Department-Wide Funds
For more information, please email mppadvising@luskin.ucla.edu
MPP Student Financial Hardship Fund
The Student Financial Hardship Fund (also known as the Student Emergency Fund) is intended to provide one-time financial support to students who are experiencing unforeseen financial challenges. Anyone who is experiencing financial hardship is highly encouraged to apply. There is no application deadline.
MPP Professional Development Fund Application
For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Public Policy Department has established a Professional Development Fund for students to gain access to funds for conferences, workshops/virtual webinars, and/or any professional development event that will assist MPP students toward advancing their career goals/interests.
Every other year, the Department of Public Policy financially supports 20 MPP (10 first-year, 10 second-year MPPs) students by providing them with a $1,000 travel grant to attend the APPAM Conference. In addition to attending the conference, participants can also attend MPP alumni career tours and an APPAM UCLA MPP networking reception.
This fund was established to support Applied Policy Project (APP) teams on their endeavors to implement their research and/or policy analysis.
Global Public Affairs DC Trip (Pending)
During Spring Break week, the Global Public Affairs (GPA) coordinates a DC trip for Luskin graduate students, organizing networking receptions and career tours. This fund is to support students who have been admitted to this trip and need additional funding.
Unpaid Internship Fund (Pending)
For students who had an unpaid internship during the academic year or will have an unpaid internship during the summer, they can apply for funding from the Department. While funding is not guaranteed, a $5,000 fellowship is disbursed to recipients.
Department-Wide Funding & Awards
PDST Grant (disbursed every academic year at the start of Fall Quarter)
On an annual basis, the department receives data from the UCLA Financial Aid Office regarding the MPP students’ financial unmet need. After projecting the Professional Degree Fee revenues for the year, the Department then determines the percentage of “unmet need” that it can disburse to students. Because the projected revenue and financial need of students vary each year, the percentage of the “unmet need” financial aid grant awards also vary. So far, the range of financial aid grants has been from 5.5% to 10.5% of “unmet need” as assessed by the FAFSA or Dream Act. The grants are awarded uniformly to all MPP students receiving Financial Aid during each academic year. There is no separate application for the Professional Degree Financial Aid grants other than completing the FAFSA or Dream Act application. Students who have documented financial need (determined by FAFSA) are eligible to receive a portion of these funds. No application, other than FAFSA.Dream Act application is required and amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000 (1st and 2nd year).
2nd Year Dept Funding(typically due end of June of every academic year)
Funding ranges from $1,000-$10,000 based on professional development, financial need, merit, and statement. All students who submit an application, will receive funding so long as they meet the fellowship's criteria. The award amount depends on the Department's budget for that year, and the applicant's evaluation score.
MPP Alumni Leadership & Service Fellowship (typically due in March)
Each year, the MPP Alumni Council awards two fellowships to students who have demonstrated leadership and service to MPP students in the Department of Public Policy, within the Luskin School, at UCLA, and/or in the community. Typically awards have ranged from $2,500 to $5,000.
Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations (OSAAR) Fellowships
Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations (OSAAR) Fellowships
Luskin Leaders & Summer Awards
Michael S. Dukakis Internship Program: The Michael S. Dukakis Internship Program provides stipends for UCLA Luskin masters’ students serving in non-partisan internships in government with a special emphasis on California. The focus for this 10-week (40 hours/week) summer internship is on government settings rather than non-profits or NGOs. The award is a $3,000 to $5,000 stipend.
Liberty Hill Foundation: Liberty Hill is a non-profit organization that advances social change through a strategic combination of grants, leadership training, and campaigns. Liberty Hill Foundation provides students a paid summer internship opportunity to focus on one of the following areas: environmental justice, grant-making, housing justice, and youth justice. One $5,000 award will be made for each internship.
Public Service Internship Awards: UCLA Luskin will provide one or two summer internship awards to a UCLA Luskin graduate student who will be accepting non-paid internships with organizations that are engaged in public service. The internship organization must be bi-partisan/non-partisan and can be a civic organization, non-partisan government agency or department, a community program or nonprofit organization, advocacy group, or civic engagement. The internship will be ten weeks between June and September (400 hours). Awards are $5,000 each.
UCLA Luskin offers a limited number of yearlong fellowships with nonprofit organizations, government, and public service agencies. Placement opportunities include public health, child welfare, education policy, social justice, environmental policy, city/county government, and other public service organizations. Currently enrolled first-year Public Policy, Social Welfare, and Urban Planning students are eligible to apply for awards. The fellowships are full-time during the summer and part-time during the 9-month academic year.
David Bohnett Fellowship Program: The David Bohnett Fellowship Program was established as a hands-on working experience in the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office for exceptionally promising public policy, social welfare, and urban planning students. The Bohnett Fellowship Program will offer students first-hand experience in the highest levels of city government and will provide senior executives in the Mayor’s office with an outstanding cohort of policy interns. Three UCLA Luskin students will be selected. $35,000.
Luskin Leadership Fellowship at the Office of Child Protection, Los Angeles County: UCLA Luskin Leadership Fellowship is a high-level apprenticeship program for exceptional public policy, social welfare, and urban planning graduate students that serve within selected government agencies and nonprofit and civic organizations to work on research, policy, advocacy and applied projects tailored to the students’ tracks of study and consistent with the mission and goals of the organization. $30,000.