Georgetown University, Master of Science in Foreign Service - Scholarships for International Students

MSFS Academic Scholarships

Merit-based awards come mainly from Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ general scholarship funds or from donations from alumni and outside supporters. The funds are used to recognize merit and are not granted on the basis of financial need.

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

We aim to award merit-based aid to thirty to forty per cent of the entering class. MSFS merit-based scholarships are distributed to students of exceptional ability and talent based on the strength of their applications in the admissions process. No additional application is necessary.

• The standard scholarship amount is normally between a forty or fifty per cent tuition award; however, some smaller awards may be offered. Consult the “Dual Degree Students” section below for additional information on how dual degree status may affect the amount and timing of the award.
• Scholarships will only be awarded at the time of admission and are renewable at the same amount for the second year. In order to retain their 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.

Dual Degree Students

Dual degree applicants are considered for MSFS merit-based scholarships as part of the admissions process. As with dual degree admissions decisions, scholarship awards of each program are reached independently, and the decision of one program will not affect the decision of the other. The timing and amount of scholarships may change as students complete coursework from each program. The amount of the scholarship will be adjusted to reflect the expected MSFS course load (i.e., prorated) and can be applied only to tuition for MSFS courses. Students who are admitted with a scholarship should contact both programs to determine if/how becoming a dual degree student will change the amount of the scholarship from each program.

MSFS scholarships can be renewed based on the criteria listed under “Scholarship Process and Criteria” above. Coursework from both programs completed during the first year is considered, not just coursework towards the MSFS degree. However, the amount of the scholarship can only be applied to tuition for MSFS courses.

About MSFS

Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service conferred the first graduate degree in international affairs in 1922, pre-dating the U.S. State Department’s adoption of the term “foreign service.”

Since then, more than 3,000 students have completed the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) degree. Graduates have attained notable success in careers with national governments, international organizations, private businesses, and civil society groups.

The mission of MSFS is to prepare women and men to be creative leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of international affairs. In keeping with the vision of the School’s founder, Father Edmund A. Walsh, S.J., MSFS seeks to instill in its students a commitment to service in the international community and an appreciation for the ethical dimension of international affairs.

Values

• Leadership: At MSFS, we define leadership as the ability to work cooperatively with others to develop a vision, articulate concrete goals and strategies, and implement positive change. We are committed to providing opportunities for our students to develop and strengthen these skills both inside and outside the classroom, preparing them for the challenges they will confront in their careers. As practitioners in the field of international affairs, our graduates are equipped with the tools to lead effectively in today’s complex and diverse global society.
• Creativity: It is imperative to have the ability to think outside established paradigms and to solve problems innovatively. With new technologies, new actors, and new patterns of behavior on the international scene, MSFS graduates must be able to exercise their imagination. Our curriculum and co-curricular programming is designed to encourage and inspire students to approach every endeavor with creativity in both their personal and professional lives.
• Ethics: Ethics is the foundation for all of our coursework, programming, and professional development. We believe every student must have an understanding and appreciation of different moral frameworks and an ability to articulate competing goods, balance their merits, and choose among them. With this background in ethical reasoning, MSFS graduates are prepared to navigate the challenging multi-dimensional decisions that are the hallmark of a career in international affairs.
• Service: Our program guides students to exercise a commitment to helping others, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, both in the local community and abroad. MSFS seeks to foster a passion for civic engagement and the pursuit of social justice in all its students, and to encourage a lifelong dedication to serving the greater global community.