Grants, Scholarships, & Fellowships Database
To keep track of a wide variety of funding and fellowship opportunities—offered either through MIT or through external agencies and programs—DUSPConnect has developed and maintains a database of fellowships, scholarships, and grants that may be of particular interest to DUSP students and, occasionally, to alumni/ae.
If you have information on funding opportunities that are not included in this database, let us know at duspjobs@mit.edu.
DUSP-PKG Fellowship
Every year, up to 6 DUSP students are awarded a DUSP-PKG Fellowship to support summer work that combines public service or international development with career development. These Fellowships are co-funded and administered by DUSP and the MIT Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center (PKG Center).
DUSP-PKG Fellowships are ideal for DUSP students planning a career in international development or public interest work in the U.S. If you are a DUSP student in the process of lining up a summer internship or looking for funding to support efforts on a project, consider applying to the DUSP-PKG Fellowship program.
Focus Areas:
1. Developing regions outside of the United States: You can propose internships tackling issues faced by developing regions around the world. However, check the MIT Travel Policy and travel warnings, as travel to some locations is prohibited. You may also work on international development projects from within the United States.
2. Domestic fellowships: These may be anywhere in the United States.
Eligibility:
To qualify, you must be a continuing DUSP student who:
- Will be working on a public service focused project in the U.S. or a developing region.
- Plans to commit at least eight to twelve weeks to the project
- Will be a registered MIT student in the semester following the internship
Deadlines: mid-April
Award Requirements:
- By accepting the funding that we may offer you, you agree to:
- Meet with us to confirm final plans and discuss risk management
- While in the field, submit a weekly check-in to internship liaison that outlines recent work completed, plans for the following week, and learning goals accomplished.
- Ensure that your community partner oversees your work and checks in regularly with Internship staff to report on project progress
- Sign a contract and a liability waiver
- Arrange for all necessary health, safety, and legal needs: e.g., passport and visa if needed, health insurance, vaccinations
- After completion of the fellowship, submit a short paragraph describing the overall experience, reflecting on its effects, and a short report on how the funds were spent
- Give a professional presentation to DUSP peers and others, focusing on the service and career development outcomes of the fellowship
- Acknowledge the Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center and DUSP as sponsors
- Participate in our evaluation process
- Permit us to publicize your work through our website, print materials, and other publicity
- Share photographs with us
What We Fund:
- International development and domestic public service projects that have a strong prospect of sustainable benefit for the community and career development potential for the student
- Both new and continuing projects
- Work with community-focused organizations such as non-profits, government offices, international aid agencies, schools, and grassroots groups
- Student-initiated service enterprises
- Work with for-profit businesses if the business is using a social-entrepreneurship model to address the needs of an under-served community
How to Apply:
- Submit your application as an email attachment to pscgdusp@mit.edu.
- Preferred file formats: Microsoft Word and PDF
- Please include DUSP-PKG Summer Fellowship in the subject line of your email.
- You can include additional materials that you think will help, but please be selective.
- Request a letter of commitment from your proposed community partner (guidelines below) well before the program deadline. This cover letter is due on the same date as your application.
The letter of commitment must be from a key community partner, preferably the person who will supervise your work. This letter should outline the project idea, describe how you and your community partner plan to work together, and show the community partner’s commitment to supporting you with project advice and local knowledge.
Other Notable Funding Sources
Other notable fellowships or funding sources include:
• DUSP Student Travel Funds
• Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston Public Policy Summer Fellowship
• MIT PKG Public Service Center Fellowships
• MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI), which often come with their own funding support.
• MIT IDEAS Global Challenge
• MITdesignX Accelerator
• MIT 100K Entrepreneurship Competition
• Federal Work Study
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program
• Other Distinguished Fellowships