How to Get a Political Science Fellowship

Every year, hundreds of students receive fellowships that finance education, research or travel in the field of political science. If you are passionate about an area of politics and want to learn more about it, follow these steps to get a political science fellowship.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Get a bachelor's degree in political science. While you are studying, identify some areas that you are interested in.

2. Check with the career services office at your college or university. If you are still in school, this office can be a great resource for information about fellowships.

3. Go to the American Political Science Association website. There you will find information about APSA-sponsored fellowships as well as fellowships that are not sponsored by this organization.

4. Check the Michigan State University Library website. This site contains a comprehensive database of fellowships, from the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research to the National Science Foundation Political Science Project. This website describes each fellowship, provides links to the appropriate website, and lists application deadlines.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay attention to deadlines when applying for fellowships; you can lose out on some great opportunities if you don't.
• Is there an organization whose work you admire and would like to become involved in? If so, contact that organization directly and find out about fellowship opportunities. Some people write their own fellowship descriptions and look for funding; this is easier to accomplish if you have a particular project in mind.

Resources

• Michigan State Library lists political science fellowships.
• The American Political Science Association lists fellowships.
• Search for fellowships on PS LawNet.