International Peace and Development Travel Program

Student participating in IPD Travel

All matriculated IPED students in good academic standing are invited to apply for an International Peace and Development (IPD) Travel Scholarship. In cooperation with Catholic Relief Services, Fordham awards up to four International Peace and Development Travel Scholarships each year to finance IPED students who wish to do a six-month-long internship overseas working in international relief and development.

The estimated IPD Travel Scholarship's stipend is US$12,951. This is intended to cover the cost of airfare to and from the country of assignment, local travel between your residence and your work site, as well as the costs of housing and board while in the country. Health insurance, including emergency medical evacuation, is included separately.

During the overseas assignment, you will be registered for IPED 67XX (IPD Scholarship) during the Spring and Summer terms. Registration will ensure that you are covered by the university's liability insurance. The internship assignment lasts for six months - from mid-January until mid-July.

Previous assignments with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) were in the following countries: Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Nicaragua, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, West Bank, and Zimbabwe.

Application Procedures

IPD Travel student abroad with local children and community members

Deadline of application submission: May 1 of each year

Applications should contain the following information:

  1. Written permission to share academic information in your file with our partner agency, Catholic Relief Services
  2. Resume (be sure to indicate language abilities)
  3. One page maximum personal statement indicating how the IPD Travel Scholarship will contribute to achieving your career goals in the field of international relief and development.  Please discuss three specific goals that you have set for the next 3 to 5 years.
  4. Two page maximum journalistic essay on "The Role of Civil Society in Development"
  5. Up to three letters of recommendation from individuals who jointly can attest to
    • your academic ability (preferably from a professor)
    • your ability to adapt to a foreign culture
    • your ability to work cooperatively and productively within an organization (preferably from an employer)

Fordham Interview

Following the submission of your written application, but prior to Fordham forwarding your application to Catholic Relief Services, you must be interviewed at Fordham. The placement of Fordham IPD Travel Scholars with overseas offices of Catholic Relief Services consumes a significant amount of staff time and effort. We use this interview to screen for commitment. While allowing for unforeseen circumstances, we only want to pass on to Catholic Relief Services those applicants who are sincerely committed to accepting, if offered, their overseas assignment.

Selection Criteria

The criteria for selection are:

  • Academic performance in the IPED Program normally demonstrated by a GPA of 3.5 or higher
  • Ability to adapt to a foreign culture demonstrated by at least 6 months of overseas work or volunteer experience in a developing country
  • Fluency in English with strong oral and written communication skills
  • Willingness to work in various regions and developing countries around the world
  • Professional proficiency in any second language would be highly preferred
  • Ability to work cooperatively and productively within an organization
  • Commitment to grass-roots development and the non-profit sector
  • Interest in pursuing a career in internatonal relief and development work