The Internet Society has opened applications for its redesigned Internet Society Fellowship Programme, offering emerging and experienced Internet leaders an opportunity to develop practical projects addressing connectivity, Internet policy, cybersecurity, and online safety challenges in their communities.
The new programme, which the Internet Society said represents a new chapter in its more than 10-year fellowship experience, will bring previously separate fellowship opportunities into a single programme, combining specialised training, mentorship, project funding, expert engagement, and participation in relevant global or regional Internet events.
For the 2027 cohort, the programme will welcome 90 fellows across three principal tracks: Internet Policy and Mobilization, Internet Connectivity, and Internet Safety and Security.
The programme is designed around practical implementation, with every fellow expected to develop and implement a project addressing a real-world Internet challenge in their community, country, region, or area of expertise.
The Internet Policy and Mobilization track will develop advocates working to influence Internet policies and mobilise communities for local impact. It has two sub-tracks, namely Internet Policy and Community Mobilization.
The Internet Connectivity track is intended to build technical expertise in areas, such as Internet infrastructure and community-centred connectivity. Its two sub-tracks are Peering and Community-Centered Connectivity.
The third track, Internet Safety and Security, will support the development of cybersecurity researchers and online safety champions through the Systems Security and Online Trust and Safety sub-tracks.
The Internet Society said the programme is intended to bring together people with different professional backgrounds, including policy advocates, network engineers, researchers, and community organisers, to encourage collaboration across disciplines.
A central feature of the redesigned fellowship is a practical project that each fellow will implement over six months.
The projects are expected to produce tangible outcomes and could include policy briefs, research reports, training programmes, community engagement initiatives, workshops, technical resources, implementation plans, awareness campaigns, toolkits, and operational guides.
Fellows will receive guidance from dedicated mentors, participate in expert sessions and undertake structured reporting on their projects. In addition, fellows will be expected to establish clear objectives, activities, deliverables, and intended outcomes and demonstrate the impact of their work through progress reports and final outputs.
Each selected fellow will also be eligible for a project stipend of up to US$5,000, subject to submission and approval of a project budget. In addition, fellows will receive travel support to attend a relevant global or regional Internet event, such as the Internet Governance Forum, Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum, or the NDSS Symposium, depending on the relevance to their fellowship track.
Prospective applicants must first enrol in and complete the Internet Society’s Pre-Fellowship Training before they can apply for the fellowship. The self-paced training and project-development experience will run for approximately 2.5 months, during which participants will develop knowledge relevant to their selected track and prepare a realistic, locally grounded project plan.
The Internet Society said completion of the training does not guarantee admission to the Fellowship Programme, but participants who complete the training will receive specialised knowledge, a certificate of completion, and a practical project plan that they may pursue independently or refine for a future fellowship application.
For the 2027 programme, enrolment in the pre-fellowship training is open from September 23 to November 22, 2026. Participants must complete the required modules by November 22 to become eligible to apply.
Eligible participants will receive the fellowship application link within 24 hours of completing the required training. Fellowship applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with a final application deadline of December 18, 2026.
According to the programme timetable, applications will be reviewed and selections made between December 21, 2026, and January 29, 2027, while fellowship notifications and acceptance are scheduled for February 19, 2027, followed by the programme’s kick-off and onboarding on February 22.
Mentored project implementation is scheduled to take place from June 1 to November 30, 2027, with final project delivery due on December 3. A graduation ceremony is planned for early December 2027.
The full fellowship experience will last approximately 10 months.
Applicants must select a fellowship track and sub-track and complete the prerequisite training. They must also demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English, have reliable Internet access, and have the equipment required to participate in online training and meetings.
Participants are expected to dedicate at least four hours per week to the programme and must have a valid passport that remains valid for at least six months beyond anticipated fellowship-related travel dates.
Current participants in the 2026 Internet Society Fellowship Programme are not eligible to apply for the 2027 programme.
The Internet Society is seeking applicants who are locally rooted but globally aware, action-oriented and impact-driven, collaborative and comfortable working across different stakeholder groups. It also emphasises strong communication skills, evidence-based approaches, and a commitment to long-term public benefit.
The organisation said it remains committed to geographic, gender and age diversity, seeking to bring together fellows whose experiences reflect the communities they serve.
The programme is open to early-career professionals, mid-career practitioners, and experienced leaders.
The Internet Society said its redesigned fellowship is intended not only to develop individual leaders but also to generate practical knowledge that can be shared and adapted by other communities facing similar Internet challenges.
Fellows will also have the opportunity to join the Internet Society Alumni Network after completing the programme, enabling them to maintain connections with other Internet leaders and contribute to future fellowship cohorts.
The Fellowship Programme also includes specific provisions on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in applications. The Internet Society permits generative AI tools for brainstorming or structural editing, but requires applicants’ short-answer essays and project proposals to reflect their own insights and authentic personal experiences.
The organisation reserves the right to subject submissions to algorithmic text-verification systems and warns that plagiarism or uncredited AI-generated narratives will result in disqualification.
Through the programme, the Internet Society said it is investing in Internet changemakers whose ideas and experience can help strengthen an open, globally connected, secure and trustworthy Internet.
Pre-Fellowship Training enrolment runs from September 23 to November 22, 2026, while eligible fellowship applications close on December 18, 2026.
