How to Find Fully Funded Remote Fellowships in Research, Tech & Policy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students, Grads, and Early Career Professionals
🎯 Why Fully Funded Fellowships Matter
Fully funded remote fellowships offer more than just money — they provide:
- A stipend (so you can focus without financial stress)
- Mentorship, networking, and structured support
- Flexibility to work from anywhere in the world
- The chance to work on real-world challenges in tech, research, or policy
Whether you’re a student, grad, or career shifter, a remote fellowship can be a launchpad into a purpose-driven career — without relocating or taking on debt.
🔍 Step 1: Know What You’re Looking For
Fellowships come in different flavors:
| Type | Best For | Example Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 🔬 Research Fellowships | Students, scientists, data analysts | Work on global health, AI, or environmental studies |
| 💻 Tech Fellowships | Developers, designers, product folks | Build open-source tools, civic tech, or gain startup exposure |
| 🏛 Policy Fellowships | Social science grads, lawyers, activists | Shape public policy, governance, human rights |
🎯 Goal: Choose your focus area before searching. Know what impact you want to make.
🌐 Step 2: Search the Right Platforms
Use fellowship-specific databases and platforms to filter by funding + remote eligibility:
✅ Top Search Engines for Fellowships:
- ProFellow – Search 2,000+ fully funded fellowships worldwide (filter by field, remote, funding, etc.)
- Idealist.org – Find remote social impact and policy fellowships
- Opportunity Desk – Global fellowships, often remote-friendly
- Devex – Global development, research, and policy roles
- [LinkedIn Jobs → Search: “remote fellowship”] – Filter by date posted + stipend
- [Google Search – Try: “Fully funded remote tech fellowship 2025 site:.org”] – Find smaller orgs or pilot programs
💡 Pro Tip: On many sites, use filters like:
- “Fully funded” or “paid”
- “Remote” / “virtual” / “online”
- “International applicants welcome” (if you’re outside the U.S./U.K.)
🧑💻 Step 3: Explore These Top Fellowships (Fully Funded + Remote)
🔬 RESEARCH & POLICY
1. AI for Good Fellowship – [Google.org / OpenMined / Data Science for Social Good]
- Who it’s for: Data scientists, researchers, ML engineers
- Funding: Fully funded stipend
- Format: Remote (8–12 weeks)
- Apply at: openmined.org/fellowships
2. Internet Society Early Career Fellowship
- Who it’s for: Policy, tech, and advocacy professionals (under 35)
- Focus: Internet freedom, access, global governance
- Duration: 5 months, remote
- Stipend: $5,000+
- Apply at: internetsociety.org
3. United Nations – OHCHR Fellowships
- Who it’s for: Human rights activists, law students, policy grads
- Funding: Travel + stipend
- Remote Option: Some cycles are hybrid or remote
- Apply at: UN Careers Portal
💻 TECH
4. Outreachy
- Who it’s for: People from underrepresented groups in tech
- Work: Open source software, UX, documentation
- Duration: 3 months (remote)
- Funding: $7,000+ stipend
- Apply at: outreachy.org
5. MLH Fellowship (Major League Hacking)
- Who it’s for: Aspiring developers & software engineers
- Work: Open-source or production-level tech projects
- Remote: 100% virtual
- Funding: Yes (stipend)
- Apply at: fellowship.mlh.io
6. Coding It Forward – Civic Digital Fellowship
- Who it’s for: U.S.-based students in tech, data, and design
- Work: Build products for government agencies
- Remote Option: Some cycles offer remote roles
- Funding: Paid
- Apply at: codingitforward.com
🛠 Step 4: Build a Strong Fellowship Application
Most fellowships ask for:
- A tailored resume (skills + mission-driven work)
- A statement of purpose (why you + why this fellowship)
- Letters of recommendation (for academic or research ones)
- A portfolio or project samples (for tech/design roles)
Application Tips:
✅ Emphasize impact, not just titles
✅ Align with the fellowship’s mission or values
✅ Show past remote collaboration skills (tools like Slack, GitHub, Notion, Zoom)
✅ Include any self-initiated projects, bootcamps, or community work
✅ Use metrics where possible (e.g. “Increased survey reach by 35%”)
🗓 Step 5: Track Deadlines & Plan Ahead
Many remote fellowships only open once per year — with deadlines 4–6 months in advance.
Use a spreadsheet or Notion tracker to track:
- Fellowship name + link
- Deadline + start date
- Funding details
- Application status
✅ Set calendar reminders 2–3 weeks before each deadline.
📌 Bonus: Hidden Fellowship Opportunities You Might Miss
These aren’t always on job boards — but are worth checking regularly:
- University research labs → Many have remote RA or postgrad fellowships
- Startup accelerators → e.g. Y Combinator Fellowship (for founders)
- Foundations & Think Tanks → Carnegie, Brookings, Ford Foundation
- Social impact orgs → Ashoka, Open Society Foundations, Schmidt Futures
- Company pilot programs → Look for “remote fellowships” at Google, Microsoft, Meta, GitHub
💬 Reach out to program coordinators directly — some accept off-cycle applicants.
How to Land a Remote Fellowship
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 🎯 Pick a focus | Tech, Research, or Policy |
| 🔍 Use search tools | ProFellow, Idealist, LinkedIn, Google |
| 📋 Check top programs | Outreachy, MLH, UN, OpenMined, ISOC |
| 🧠 Build your app | Resume + purpose + proof of impact |
| 🗓 Track deadlines | Set reminders, apply early |
💡 Final Tip
Many of the best fellowships go unapplied for — simply because people don’t know they exist or assume they’re too competitive.
If you’re passionate, show potential, and put in the work — you’re already ahead of most applicants.
