PPIA gives college juniors a fully funded summer to build policy skills, prepare for graduate school, and meet people who take their ideas—and their future in public service—seriously.
At Harvard, Princeton, or the University of Michigan, you’ll join a campus community with its own faculty, strengths, and approach to public service.
BEFORE WE GO LIVE
Choose your focus
Identify the programs, fields, or questions that matter most to you.
AT THE STUDIO DESK
Meet the people
¸Hear directly from the representatives who know their programs best.
LIVE Q&A
Ask the next question
Bring questions about fit, funding, admissions, and career outcomes.
AFTER THE STUDIO
Leave with a plan
Turn new information and connections into a more confident next step.
Pathways Studio brings together nearly 40 PPIA Partner Schools offering graduate programs in public policy, public affairs, international and global affairs, and related fields, along with public-impact organizations across the public and private sectors.
2027 Junior Summer Institute Fellowship
PPIA JSI gives college juniors a fully funded summer to build policy skills, prepare for graduate school, and meet people who take their ideas—and their future in public service—seriously.
For current undergraduate juniors graduating December 2026–August 2027.
What you’ll gain
JSI removes common financial barriers while surrounding you with rigorous learning, practical guidance, and people invested in your future.
Financial support designed to help you focus more fully on the experience.
Graduate-level classes in policy, economics, statistics, leadership, and related areas.
Course materials and on-campus housing are included for participating Fellows.
Personalized guidance to connect your academic interests with meaningful next steps.
Three campuses. One PPIA experience.
Each host school brings its own faculty, areas of expertise, and community—within one shared commitment to preparing future public-service leaders.
Economic policy · Public policy · Government
International economics · Foreign policy · Diplomacy
Public policy · Economic policy · Education policy
Three live application seminars
Join PPIA before the deadline for practical guidance, clearer expectations, and time to ask the questions that could strengthen your submission.
Understand the fellowship, eligibility, host schools, and the materials you’ll need before you begin.
Shape a focused narrative, choose meaningful examples, and help your recommender prepare to advocate for you.
Use a final checklist, resolve last-minute questions, and make sure every part of your application is ready.
Replace all dates, times, session descriptions, and registration links after the seminar schedule is confirmed.
Your path to applying
Each host school independently reviews applications. A clear, complete application helps reviewers understand your preparation, potential, and commitment to public service.
Gather educational and financial information, your résumé, all college-level transcripts, and your host-site preferences.
Choose someone who understands your public-service interests, leadership potential, or professional and community contributions.
Use the required essays to connect your lived experience, leadership, academic interests, and the public impact you hope to make.
Your lifetime advantage
Completing JSI welcomes you into the lifelong PPIA Fellow community, with connections and opportunities that can continue through graduate school and your career.
Connect with Fellows, mentors, and public-service leaders across sectors and generations.
Be considered for funding opportunities at participating PPIA graduate-school partners.
Most PPIA graduate-school partners provide application fee waivers to eligible Fellows.
Continue connecting with graduate programs, employers, and public-impact opportunities.
PPIA Fellow status may provide eligibility for fee waivers and consideration for funding at participating schools; admission and financial assistance are not guaranteed. Confirm details with each institution.
Frequently asked questions
Current undergraduate juniors working toward their first bachelor’s degree at a U.S.-based college or university and graduating between December 2026 and August 2027 may apply. Citizenship and site-specific eligibility requirements also apply.
Yes. Applicants may indicate multiple host-site preferences. Each host school independently reviews applications and selects its own finalists.
PPIA lists a summer stipend, funded coursework, course materials, and on-campus housing among the program benefits. Confirm the final 2027 details before publishing.
The 2027 application opens Monday, September 14, 2026 and closes Friday, November 6, 2026.
The host schools are Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. PPIA currently lists the 2027 institute dates as forthcoming.
Applications open September 14
Start gathering your materials, give your essays time to breathe, and come to a seminar when you get stuck.
