Summer Program in Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA)

The PPIA Program

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy is proud to encourage diversity in public leadership by hosting a Junior Summer Institute for the PPIA program. PPIA is an intensive seven-week summer program that focuses on preparing students for graduate programs in public policy and international affairs. Courses focus on improving students' communication and quantitative reasoning skills, which are vital to their success in graduate programs. Ford School faculty members teach most courses.

Current MPP students and recent graduates serve as teaching assistants, leading discussion seminars and providing tutorial resources. PPIA fellows take three courses: quantitative methods, economics, and communication skills/policy analysis. Elementary and advanced sections of quantitative methods and economics are offered.

PPIA Fellows attend classes in the morning and spend their afternoons working on problem sets, participating in discussion sessions, and seeking individual assistance in their courses.

Participants Receive

• $1,000 Stipend
• Assistance with travel expenses
• University housing with a meal plan
• Books and related course supplies
• Library & computer access

PPIA GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

PPIA Fellows are guaranteed to receive graduate fellowships of at least $5,000.00 from any of the PPIA member institutions. For a complete list of these institutions, please visit the PPIA website.

PPIA Fellows who successfully complete the summer program at Michigan, UC Berkeley, Carnegie-Mellon, Maryland, or Princeton and who are admitted to the Master in Public Policy (MPP) program at the Ford School may be eligible for a Rackham Merit Award, which includes tuition and fees, a stipend, and health care.

Special note for PPIA fellows from the summer of 1999 or earlier.

The New PPIA program is the successor to the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program administered by the Academy for Educational Development (AED). Please note that the AED administered PPIA program is still providing graduate fellowships to AED-PPIA Fellows who have successfully participated in a Junior Institute program prior to the summer of 2000.

AED-PPIA Fellows accepted to the Ford School's Master of Public Policy (MPP) program may be eligible for fellowships combining the AED-PPIA award with a Rackham Masters Award to provide four semesters of tuition and fees, a stipend (currently $10,000 per year), and health care.

More Information

For more information, please visit the national PPIA program website.

If you would like to contact someone at the University of Michigan regarding our Summer Institute program, please Email Student Services or call us: (734) 615-7408.