Professional Fellows Program
International professionals gain practical experience in US government and business.
The Professional Fellows Program affords promising young professionals the opportunity to gain practical experience in, and exposure to, United States government. The knowledge and interest of these young Eurasian professionals in American political processes and governance will be expanded through short-term fellowships in state legislatures and city halls across the United States, as well as non-profit organizations that address policy issues.
PFP goals are to:
strengthen understanding of the U.S. legislative and governance process;
enhance appreciation of the role of civil society plays in shaping public policy and holding government accountable;
create partnerships between institutions in the U.S. and Turkiye; and
establish a common language to develop practical solutions for shared problems and concerns.
The PFP program provides round-trip international and domestic transportation, visa fee and processing costs, health and accident insurance, and a modest stipend. Housing and meals will be provided for program participants with U.S. host families.
To be eligible for PFP, applicants must:
be a citizen and currently reside in Turkiye. Applicants living outside of their country of citizenship will not be considered eligible to apply;
be between 25 and 35 at the beginning of the program in the United States
be a college graduate (equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree or higher);
be proficient in English. If applicants are selected as a semi-finalist American Councils will give them an institutional TOEFL exam, unless they have a valid TOEFL score over 500 (paper test) or over 60 (IBT test) or its equivalent (for example, valid IELTS band 6 or higher);
have at least two years relevant experience in and commitment to a career in the public sector and/or nonprofit sector (e.g., legislative, executive, and NGOs that address policy issues); and
have demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills
be committed to returning to his/her native country after the completion of the program
PFP participants are selected through a competitive application process.