Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) - Fellowship and Junior Summer Institutes Program

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Program Purpose: 

The PPIA Fellowship Program is designed to prepare college juniors or rising seniors from diverse backgrounds for graduate studies in public affairs or international affairs and groom them for professional roles in public service. An array of opportunities under the program span from the junior year to beyond the completion of a graduate degree.

Program Description: 

The PPIA Junior Summer Institutes (JSI) is the first step in a PPIA Fellowship. The JSI is an intensive seven-week summer program that focuses on preparing students for admission into the top graduate programs in public and international affairs, and careers as policy professionals, public administrators and other leadership roles in public service. Extracurricular activities are included. PPIA Junior Institutes are held at one of several locations: U.C. Berkeley, Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, Maryland, and Princeton. The PPIA Program encourages its Fellows to attain experiential internships to strengthen their professional skills and increase their competitive advantage in pursuing their educational and professional careers. Paid internships with various organizations are provided through its Pipeline Partnership program. One to two years after receiving a bachelor's degree, PPIA Fellows are to pursue a master's degree or joint law and master's degree, typically in public policy, public administration, international affairs or a related degree. PPIA Fellows are aggressively recruited from the PPIA Graduate School Consortium of top programs in these fields.

Supported Fields: 

For graduate studies at a PPIA Consortium school, areas of specialization/study tracks are: child/family policy, government (public) administration, law/international law, conflict resolution/negotiation, healthcare policy/management, nonprofit management, criminal justice policy management, housing /economic development, organizational theory/management, education policy, human rights/humanitarian affairs, public finance/budgeting, energy policy, information and technology policy/management, national or international security studies, environmental policy, international development, social policy/poverty, foreign policy, international trade/business, urban studies /regional planning. Regional/area studies include Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe/Russia, and the Middle East.

Tenable Institutions: 

The PPIA Graduate School Consortium and represent the finest and most respected in the nation offering advanced degrees in public policy, public administration, international relations and related fields.

Program Benefits: 

Junior Summer Institute Fellows receive full tuition to attend a PPIA Junior Summer Institute, housing, books, GRE preparation, and a minimum $1,000 stipend. Applicants may also be eligible for assistance with travel expenses. After completing a Junior Summer Institute, PPIA Fellows are aggressively recruited from the PPIA Graduate School Consortium where they are entitled to a minimum of $5,000 towards their tuition. Very often they receive well above and beyond that amount. The PPIA Program encourages its Fellows to attain experiential internship to strengthen their professional skills and gain exposure to various organizations. Through these experiences, PPIA Fellows increase their competitive advantage needed to pursue their educational and/or professional careers. The Pipeline Partnership program provides paid internships with various organizations. PPIA Fellows interested in this program should visit Alumni-Net.

Applicant Profile: 

Applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a professional career associated with public service such as government, nonprofits, humanitarian and international organizations and other related programs, and must be committed to completing a master's degree in public affairs or international affairs at one of the PPIA Consortium graduate schools. All academic majors are welcome to apply.

Eligibility: 

Must have completed junior year of college by the start of Junior Summer Institute (JSI) and have at least one full semester or two quarters of coursework remaining before graduation.

Obligations: 

PPIA Fellows are encouraged to defer up to a couple of years before applying to graduate school in order to gain work experience and further preparation for graduate studies. However, enrollment into one of the PPIA Consortium schools is expected for PPIA Fellows within 2 years of graduation. An additional one year extension may be requested.

Selection Criteria: 

Applicants must contribute to the diversity of perspectives. Economic need is given consideration.

Citizenship: 

Applicants to the JSI's hosted by Berkeley, Maryland and Michigan must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International applicants pursuing a bachelor's degree in the U.S. will be considered by Carnegie Mellon and Princeton.

Program Deadline: 

Usually November 1.

More information: 

List of Consortium Institutions

Applicants to PPIA Law Fellows Program:

Applicants interested in being eligible for selection as a UC Berkeley PPIA Law Fellow must explain their interests for wanting to pursue a joint law and public policy degree, what skills they want to acquire, and how they could apply these skills to further their public service career goals. 

How To Apply: 

Students or alumni, as applicable, may apply directly to this program. Applicants are encouraged, however, to work with SF State's fellowship advisor well in advance of the program deadline to perfect their application essays and other materials.