Upcoming Deadlines
Presidential Fellows Program - Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC)
Date and Time
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Description
The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC) is now accepting applications for our At-Large and Innovation Fellowships as part of the Presidential Fellows Program!
CSPC, based in Washington, D.C., is a non-partisan convener of leaders and experts from the government, private sector, and academia that work to foster bipartisan solutions to our nation’s most pressing challenges, often with a national security focus. The Center’s approach focuses on research, convening, and leadership development across our program areas. You can read more about our organization here: https://www.thepresidency.org/.
The Presidential Fellows Program was created in 1970 to inspire and equip college students to become civic-minded leaders that could guide our nation’s future. Today, the program continues that mission by providing top collegiate students with the opportunity to study the federal policymaking process and the inner-workings of the executive and legislative branches. Over the course of an academic year (September-May), Fellows learn about leadership and governance, hone their research skills, and engage in civil discourse with public officials, policy experts, and their peers. This year’s program will also commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, integrating that theme throughout the experience.
Program Highlights
- Monthly virtual seminars from September 2025 to May 2026
- All-expenses-paid conference in Washington, D.C.
- Complete a 10-15 page original research paper—with the help of a
program-assigned mentor—on a topic of choice through the lens of the
Presidency and/or Congress
- With the possibility to win one of five cash prizes and be selected to be published in The Fellows Review
Becoming A Fellow
CSPC has two fully-funded pathways for students from non-partner schools to become Presidential Fellows:
-
At-Large Fellowship
- Created in 2021, the initiative was created to broaden the diversity of our cohort and expand access to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.
- Open to undergraduate and graduate students at U.S. institutions not currently partnered with CSPC (international students studying full-time at an American institution are welcome)
- Demonstrated interest in government
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Four spots available
-
Innovation
Fellowship (STEM-focused)
- Created in 2025, the Innovation Fellowship experience is comparable to the rest of the cohort with the caveat that Innovation Fellows must center their paper on science and technology related topics through the lens of the Presidency and/or Congress.
- Open to undergraduate and graduate students at U.S. institutions (international students studying full-time at an American institution are welcome)
- Major or minor in a STEM field required
- Minimum 3.0GPA
- Funded by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation
- Two spots available
Please note: While these Fellowships do not provide a cash award, participation in the program and all expenses related to the Leadership Conference (including travel) are fully covered.
Students must apply directly to CSPC and are selected through a competitive selection process overseen by our Advisory Board. The application is now open and closes on July 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Full details and application instructions are available on our website: https://www.thepresidency.org/fellows-other-opportunities
This event has been tagged as cuse, and fellowships.
Information
For more information, please visit: https://www.thepresidency.org/
Contact
For more information about this and other competitive fellowships, email [email protected].