Eligibility for the Atlas Corps Fellowship
2 or more years of relevant experience in the nonprofit/NGO/social sector
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
English proficiency (oral, writing, reading)
35 years or younger
Apply to serve in a country other than where you are from (U.S. citizens are not eligible for the U.S. Fellowship – check out our Fellowship in Colombia!)
Commitment to return to your home country after the 6-18 month fellowship
In addition to the classic Atlas Corps Fellowship, a series of unique initiatives complement the diverse nature of our global exchange model. Read more about the eligibility requirements of each of these unique initiatives here:
Atlas Corps America Solidaria Fellowship (for professionals from The Americas)
Atlas Corps-Asan Frontier Fellowship (for Korean professionals)
Atlas Corps Civil Society Leaders Fellowship (for professionals from Sudan & South Sudan)
Bassem Sabry Democracy Fellowship (for professionals with a background in journalism, international relations, political science or any other relevant fields who are interested in undertaking research on the Middle East or North Africa)
These special initiatives may have separate eligibility requirements, but do NOT require a separate application. Applicants interested in these initiatives should simply apply for our U.S. Fellowship.
Timeline
We consider applications on a rolling basis. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to be considered for one of our classes that begins in January, May, or September. Final decisions are made 4 -8 weeks before the class begins. For example, the January class decisions are made in November; May class decisions will be made in March; September class decisions will be made in July. You may reapply to our program, but you should only apply once a year, unless there is a dramatic change in your application, such as completing graduate school, winning an award, etc. Strong applications are considered for multiple classes unless the candidate withdraws their application. If you ever decide to withdraw your application from consideration, please email apply@atlascorps.org. Due to the fast-moving nature of our selection process, we encourage applicants to check their email frequently for updates; otherwise they risk missing critical information or deadlines. If you are accepted to the Fellowship, there may be a quick turnaround time between your acceptance and the beginning of the Fellowship. Start dates are not flexible, and assuming your visa is approved, you must begin your Fellowship with the class to which you are accepted.
The application process is a four-month cycle that repeats itself. You may apply at any time and be considered, but we encourage you to spend some time on your application, including having it be reviewed by a peer, and then submit it as early as possible and not wait for any deadlines. Here is the approximate annual calendar:
January Fellowship:
July 15 – Priority deadline for the January Fellowship. Applications are taken year round, but earlier applications tend to be more successful.
July 15 – October 15: Applications reviewed and interviews conducted
November 1-30: Most final decisions made this month.
January: Fellows arrive for orientation and begin service at Host Organizations
May Fellowship:
November 1 – Priority deadline for the May Fellowship. Applications are taken year round, but earlier applications tend to be more successful.
November 1 – February 28: Applications reviewed and interviews conducted
March 1-31: Most final decisions made by this month
May: Fellows arrive for orientation and begin service at Host Organizations
September Fellowship:
March 15 – Priority deadline for the September Fellowship. Applications are taken year round, but earlier applications tend to be more successful. (Priority deadline extended to April 3, 2015!)
March 15 – June 30: Applications reviewed and interviews conducted
July 1-31: Most final decisions made by this month
September: Fellows arrive for orientation and begin service at Host Organizations