Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA)Fellowship

Fully Funded Public Policy Summer Fellowship

Nov 06, 2026 23:59:00 ET

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Nov 06, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

The Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) runs the Junior Summer Institute, a fully funded summer fellowship for college juniors who want to go into public service. Fellows spend summer 2027 at Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs or the University of Michigan's Ford School, taking graduate-level classes in policy, economics and statistics while preparing for a master's degree in public policy or international affairs.

What you get:

Funded graduate-level coursework in policy, economics, statistics and leadership
On-campus housing and course materials (at Harvard, also a meal plan and reimbursed domestic travel to and from the programme)
A summer stipend ($2,000 at Harvard Kennedy School)
Career coaching and GRE preparation
A lifelong alumni community, and at Harvard Kennedy School a scholarship of at least $5,000 if you are later admitted to a master's programme there

What you'll do:

Spend about seven weeks on campus at one of three host schools, ranked by preference when you apply
Take core graduate classes; at Harvard these are economics, quantitative methods, race and racism in public policy, and a Public Policy Incubator where small teams design and test a policy solution
Attend faculty talks, skill-building sessions and panels with graduate students and alumni

Key dates:

Applications opened September 14, 2026
Info seminar: September 23, 2026, 6:00 to 7:00 PM Eastern, virtual
Fellows panel: October 6, 2026, 6:00 to 7:00 PM Eastern, virtual
Application workshop with institute directors: October 19, 2026 (tentative), 4:00 to 5:00 PM Eastern, virtual
Applications close November 6, 2026, 11:59 PM EST
Decisions (Harvard): mid-February 2027
Harvard programme: June 13 to July 30, 2027

More information:

One central application through PPIA; each host school reviews applicants against its own criteria
Harvard Kennedy School will accept 15 Fellows for summer 2027
Application asks for academic history, financial information, a resume and supporting documents

Who can apply

Undergraduates graduating in December 2027 or between May and August 2028 (current juniors)
Enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university, working toward a first bachelor's degree
U.S. citizens, permanent residents and DACA recipients may apply to all three sites; international students at U.S. institutions may apply to Princeton only (stated on a PPIA page still carrying 2026 cycle dates, see notes)
Competitive applicants show policy-relevant experience, such as a college economics, maths or statistics course, a public policy internship, or other public service work (Harvard's criteria)

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

This opportunity is run by an established organization, and we confirmed its key details against the official source. As always, never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

LOT Verification ScoreStrong

Cross-checked 8 of 11 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+Graduate-level classes, on-campus housing and course materials covered, plus a summer stipend ($2,000 at Harvard)
+A summer at Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton or Michigan's Ford School, preparing you for a master's in public policy or international affairs
+Any major can apply, including students without a quantitative background
+Running since 1980, with free info sessions and an application workshop before the deadline
+At Harvard, a scholarship of at least $5,000 if you are later admitted to one of its master's programmes

Worth checking yourself

!Only for current juniors at US colleges, graduating in December 2027 or between May and August 2028
!PPIA's page says international students at US colleges can apply to Princeton only, while US citizens, permanent residents and DACA recipients can apply to all three; check this for 2027
!The application asks for financial information
!Very selective: Harvard takes 15 Fellows, and only Harvard publishes its stipend amount
!Closes Friday 6 November at 11:59pm Eastern

Sources checked

PPppiaprogram.orgApplyPPppiaprogram.orgApplyHKhks.harvard.eduOfficialPPppiaprogram.submittable.comOfficialPPppiaprogram.orgApplyPPppiaprogram.orgApplyPPppiaprogram.orgApplyPPppiaprogram.orgApplySPspia.princeton.eduOfficialPPppiaprogram.orgApply

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.