The IAPS AI Policy Fellowship sits in a genuinely small, high-value category of opportunity: a fully funded, three-month programme designed specifically to move capable people — regardless of whether they come from a technical AI background — into serious AI policy work at a moment when governments worldwide are scrambling to build that exact expertise.
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If you’re checking this now, this year’s cohort has already been selected and is currently mid-programme, running from 1 June to 21 August 2026. IAPS’s own fellowship page confirms applications are closed, and the organisation hasn’t yet announced when the next cohort’s applications will open — only offering a newsletter signup for updates. This post explains exactly how the fellowship works and what to do while you wait for the next round.
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About the IAPS AI Policy Fellowship
The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy is a nonpartisan think tank producing policy research on the implications of AI — spanning today’s most advanced models through to the longer-term possibility of AGI and superintelligence — with a stated mission of equipping policymakers and industry leaders to protect innovation while navigating the genuinely high-stakes risks AI poses at the intersection of national security and geopolitics.
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The fellowship exists as IAPS’s talent pipeline for that mission, and its track record backs up the seriousness of that goal: past fellows have gone on to roles at RAND, the Institute for Progress, Microsoft, Johns Hopkins University, and directly within government itself.
What makes this fellowship distinctive is how deliberately open its eligibility is — IAPS states explicitly that cohorts have included people with decades of professional experience alongside others still in the middle of their undergraduate degree, with the genuine common thread being a solid understanding of either the subject matter or the policy process, not a specific credential or career stage. Fellows aren’t assigned generic training modules; they work on real policy projects — writing policy memos and reports, briefing government officials, and organising substantive convenings — under the direct mentorship of an assigned expert, with regular one-on-one meetings with both that mentor and an IAPS programme manager throughout.
IAPS AI Policy Fellowship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | IAPS AI Policy Fellowship |
| Host Country ⇒ | United States of America |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships |
| Benefits ⇒ | $15,000 stipend (Fellows) or $22,000 (Senior Fellows), plus healthcare benefits and a professional development budget |
| Funded by ⇒ | Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Closed for the Summer 2026 cohort, currently mid-programme. No date confirmed yet for the next cohort — sign up to IAPS’s newsletter for updates. |
What Fellows Actually Receive
- A stipend of $15,000 for Fellows, or $22,000 for Senior Fellows, covering full-time participation across the three-month programme — IAPS also states it can offer part-time arrangements for exceptional candidates whose circumstances require it
- Healthcare benefits, alongside the stipend — a genuinely uncommon inclusion for a fellowship of this length and structure
- A professional development budget, supporting fellows’ individual growth needs beyond the core programme structure
- Weekly one-on-one coaching, focused specifically on career development, project management, and productivity — distinct from the substantive mentorship on your actual policy work
- Direct mentorship from a leading AI policy expert, paired individually with each fellow, alongside continuous feedback from IAPS’s own researchers and policy staff throughout the programme
- A required two-week in-person residency in Washington, D.C. at the start of the fellowship (1-12 June for this cohort), where all fellows — including those completing the rest of the programme remotely — meet mentors, attend workshops, and build genuine professional connections; IAPS states it can provide financial support for travel and accommodation tied specifically to this residency
- Access to an extensive, genuine professional network in AI policy, extending well beyond the fellowship’s three months
- Real project experience, producing policy briefs, reports, and briefings that meaningfully strengthen a fellow’s professional portfolio, not simulated coursework
- Limited additional financial support for post-fellowship career transitions, offered in select cases as fellows move into their next roles
Eligibility Requirements
- You can come from a genuinely diverse range of backgrounds — technology, law, public policy, research, government, industry, or academia are all explicitly welcomed
- No strict technical AI background is required, though you should demonstrate real interest in, or relevant understanding of, the specific policy areas IAPS focuses on
- Remote fellows are supported from many countries around the world
- If you plan to work in-person in Washington, D.C. beyond the mandatory residency, you need existing US work authorization — IAPS is explicit that it does not sponsor visas for this fellowship, so this isn’t a route to work authorization, only something you need to already hold
- No application fee is charged, and no IELTS or other language test is required to apply
The eligibility detail worth understanding clearly if you’re weighing whether you’re “qualified enough” to apply: IAPS’s own stated cohort composition — spanning undergraduates through decades-experienced professionals — suggests this fellowship genuinely isn’t gatekept by formal credentials in the way many competitive fellowships are. A demonstrated, specific interest in AI policy carries real weight here, alongside whatever relevant experience or perspective you bring from your own field.
Required Documents
Exact requirements are confirmed on IAPS’s official application page each cycle, but generally include:
- Personal information and contact details
- A CV or resume
- Responses to application questions, covering your interest in the fellowship and, notably, a project proposal — this is worth taking seriously, since fellows work independently on real policy projects, and a specific, well-reasoned proposal likely signals genuine readiness more clearly than a broad statement of interest in “AI policy” generally
- Demonstrated policy or professional work samples, if requested for your specific application
How to Apply
- Visit the official IAPS AI Policy Fellowship application page once a new cycle opens.
- Complete the online application form.
- Upload all required supporting information, including your CV and responses to application questions, particularly your project proposal.
- Submit your application before the stated deadline — for this cycle, that was 23:59 Pacific Time on 2 February 2026.
- IAPS has previously hosted an informational webinar ahead of the deadline, where the team walks through programme details and past fellows share their experiences — worth attending if one is offered for the next cycle, since it’s a genuine opportunity to ask questions before committing time to a full application.
How to Prepare for the Next Cohort
Since IAPS hasn’t yet announced a date for its next application cycle, the most useful preparation right now is positioning yourself to move quickly once it does:
- Sign up for IAPS’s newsletter directly, since this is the organisation’s own stated method for notifying prospective applicants when the next cohort’s applications open — don’t rely solely on secondary scholarship sites to catch the announcement.
- Start drafting a specific project proposal concept now. Since fellows work independently on real policy projects, having a genuine, well-considered idea ready — even before applications formally open — gives you a real head start over applicants starting from scratch under deadline pressure.
- Build demonstrable engagement with AI policy now, regardless of your current field. Given how broad IAPS’s eligibility genuinely is, showing real, specific interest — through writing, informal research, or engagement with current AI governance debates — matters more than waiting until you feel formally “qualified.”
- Confirm your own work authorization situation early if you’re aiming for in-person participation beyond the mandatory residency, since IAPS does not sponsor visas and this isn’t something that can be resolved quickly once you’re selected.
- Watch for a pre-deadline informational webinar if the next cycle follows this year’s pattern, since it’s a low-commitment way to assess fit before investing in a full application.
Deadline
The Summer 2026 cohort’s application deadline was 2 February 2026 at 23:59 Pacific Time, and this cycle’s programme is currently running through 21 August 2026. IAPS’s official fellowship page confirms applications are closed with no next-cohort date yet announced. Sign up to IAPS’s newsletter directly for the most reliable notification of when the next application window opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IAPS Fellowship fully funded?
Yes. Fellows receive a $15,000 stipend (or $22,000 for Senior Fellows) for full-time participation, plus healthcare benefits, a professional development budget, and financial support for the mandatory D.C. residency.
Do I need a technical AI background to apply?
No. IAPS states explicitly that no strict technical AI background is required, though you should demonstrate genuine interest in, or understanding of, the specific policy areas the institute focuses on.
Can I complete the fellowship fully remotely?
Mostly, yes. All fellows — remote and in-person — must attend the mandatory two-week residency in Washington, D.C. at the start of the programme, but the remaining months can be completed remotely from anywhere in the world.
What happens if I already missed the 2 February 2026 deadline?
This cohort’s applications are closed, and the programme is currently underway. Sign up to IAPS’s newsletter to be notified when the next application cycle opens, since no specific date has been confirmed yet.
Do I need US work authorization to apply?
Only if you plan to work in-person in Washington, D.C. beyond the mandatory residency, IAPS does not sponsor visas for this fellowship, so existing work authorization is a prerequisite for extended in-person participation, not something the fellowship provides.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice, including the next cohort’s timeline, which hasn’t yet been announced. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official IAPS fellowship page before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy.
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