CIEE Launches New Fellowship Programs for Students

PORTLAND, Maine, Sept. 29, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is now accepting applications for its fellowship programs designed to support first-generation and Pell-eligible students for the 2027 academic year. These fellowships are a significant investment in the future of education, with CIEE awarding over $13 million annually to help students study and intern abroad.

The Douglass, O'Connell Global Internship Program, established in 2015, is one such program. It prepares high-achieving, Pell-eligible students for future career success through the power of international education and a global internship. This program, sponsored by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN), The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, and CIEE, celebrates the inspiration that Frederick Douglass experienced during his visit to Ireland over 175 years ago when he met the elder statesman and his personal hero, Daniel O'Connell. O'Connell and Douglass spent their lives advocating for equality and opportunity in Ireland, the United States, and around the world.

Each year, thirteen students are selected for an eight-week global internship in Dublin, including full program funding, airfare, and a living stipend. Students will experience Ireland through lectures and excursions, learning important lessons on leadership and social reform while gaining skills that will enhance their future careers. Applications for the Douglass, O'Connell Global Internship Program are now open and will close on January 8, 2027.

Another program, the Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship, was established in 2025. This fellowship focuses on advancing Danish-American relations by supporting cultural exchange focused on environmental sustainability. Twelve students will have the opportunity to study and intern with a company in Copenhagen focused on environmentally sustainable business practices for eight weeks. Students will also explore Danish sustainability culture and participate in networking and professional development activities. Applications for the Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship are now open and will close on November 20, 2026.

The Knowledge Without Borders: Democracy and Memory Fellowship, established in 2026, is designed for first-generation, Pell-eligible students who are passionate about history, political science, civic leadership, social justice, and global affairs. Through this fellowship, four exceptional students receive $10,000 each toward a CIEE Quarter In or CIEE Open Campus study abroad program in Berlin, Germany. Fellows explore Berlin's storied history, including how the city has been shared by reflection, memorialization, and democratic responsibility. The fellowship includes courses on German history and Berlin's cultural and political landscape while students explore one of the world's most important living classrooms. Applications are now open for the Spring 2027 Knowledge Without Borders: Democracy and Memory Fellowship and will close on November 1, 2026.

Since 1947, CIEE has built bridges between different people, countries, and cultures through study abroad and international exchange programs that advance peace in our world. The organization changes lives, and its alumni change the world. CIEE's commitment to increasing access to all college students from all backgrounds, especially for first-generation and underserved populations, is evident in its fellowship programs. The Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship, the Knowledge Without Borders: Democracy and Memory Fellowship, and the Douglass, O'Connell Global Internship Program are all part of CIEE's ongoing efforts to provide opportunities for students to gain valuable international experience and skills.