Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is a national non-partisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office.

APAICS programs focus on developing leadership, building public policy knowledge, and filling the political pipeline for Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders to pursue public office at the local, state, and federal levels.

The APAICS Congressional Fellowship offers an opportunity to serve our nation and deepen understanding of public policy through participation in the legislative process. Fellows are placed with a congressional office or committee for 12 months and are given work equivalent to that of a congressional legislative aide. By the end of the Fellowship, Fellows will establish a professional network on Capitol Hill, understand how Congress operates, and acquire skills and expertise that make them marketable to congressional offices, federal agencies, nonprofits, and even private companies.

Applicants who commit to learning about and presenting on one of the following policy areas will get special consideration:

Aerospace & Defense
Health Policy
Clean Energy & Innovation
STEM

APAICS Congressional Fellows are not employees of the federal government, their host office, or APAICS. Fellows will receive a monthly educational stipend of $3,500/mo and a $200/mo health care stipend.

2025-26 Application Period Closed on January 31, 2025.

Website

https://apaics.org/programs/fellowship/

Host Country

United States

Duration

Nine months

Applicants

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree or have at least five years of public service experience prior to the start of the fellowship.

  • ​Note: Some congressional offices will only accept applicants with a graduate degree. Having a graduate degree is advantageous as it will broaden a candidate’s ability to interview with a larger pool of host offices, but is not required for the fellowship program.

• Be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or individuals who are legally authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer and who possess lawful evidence of employment authorization. International students on F-1 or M-1 visas are not eligible.

  • ​Note: Individuals who are seeking consideration under the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival” (DACA) policy must possess an Employment Authorization Document at the time of application that is valid throughout the program.

• Family members of the APAICS Board of Directors or National Advisory Council are prohibited from participating in any APAICS programs.

  Contact

  Email: programs@apaics.org

  How To Apply:

  Application Guidelines

  Completed applications will include a(n):

  • Cover letter expressing interest in the program

  • Resume (one page maximum)

  • Academic transcript

  • Two letters of recommendation

  • Responses to the following three questions (one page max for each question):

  • ​How do you envision the APAICS fellowship playing a role in your career path? Why are you applying?

  • Please help the review committee understand your experience in America with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islanders. At what points have you lived near to or far from an AA & NH/PI community? How has your proximity to and involvement with the AA & NH/PI community (or lack thereof) shaped your identity and influenced your views on the role of public policy?

  • Should public policy incentivize assimilation of minority communities or preservation of diverse cultures and languages? What balance should be struck and what challenges do you foresee in either case? Discuss.