Fellowships can provide multiple years of funding to students who know to apply for them, and their basis for eligibility can vary: they can be broad in availability and awarded based on academic merit or selective and available only to students meeting precise conditions. In addition, many may only be available to students in their first or second year, after which they are no longer able to apply. It is therefore imperative that students inform themselves and begin the application process early.

The following resources are available for students as they begin their search:

Where to Find Fellowships

Useful Fellowship Websites

On-Campus Fellowship Directories

Fellowships for International Students

The Department of Public Policy itself awards several fellowships based on merit and policy focus. Like many others fellowships, some have specific qualifications, while others are awarded based on overall academic performance, professional experience, and future potential in public policy.

The following fellowships are designated for the Public Policy Department to honor distinguished applicants who have demonstrated outstanding merit in their preparation for engaging in graduate studies in public policy. These fellowships will be awarded based on the applicant rankings by the Admissions Committee.

School of Public Affairs Advisory Board Student Fellowship

 The UCLA School of Public Affairs’ Advisory Board created this pooled fund in 2000 to help the School honor and acknowledge exceptionally talented students from across the nation and internationally in its degree programs.

David and Marianna Fisher Fellowship

This fellowship was created to strengthen the UCLA Policy School's efforts to compete for, recruit and retain outstanding graduate students to its excellent academic and professional degree programs.

The Wasserman Foundation Fellowship

The School of Public Affairs Advisory Board Member Casey Wasserman has made a generous pledge to fund graduate student fellowships from the Wasserman Foundation. This gift from Mr. Wasserman represents his deep commitment to UCLA and the School of Public Affairs, as well as his belief that the School should be able to recruit outstanding students without regard to their personal or family financial circumstances. 

Calvin and Marilyn Gross Fellowship

Calvin and Marilyn Gross are long term supporters of the School of Public Affairs, having given the founding gifts to the Dukakis Internship endowment. They have established an endowment that will enable the Department of Public Policy to annually fund an outstanding graduate student demonstrating commitment and involvement to public service.

Bette and Hans Lorenz Fellowship

A fellowship awarded by the Public Policy Department to recognize the excellence of outstanding applicants and students.


Hal E. Martin Fellowship in Health and Social Policy

This fellowship recognizes outstanding students pursuing policy analysis and graduate education in various aspects of health and social policy. Applicants need to provide a brief statement (half-page double-spaced, 100 words) indicating their interest and/or background in health and social policy.  This fellowship has additional eligibility qualifications and requires a supplemental statement.

Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) Graduate Fellowship

The Public Policy Department offers a concentration in transportation policy and planning. Transportation policy students can choose from among five graduate transportation policy and planning courses and three other transportation-related courses in designing their program of study. The School houses a branch of the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies, which offers renewable one-year graduate fellowships, research assistantships where students work with faculty on transportation policy research, and financial aid to students attending transportation conferences. Fellowship recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, must take or waive out of at least four approved transportation policy and planning courses during their studies, and must complete their Applied Policy Project on a transportation-related topic. To apply for this fellowship please include a brief statement (half-page double-spaced, 100 words) describing your interest in the transportation policy and planning concentration or any background that you may have in this area.  This fellowship has additional eligibility qualifications and requires a supplemental statement.