Hudson Institute Political Studies Summer Fellowship

Deadline

Overview

The Hudson Institute Political Studies Program offers top undergraduates a fellowship in political theory and practice that will broaden and deepen their understanding of public policy and American political principles. The core of Hudson Institute Political Studies is a six-week summer program for undergraduates and recent graduates, based in Washington, DC, and offered to roughly 36 students.

Hudson Institute is a public policy research organization (or think tank) whose experts seek to promote American leadership, in concert with allies, for the advancement of our security, prosperity, and freedom. Hudson’s analysts work to lead debates about defense and diplomatic strategy, free speech and religious liberty, technological innovation, trade and energy policy, economic growth, and a range of other critical issues.

Benefits

Students participate free of charge. They are given complimentary accommodations at Georgetown University and receive a $3,000 stipend to offset travel and other ancillary expenses. 

Eligibility criteria

Must be an undergraduate currently enrolled at ASU or a recently graduate ASU alumni. Students with a background in Public Policy, International Affairs, or a closely related field may be particularly competitive. 

Award requirements

To apply you will need to fill out basic contact information and provide the following materials:

• Résumé or CV
• Personal Statement in answer to one of the following questions (1,000 words or fewer).
• What book has influenced you most and why?
• What do you hope to gain from the serious study of politics?
• What policy area to do you think is most important and why?
• Writing Sample (15 pages or fewer)
• Your writing sample should be an example of your best work, whether that be an essay, article you have written, or something else. It must be written solely by you, and should be on a subject related in some way to the material studied in our fellowship.
• Letter of Recommendation
• Photo of yourself

Selection criteria

This program includes four components:

Component 1: Rigorous seminars led by master teachers on week-long topics in political theory and public policy. These seminars form the core of the program. Following careful reading of classic texts in political thought and policy analyses on selected topics, students engage in serious discussions every weekday morning for three hours.  

Component 2: A series of policy workshops led by think tank experts and experienced government officials will be held once per week during the six weeks of the summer program. These will allow students to actively engage in the policy making process, wrestle with policy problems of our day, and gain an understanding of our policy process.

Component 3: A distinguished speaker series, which takes place three afternoons per week during the summer program. National leaders from government, business, journalism, the military, and the academy will discuss important topics of political philosophy and public policy with the student body. These discussions will give the students insights into the true nature of public service and the country’s most pressing issues

Component 4: A series of events, which take place either in the afternoon or during the weekend. Students travel to places of national and historical interest in order to see politics through other lenses including art, history, and military decision making. The events help students to understand political life as it has manifested itself outside of philosophy and policy.

Application process

The deadline to apply is in the second week in February. Applications can be submitted through the Hudson Institute website: https://hudsonpoliticalstudies.org/about/.  Decisions will be announced by mid-March. The six-week program typically begins in June and ends in July.