The Political Science Predoctoral Summer Institute

A one-week, fully funded residential program that shows high-potential students what doctoral study involves and how to pursue it.

What it is

More than a week

Developed and hosted by Georgetown University from 2022 to 2026 — with support from the National Science Foundation, APSA, and private donors — the Institute is designed to close the opportunity gap by giving participants from a wide range of backgrounds the practical knowledge to apply to graduate school, the experience of doing research themselves, and resources to compete.

Each summer, this one-week residential Institute brings together twenty students from across Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

During the one-week residential Institute, participants develop and present a research proposal while learning from faculty, doctoral students, policy practitioners, and their peers.

APPLY

Current college students and recent graduates apply and submit a research pitch.

DEVELOP

Expand the research pitch into a full proposal before arriving.

ATTEND

Five days in residence during the summer.

TWELVE MONTHS

Continued mentorship and support for graduate applications.

Engagement

Participants work in small groups with peers, doctoral students, and faculty from leading universities, and receive one-on-one mentorship. They come away understanding how graduate programs are structured, how research is designed, and what careers follow a PhD in academia, government, and the policy sector.

From interest to action

All applicants submit a brief research pitch, and admitted students expand it into a full proposal. They present, refine, and critique one another’s work in structured consultation groups, practicing the analytical skills that graduate study and evidence-based policymaking require.

Full financial support

Costs of instruction, travel, housing, meals, and a $1,000 stipend are covered, ensuring participation is not limited by financial circumstances. At roughly $3,750 per participant, the Institute is a cost-efficient model for residential academic training.

A faculty member leads a session on why research methods matter

Participants and faculty in a roundtable discussion

A workshop on writing research in graduate school

A researcher presents fieldwork during an Institute session

Scenes from the Institute at Georgetown University.

Curriculum

A five-day skills deep dive

The Institute is structured around panels, presentations, and small-group discussions. Overall, it aims to:

Introduce the goals, fields, and methods of political science.

Clarify the process of applying to a PhD program, choosing universities, funding, preparing materials, hearing decisions, and visiting, selecting, and negotiating.

Familiarize participants with the experience of being a graduate student and political scientist.

Highlight the various careers that political science PhDs can pursue in academia, policy, and various other sectors.

What is included

Every participant is fully supported

Housing & meals

Room and board at the host university for the full week of the Institute.

$1,000 stipend

A stipend issued to each participant.

Travel reimbursement

Travel to and from the Institute reimbursed up to $150.

Mentoring

A faculty mentor and a PhD student mentor guiding participants during the Institute and the following year.

GRE support

Support for one GRE prep course and/or one round of the exam, up to $440, subject to available funds.

Research consultation

Guidance and feedback that turns a research pitch into a completed proposal for graduate applications and other opportunities.

Ready to see yourself as a researcher?

Learn who should apply and what the application involves.

How to apply →