Institute for Youth in Policy Public Policy Fellowship 2026: Apply for the Fall Cohort by August 19

The Institute for Youth in Policy (YIP) is inviting applications for its Public Policy Fellowship, an intensive two-month development program designed for young people interested in public policy, civic engagement, social impact and community-driven change.

The Fall 2026 cohort provides an opportunity for high school and undergraduate students to strengthen their policy analysis, communication, project management, teamwork and leadership skills while working with peers and mentors on real-world policy challenges.

Public Policy Fellowship 2026

The fellowship is designed to help emerging leaders understand how public policy can be used to address social, political, economic and environmental challenges. Participants engage in discussions, workshops, debates, speaker sessions and collaborative projects throughout the program.

The Fall 2026 cohort will run from September 12 to November 7, 2026, with applications due August 19, 2026.

Key details include:

• Program: Public Policy Fellowship
• Organization: Institute for Youth in Policy
• Cohort: Fall 2026
• Program dates: September 12 – November 7, 2026
• Duration: Two months
• Application deadline: August 19, 2026
• Weekly commitment: Approximately 4–6 hours
• Format: Online programming
• Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students
• Age range: 13–23
• International applicants: Not eligible

What Does the Fellowship Offer?

The Public Policy Fellowship combines practical learning with opportunities for collaboration and mentorship. Fellows are expected to take an active role in exploring policy questions and developing solutions.

Throughout the program, participants can develop skills in:

• Policy analysis and research
• Project management
• Public speaking and communication
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Advocacy and civic engagement
• Problem-solving
• Nonpartisan policy discussion
• Community engagement
• Leadership and social impact

The program also encourages fellows to examine policy issues from personal, local and global perspectives.

Develop an Original Capstone Project

One of the central components of the fellowship is the development of an individual capstone project.

Fellows begin working on their capstones during the second week of the program and continue developing them throughout the fellowship. The final project allows participants to explore a policy issue of interest and develop an original solution or proposal.

Selected capstones are published by the Institute for Youth in Policy, giving fellows an opportunity to showcase their work publicly and build a portfolio demonstrating their policy interests and analytical abilities.

The organization reports that more than 300 fellows’ capstones have been published, with those projects receiving millions of views.

Collaborative Policy Work

Fellows do not work in isolation. The program brings together young leaders, mentors, department executives, policy professionals, educational leaders and community stakeholders.

Participants collaborate with their peers to develop an original policy brief and present their work. These activities provide practical experience in researching issues, evaluating potential solutions and communicating policy recommendations.

The fellowship covers a broad range of topics, including:

• Social change
• Public policy reform
• Urban development and renewal
• Education
• Technology and smart infrastructure
• Civic engagement
• Environmental issues
• Political and economic challenges

Fellowship Speakers and Mentorship

Guest speaker sessions are another important element of the program.

The Institute hosts policy experts and leaders from different sectors to expose fellows to diverse perspectives and career pathways. Recent speakers have included professionals working in areas such as criminal justice, leadership and civic engagement.

Fellows also receive ongoing guidance as they develop their policy briefs and capstone projects.

Flexible Commitment for Students

The fellowship was designed with students’ schedules in mind. Rather than requiring participants to attend daily sessions, the program includes two mandatory weekly synchronous meetings.

These meetings take place on:

• Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. EST
• Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. EST

Alongside the live sessions, fellows complete asynchronous work and develop their capstone projects.

The Institute estimates that fellows generally spend around 4–6 hours per week on the program.

Who Can Apply?

The Public Policy Fellowship is open to high school and undergraduate students between the ages of 13 and 23 who have an interest in areas such as social impact, community organizing, civic engagement, advocacy, design thinking and public policy.

Applicants do not necessarily need extensive previous policy experience. The program is intended to support young people who are developing their interests and leadership capabilities.

However, graduate students and graduates are not eligible.

The fellowship is also currently not open to international applicants because of its U.S.-focused policy content and meeting schedule. The program is designed primarily for students located within U.S. Eastern, Central and Pacific time zones.

2026 Fellowship Schedule

The Institute for Youth in Policy is running four fellowship cohorts during 2026:

• Winter: January 17 – March 21
• Spring: April 11 – June 6
• Summer: June 20 – August 22
• Fall: September 12 – November 7

For the Fall 2026 cohort, applications are due August 19, 2026. Decisions are expected to be released on August 26, 2026.

Benefits After the Fellowship

Completing the fellowship can provide benefits beyond the two-month program.

Graduates receive priority consideration and direct access to leadership at the Institute for Youth in Policy when opportunities become available. The organization also maintains a priority hiring pipeline for fellowship alumni.

Additionally, having an original policy capstone published can give participants a valuable portfolio piece for future academic, civic engagement, advocacy or policy opportunities.

How to Apply

Eligible students interested in public policy and civic leadership can apply through the Institute for Youth in Policy’s fellowship application process.

Applicants should ensure they meet the age, educational and location requirements before applying.

Application deadline: August 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

For questions about the fellowship, applicants can contact fellowship@yipinstitute.org.

Why Young Leaders Should Consider This Fellowship

The Public Policy Fellowship offers young students an opportunity to move beyond simply learning about policy and actually research, discuss and develop policy solutions.

Through mentorship, collaborative projects, policy briefs, speaker sessions and an individual capstone, fellows can develop practical skills that can support future studies and careers in public policy, government, advocacy, nonprofit leadership and social impact.

For students aged 13–23 in the United States who are passionate about creating positive change, the Fall 2026 Public Policy Fellowship offers a structured way to turn their interests into practical policy experience.

Deadline: August 19, 2026.

APPLY HERE

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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the  organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of  emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.