Public Administration and Affairs Graduate Fellowships
Earn your Master of Public Administration and Affairs in one year while saving 50-100% on tuition and gaining nine months of valuable work experience.
Reduced Tuition with Real-Word Experience
Merrimack’s competitive graduate fellowships offer you meaningful real-world field experiences in the fields of public administration, public policy and not-for-profit management. Plus, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ll be saving thousands of dollars in tuition. With the guidance of experienced site-based supervisors and MPA program faculty, you’ll have the support you need to excel in your field placement, graduate studies and career development.
Note: Applicants to the online Master of Public Administration and Affairs program are not eligible for fellowships. Only applicants to the on campus program may be considered for fellowship placement.
Public Administration and Affairs Graduate Fellowship Process
The Master of Public Administration and Affairs is still accepting fellowship applications on a rolling basis!
We strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible for your best chance at a preferred placement. Applications will be accepted until all fellowship positions have been filled.
The process is as follows:
- Submit your online application. Be sure to indicate your fellowship interest within your application.
- Submit your initial ranking form. Students who are accepted for admission and invited to interview for a fellowship will be eligible to review and rank their preferred positions. If you are invited, your invitation will include a deadline for submitting your selections. Please note: we do not guarantee that you will be invited to interview for your top selections.
- Complete your site interviews. First round of interviews will take place.
- Submit your post-interview rankings. After the interviews, both students and sites must complete and submit their post-interview ranking forms, ranking their preferences for final placement.
- Receive your match notification. Match letters will be sent to all students and supervisors.
Please note:
- Participation in the fellowship placement process is NOT a guarantee of a fellowship.
- Master of Public Administration and Affairs fellowships begin in the fall or spring semesters.
- Acceptance into the fellowship program is a competitive process. In addition to the materials required for traditional graduate admittance, the fellowship application may require additional documents and an interview.
- If you are offered and accept a fellowship position, you will not be eligible for any other discounts or scholarships, including a merit-based Dean scholarship or the Double Warrior alumni scholarship
- When you apply for the fellowship, you are also automatically considered for the traditional degree program.
- If you are admitted into the traditional program but not offered a fellowship, you will automatically be considered for a Dean scholarship.
- If you are originally awarded a scholarship and then are given a fellowship placement, you will no longer receive the merit scholarship. The fellowship will replace any other discounts.
Questions? All interested students should email Graduate Admissions or email Dr. Brad Miller, MPAA program director, for further information.
Additional Fellowship Details
Presidential Fellows receive a 100% tuition scholarship on their graduate tuition in exchange for completing a nine-month, practicum placement. Provost Fellows receive a 50% tuition scholarship on their graduate tuition in exchange for completing a nine-month, practicum placement.
- Presidential Fellows serve 25 hours a week at your placement site while taking graduate courses in the evenings full time through the academic year.
- Provost Fellows serve 15 hours a week at your placement site while taking graduate courses in the evenings full time through the academic year.
- Earn your 32-credit Master of Public Administration and Affairs in one year.
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Excellence in academics and undergraduate educational background
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated leadership experience
- Strong multitasking and time-management skills
- Personal characteristics of compassion, integrity, and an ability to genuinely connect with others
Sample Fellowships
Example sites may include:
- City of Salem, MA
- Delta Dental Massachusetts
- Energy New England
- Merrimack College
- Office of the Comptroller, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Social Capital, Inc.
- Town of Andover, MA
- Town of Bedford, MA
- Town of Hudson, NH
- Town of Middleton, MA
Dean and Alumni Scholarships
Dean and Alumni Scholarships are available to students who are not receiving a fellowship. No additional application is needed.
