Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)Fellowship

$44,400 APAICS Congressional Fellowship

Dec 17, 2026 23:59:00 ET

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Dec 17, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), a nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 1994 alongside the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, places Fellows in a US congressional office or committee in Washington, D.C. for 12 months. Fellows do the work of a congressional legislative aide, build a network on Capitol Hill and learn how Congress actually operates. The 2027-2028 Fellowship runs from August 30, 2027 to August 25, 2028.

What you get:

A grant of $3,700 a month for the 12 months of the Fellowship, $44,400 in total
Domestic round-trip travel to and from Washington, D.C. at the start and end of the Fellowship
The chance to visit your host office's congressional district or attend a conference relevant to your portfolio
Full-time professional experience in a House or Senate office, leadership office or committee
Professional development seminars, networking and access to the APAICS alumni network

What you'll do:

Work at least 40 hours a week in your congressional host office, on work equivalent to a legislative aide
Meet your cohort for evening professional development seminars, generally twice a month
Represent APAICS at its events, including the Policy Summit, Legislative Leadership Summit and Annual Awards Gala
Research a policy topic of significance to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and present a policy briefing near the end of the year

Key dates:

Applications close December 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET (the online form is set to expire at the start of December 18, so submit by December 17)
January to February 2027: first round application review
February to March 2027: second round interviews
March 2027: finalists selected
Late March to summer 2027: finalists interview with congressional host offices
August 30, 2027: Fellowship begins in Washington, D.C.
August 25, 2028: Fellowship ends

More information:

Eligibility, benefits and the selection process: https://www.apaics.org/fellowship-details
Timeline and FAQs: https://www.apaics.org/fellowship-faqs
Questions go to programs@apaics.org

Who can apply

Hold at least a Bachelor's degree, or have at least five years of public service experience before the Fellowship starts
A graduate degree is not required, though some congressional offices only accept applicants who have one
Be a US citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or legally authorised to work full-time without restriction for any US employer
International students on F-1 or M-1 visas are not eligible
DACA recipients may apply with an Employment Authorization Document valid at the time of application and throughout the programme
Family members of the APAICS Board of Directors or National Advisory Council are not eligible
Apply with a cover letter, a one-page resume, an academic transcript, two letters of recommendation and three short essay responses

AI Verification

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Good to know

+$3,700 a month for 12 months working in a US congressional office, plus round-trip travel to Washington, D.C.
+Run by APAICS, a nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 1994
+Open with a bachelor's degree or five years of public service experience
+Free to apply

Worth checking yourself

!US citizens, permanent residents or people with unrestricted US work authorisation only; F-1 and M-1 students cannot apply
!APAICS publishes 18 December at 11:59 pm ET, but its form switches off at midnight on the 17th, so submit by 17 December
!There is no housing help; Washington rent comes out of the stipend
!Being a finalist does not guarantee a place: a congressional office has to make you an offer

Sources checked

APapaics.orgApplyAPapaics.orgApplyAPapaics.orgApplyAPapaics.fillout.comOfficialAPapaics.orgApplyAPapaics.orgApplyAPapaics.orgApply

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