Harold W. Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations
Harold W. Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations
The Rosenthal Fellowship is part of the Partnership’s Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program. Fellows join the broader cohort for shared programming, including kickoff, closing, and professional development events, plus Rosenthal-specific activities and development opportunities.
The Rosenthal Fellowship is only offered in the summer alongside the Future Leaders in Public Service summer cohort.
program status
Summer 2027 Application Opening October 13, 2026
Applications for the Rosenthal Fellowship Summer 2027 cohort will open on Tuesday, October 13. Please check back for updates.
Rosenthal Fellowship Placements
- Apply independently to internship positions in federal, state, or local government sites, or in Congressional offices. If a candidate secures a position on their own, consult with the Future Leaders team before accepting.
- Get matched to select opportunities through the Future Leaders team, which connects accepted candidates with available state, federal and Congressional placements.
Rosenthal University Partners and Nationwide Pool
The Rosenthal Fellowship is open to applicants from our dedicated university partners, as well as colleges and universities from across the country. For candidates selected to participate in the Rosenthal Fellowship, the primary distinction between university partner fellows and nationwide pool fellows is the source of their stipend funding. More information can be found in the Rosenthal Fellowship Funding section below.
For Summer 2027, our Rosenthal Fellowship university partners are:
Northeastern University, School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs
Graduate students in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs who will be continuing their program in Fall 2027 are eligible to apply for the Rosenthal Fellowship. Preference will be given to students in the MA in International Affairs program. Undergraduate students enrolled in a PlusOne program are unable to apply for the Rosenthal Fellowship.
Please note: School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs graduate students are also eligible for the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program. You may apply to either Rosenthal or Future Leaders, but not both.
Rice University, School of Social Sciences
University of Pennsylvania – Fels Institute of Government
Rosenthal Fellowship Funding
Summer 2027 Timeline
- October 13, 2026: Applications for the summer 2027 cohort open.
- November 27, 2026: Application closes.
- January 8, 2027: Applicants are notified of eligibility status. Finalists will receive instructions on next steps.
- January – March, 2027: Virtual interviews conducted.
- April – May 2027: Background check process begins.
- May 2027: Virtual Orientation.
- June 7, 2027: Internship Begins.
- August 13 – 27, 2027: Internship Ends.
Fellowship end date is dependent on each student’s schedule and agreed upon with their supervisor.
Program Eligibility
- U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
- Currently enrolled at an accredited educational institution with one year remaining in an international relations or international affairs graduate program. Undergraduates are not eligible for this opportunity.
- Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA above 2.5.
Program Benefits
- Placement in a 10-12-week summer internship at a congressional or executive branch office, if placement assistance is needed.
- A $5,000 stipend for full-time positions (minimum 32 hours/week), if funding is not secured from an outside source.
- Professional development sessions throughout the summer.
- Access to an extensive alumni network.
FAQs – Harold W. Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations
Who is eligible for the Rosenthal Fellowship?
Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application submission. Students with dual citizenship are not eligible for all placements and must disclose their dual citizenship status during the application process. Applicants must also be currently enrolled at an accredited educational institution, with one year remaining in an international relations or international affairs graduate program; undergraduates are not eligible for this opportunity. Finally, applicants must be able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA above 2.5.
Can I add a letter of recommendation or other documents to my application?
For the Summer 2027 application, only resumes and unofficial transcripts will be accepted as supporting documentation.
How much is the stipend?
Fellows are funded in one of two ways. Students selected from the national candidate pool receive a $5,000 stipend paid directly by the Rosenthal Fellowship. Students funded through a partner university (see the University Partners section) are paid directly by their university, and stipend amounts vary by institution.
If I apply to Future Leaders, am I also able to apply to the Rosenthal Fellowship concurrently?
Applicants may only apply to one of the Future Leaders program cohorts:
– Future Leaders Summer 2027
– Rosenthal Fellowship Summer 2027
If multiple applications are received from the same candidate, the Partnership will reach out to the candidate and ask that they select one cohort.
Are all fellowship opportunities based in the Washington, D.C., area?
Most placements identified by the Partnership are in the Washington, D.C., area, and we anticipate offering select placements abroad as well. Finalists who self-identify a qualifying placement may also be located in the D.C. metropolitan area, elsewhere in the United States, or abroad.
Can my fellowship be fully remote?
The Rosenthal Fellowship has no programmatic requirement that fellows work in person. Finalists who self-identify a qualifying placement should work with their host organization to determine whether the internship will be in person, hybrid, or remote. For placements identified by the Partnership, we anticipate that most will require in-person or hybrid work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Who are the participating agencies?
For fellows who want assistance matching with an agency, the Future Leaders team will share potential partners after candidates have been accepted into the program.
Past partner agencies include:
– Department of Commerce International Trade Administration
– Office of the United States Trade Representative
– U.S. Department of Defense
– U.S. House of Representatives
– United States Trade and Development Agency
Can I choose my agency placement?
The Rosenthal Fellowship offers two pathways to placement after acceptance into the program:
Apply directly to internship positionsin federal, state, or local government sites, or in Congressional offices. If a candidate secures a position on their own, consult with the Future Leaders team before accepting.
Get matched to select opportunitiesthrough the Future Leaders team, which connects accepted candidates with available state, federal and Congressional placements
Does the Rosenthal Fellowship provide housing?
The Partnership for Public Service does not provide housing for the Rosenthal Fellowship.
