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Every admitted Master of Public Policy (MPP) student receives institutional funding through Duke Sanford's fellowships, scholarships and grants.
Students are automatically considered for these awards when applying to the Sanford MPP program. Four fellowships are the exception — the Ladd, Sanford Family, Fleishman, and Robertson Foundation for Government fellowships — each of which requires a supplemental statement as part of the application.
Sanford Fellowships
The Sanford Family Fellowship honors student leaders with outstanding commitments to addressing public policy disparities affecting predominantly underserved communities.
This prestigious fellowship covers full tuition and fees, and includes a living stipend for both years. All domestic students with interests in serving underserved communities in the United States are eligible for the fellowship; students from such underserved communities are encouraged to apply.
In addition to the standard MPP application, applicants should prepare a brief statement of interest (500 words maximum) detailing your interest in the Sanford Family Fellowship, including previous experience and demonstrated interest in focusing on challenges that underserved communities face in contemporary society. This additional statement should be uploaded along with your MPP statement of purpose within the application.
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The Ladd Fellowship is awarded to top applicants with a strong background and interest in education.
The recipient will be awarded the full cost of tuition, along with a generous living stipend. In addition to the standard MPP application, applicants should prepare a brief statement of interest (500 words maximum) detailing your interest in the Ladd Fellowship, including previous education policy experience, key areas or topics of interest, and future professional goals and direction. This additional statement should be uploaded along with your MPP statement of purpose within the application.
Incoming or current MPP students interested in sustainable development, nation building or conflict resolution in Armenia and/or the surrounding region may receive whole or partial fellowships.
To apply for this fellowship, applicants must upload a separate statement describing their interest in Armenia or the surrounding region and their professional goals. Availability of funds under this fellowship varies from year to year.
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This prestigious fellowship covers full tuition and fees for both years of the MPP program. The Fleishman Fellows program honors Sanford School of Public Policy founder, Joel L. Fleishman. Two Fellows will be selected each year from applications submitted by incoming traditional, two-year MPP students interested in nonprofit management and civil society.
In addition to the standard MPP application, applicants should prepare a brief statement of interest (500 words maximum) detailing interest in the Fleishman Fellows program, including professional goals, previous experience, and demonstrated interest in working closely with philanthropic organizations and/or major grantmaking foundations. This statement of interest should be uploaded in addition to your MPP statement of purpose as part of the application.
The RFG Fellowship covers full tuition and fees for one high-caliber U.S. citizen pursuing traditional two-year, full-time study in one of Sanford’s residential master’s degree programs, with a focus on international relations, policy, and related fields. RFG Fellows will also take part in additional professional development programming with fellows from other RFG partner schools. Preference is given to candidates who demonstrate commitment to public service and/or functional proficiency in a foreign language. RFG Fellows must commit to a minimum of three years of full-time employment in public service focused on international policy issues within the first seven years following graduation. Public service careers may include government (local, state, federal, international) or non-profit organizations.
In addition to the standard MPP application, applicants interested in the RFG Fellowship should prepare a statement of interest (maximum 500 words). Applicants should explain in the essay why they are interested in the fellowship and highlight their demonstrated commitment to a career in public service, as well as their experience related to global public policy issues. This additional statement should be uploaded along with applicant’s MPP statement of purpose as part of the application.
Scholarship Funds
The following funding has been generously provided to Sanford in support of the education and futures of our students and their careers in public service and policy making.
Preference given to students with superior academic records who have demonstrated an interest in civil liberties or human rights.
Preference given to students who wish to pursue lives of public service.
Preference given to students who have demonstrated a commitment to public service, including, but not limited to, students pursuing careers in the public sector at the local, state and federal level.
Preference given to students who are in active U.S. military service or who have been honorably discharged from such service.
Preference given to students who have demonstrated a commitment to public service, including, but not limited to, students pursuing careers in the public sector at the local, state and federal level
Preference given to students who have demonstrated a commitment to public service, including, but not limited to, students who are pursuing dual degrees in law, business, engineering or environment.
Preference given to students working in the field of U.S. public policy.
Awarded based on the criteria set forth by the donor. Please follow up with the Admissions department about the availability of funds.
Funded by the Duke endowment as funds are available. Please follow up with the Admissions department about the availability of funds.
Please follow up with the Admissions department about the availability of funds.
Please follow up with the Admissions department about the availability of funds.
Financial Planning
We are committed to every admitted student’s education and strongly recommend careful and thorough financial planning, with contingencies in place, if possible, for unexpected events or situations. Please explore these financial education tools and external funding opportunities.
- AmeriCorps Segal Education Award
- City Year Fellowship Program
- Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program (Peace Corps)
- Teach for America Educational Awards & Fellowships
- Yellow Ribbon Military Veterans Program
- Charles B. Rangel Fellowship Program
- Public Policy & International Affairs Program (PPIA)
- Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Programs
- Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
- The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
- World Bank Scholarships Program