A at public events and join small-group seminars with visiting experts. WDC fellows are expected to participate at a fall event with WDC donors, a roundtable with all IPC/WDC awardees, and more.

    Is there anything you would highlight as particularly helpful in making a Weiser Fellowship applicant stand out, apart from the information requested in the application form?

    We seek applicants with deep interest in the study of international policy (including international relations, national security, development, and human rights). We also seek applicants with relevant experience and knowledge who are keen to share expertise with others, take advantage of the research and policy engagement opportunities we provide, exercise leadership in classes and student groups, and participate regularly at our international policy events.  


    Is the Weiser Fellowship purely a funding opportunity, or are Weiser fellows part of an educational community and/or accountable for contributing to the Weiser Diplomacy Center? 

    Prospective fellows who do not require the full $12,500 in tuition support, either because they receive other sources of tuition funding or obtain a GSI position, should still consider becoming part of the WDC fellowship community. Their experience, knowledge, and interest are all crucial to our vibrant international policy community


    Questions?

    If you have any questions regarding this fellowship, please contact Nayab Ali, WDC's Assistant Program Manager ([email protected]).

Ed Elliott and Karuna Nandkumar

The Weiser Diplomacy Fellowship has had such an incredible impact on my career, opening dozens of new doors and opportunities for me in a new country. One such example would be how off the back of the knowledge gained and connections made at the Ford School I have expanded the scope of much of my work, helping me build on my previous experience and start my own consultancy  looking at the intersection of sports and diplomacy in the United States."

Ed Elliott (MPA '20), sportsdiplomacy.org

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