Financial Aid, Scholarships and Stipends 

Merit-based awards come mainly from general scholarship funds or gifts from alumni and outside supporters. The funds are used to recognize merit and are not granted based on financial need. If you check the box in your online application to be considered for merit aid, the admissions committee will do so for all of these scholarship opportunities. 

All scholarship recipients must be enrolled full-time (registered for 12 credits) each semester of the award. Scholarships are applied only to tuition for MSFS credits; they can complement but not replace tuition assistance from other sources.

Scholarship process and criteria

Scholarships will only be awarded at the time of admission and are renewable at the same amount for the second year. To retain scholarships, students must be in good academic standing as defined by the Graduate School’s “Standards of Satisfactory Academic Performance,” including earning a minimum 3.0 GPA.

A limited number of admitted applicants who do not receive an MSFS scholarship may be placed on a waitlist for merit-based aid. Applicants will be notified of their award status after admissions decisions are released.

These special funds, established by contributions from alumni and other outside supporters, provide some of the tuition scholarships awarded to MSFS students. If you check the box in your online application to be considered for merit aid, the admissions committee will do so for all of these scholarship opportunities. 

• Chiechi Scholarship: The Chiechi family established this scholarship in memory of their daughter, Lavinia Johanne Chiechi. It is conferred upon a student with high academic and extracurricular achievements entering the second year of MSFS.
• Drew and Kelly Scoggins Scholarship: This merit-based scholarship is awarded to MSFS students who exemplify Georgetown’s mission and values through demonstrated leadership experience, as determined by MSFS.
• Foy Scholarship: Mr. James J. Foy, School of Foreign Service Class of 1925, established this scholarship for an MSFS student.
• Geiger Scholarship: Dr. Theodore Geiger was an MSFS faculty member. He promoted freedom and democracy in Europe during his service as Marshall Plan adviser. Alumni who remember Dr. Geiger and his commitment to our Program maintain this fund.
• Andrew S. Gundlach Fellowship: The Anna Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation endowed this Fellowship for Andrew S. Gundlach (MSFS’95), the grandson of the Kellens. The Fellowship is awarded to a second-year student with high academic and extracurricular achievements.
• Kalin Family Scholarship: The Kalin Family Endowed Scholarship is awarded to one MSFS student with high academic and extracurricular achievement.
• Kellen MSFS Scholarship: The Kellen Foundation was established in 1984 to support cultural programs, education, religious institutions, the media and international relations projects relating to Germany. This Fund provides MSFS scholarships for first- or second-year students selected by the MSFS Scholarship Committee.
• R. Smith Simpson Memorial Scholarship: Margaret Simpson Maurin established this fund in memory of her father, R. Smith Simpson, a career Foreign Service Officer. The fund supports students in the Global Politics and Security concentration who want to pursue a career in diplomacy with the U.S. Department of State, particularly within the Foreign Service.
• Scott Morse Scholarship: Scott Morse (MSFS’83), donated funds to support this partial tuition fellowship for one MSFS student per year.
• Evelyn Nowik Scholarship: Dr. Henry Nowik, former Distinguished Research Professor, established this second-year scholarship in memory of his late wife, Evelyn Nowik.
• Howard K., Sr. and Dolores A. Ranftle Scholarship: H.K. Ranftle, Jr endowed this scholarship in 1991 to support a second-year MSFS student with significant financial need.
• Oxenstierna Scholarship: David Oxenstierna (SFS’87, MSFS’89), established this scholarship to support MSFS students.
• Raymund Fellowship: Established by Steven A. Raymund (MSFS’81), this fellowship supports first- or second-year MSFS students.
• J. Scott Schlossel Scholarship: J. Scott Schlossel (MSFS’88), endowed this scholarship to support MSFS students.
• Semsar-de Boisséson Scholarship: Sheherazade Semsar-de Boisséson (SFS/MSFS’90), donated funds to support a fellowship for one MSFS student per year.
• Schenley McPhail Walker Scholarship: The Schenley McPhail Walker Endowed Scholarship Fund was established to provide scholarships to graduate students enrolled in MSFS and who either received an undergraduate degree from Georgetown or are veterans of one of the branches of the United States military or are U.S. citizens.
• SoldierStrong Scholarship: This gift was established to provide merit-based scholarships to students who are enrolled in MSFS and veterans of the United States military.
• Walton Fellowship: The Walton Family donated this award for a second-year student displaying high academic achievement and commitment to a career in international service.
• Edward Weintal Bequest: The Edward Weintal Bequest to Georgetown provides a scholarship for one MSFS student per class. The Fellow is chosen by the MSFS Admissions and Scholarship Committee. Criteria include “academic excellence and special promise as practitioners and writers in world affairs.” Continuation of the Fellowship for the second year of studies is contingent on satisfactory academic progress. The recipient of this award works closely with the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.

If you check the box in your online application to be considered for merit aid, the admissions committee will do so for all of these scholarship opportunities. 

• Maria Pinto Carland Scholarship: The Maria Pinto Carland Scholarship honors Maria’s significant personal and professional commitments to MSFS. Having devoted her career to guiding and educating MSFS students and alumni, Maria embodies many of the characteristics MSFS seeks to foster in our students. A merit-based award, the Maria Pinto Carland Scholarship will be awarded annually to individuals of exceptional promise, reflecting Maria’s dedication to academic rigor, extracurricular achievement and international service. The Maria Pinto Carland Scholarship is made possible by significant and generous gifts recognizing Maria’s invaluable devotion to MSFS.
• MSFS Alumni Scholarships: Gifts from alumni provide funds to support first- and second-year students whose backgrounds and experiences provide important contributions to an MSFS class. All MSFS students are encouraged to apply. 
• MSFS Service Scholarships: A personal and professional commitment to service underlines the MSFS degree and has marked the achievements of many graduates. In line with Georgetown’s Jesuit tradition of service to others, MSFS is exploring establishing a fund to provide support for students with past and present service to disadvantaged populations and students pursuing international service careers.

The MSFS Fellows program promotes engagement between students and faculty by enabling highly qualified students to work with individual faculty members on research and project-related activities.

Selection process

A list of participating faculty and their fellowship proposals will be posted during the first week of classes each term. Students are selected through a competitive interview process with participating faculty. Decisions are expected one week after the announcements are made.

Duration

The program lasts up to 12 weeks during the fall or spring semester of the academic year.

Eligibility

All continuing MSFS students are eligible.  Fellowships are not renewable and former recipients may apply again.

Financial structure per student

Each student may earn $19.50/per hour for a maximum of 15 hours per week for 12 weeks to be paid biweekly with a maximum of $3,510 per student per semester.

Number of fellows

The number of MSFS Fellows each semester will vary with the amount of financing available.  We anticipate the ability to fund thirty fellows in the coming academic year, approximately 15 in the fall and 15 in the spring.

In addition to the MSFS Fellows program, we offer one-semester teaching and research assistantships available to first and continuing MSFS students. You may apply for an assistantship position after matriculation in September. The availability of these positions is dependent upon the university’s operating status and budget.

MSFS has partnered with Open Society Foundations (OSF) to offer Civil Society Leadership Awards. OSF awards grants, scholarships and fellowships on a regular basis throughout the year. You can determine your eligibility and then view relevant initiatives and application guidelines. 

The Hinrich Foundation Global Trade Leader Scholarship was established through the generous contribution of the Hinrich Foundation. The scholarship will provide one MSFS student who has an interest in working in global trade and in Asia with a $15,000 scholarship per year. In addition, the student will engage with the Hinrich Foundation for mentorship and possible job placement support upon graduation. 

To be considered for this scholarship, you must submit a separate application. They are reviewed by an external committee within the Hinrich Foundation. Applications are due January 15, 2026.