Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellowship

A competitively selected professional development fellowship

The Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellowship Program is a professional development program funded by the U.S. Department of State. Since 2015, it has provided emerging leaders of the Fulbright Program from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia with the opportunity to gain real-world experience that both complements and enriches their graduate studies in the United States. Muskie Fellows show a commitment to developing practical skills and a deeper understanding of U.S. work culture, and a readiness to use this experience to implement positive changes and make a long-lasting impact in their home countries. Participating host organizations are not only at the forefront of bringing innovative talent to the U.S. workplace, but also play a critical role in fostering mutual understanding.

Program Details

How to Apply for the Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellowship

Step 1

Check Eligibility

  • Applicants must currently be a Fulbright Foreign Student and must be currently studying towards a graduate degree at a U.S. college or university.
  • Applicants must be a citizen of one of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan.

Step 2

Submit An Application

Applications go live for a month starting in mid-October through mid-November every year. If you do not see the application link, the application is not live. For any questions, email muskie@culturalvistas.org.

Step 3

Application Evaluation

Once you submit your application, readers receive and review applications in late November. They have about two weeks (until early December) to get back to the Muskie team with their scores.

Step 4

Interviews

If an application is scored very lowly, they may not be invited to the second round of the application process. If they are selected to proceed to the second round, interviews with the Muskie team occur in mid-December.

Step 5

Final Decision

Once interviews are done, the Muskie team will notify applicants of their final decision. This will likely occur in early January.

Eligibility and Application Frequently Asked Questions

Internships Frequently Asked Questions

Hosting is an intercultural learning experience

Why Host?

Interested in Hosting?

The Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellowship Program offers an exciting opportunity for U.S. organizations to host well-matched, motivated, and multilingual graduate students for the summer. This prestigious program places selected Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program grantees from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia in either paid OR unpaid internship positions to develop practical skills and professional networks in support of their home country careers. The Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellowship Program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of State. Each participant holds a valid J-1 Visitor Visa with full medical insurance coverage during their time in the United States. Fellows are granted work authorization once an internship offer is received from their host organization. In addition, Muskie Fellows also receive a stipend to cover the cost of living expenses in the cities in which their fellowship takes place. Host organizations are asked to provide:

  • An offer letter to the fellow verifying that an internship placement has been made
  • Completion of a brief approval form by the fellow’s direct supervisor explaining the internship’s daily tasks and requirements

*Templates for both documents will be provided by Cultural Vistas*

Our Past Host Organizations

World Bank

Atlantic Council

Birds Nest Foundation

Deepcast.ai

Future Earth

Human Rights Watch

Museum of Modern Art

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Discover how an exchange program can connect you with others, increase global skills, and drive positive change in the world.