Financing Your Degree Public Sector Scholarship Initiative Scholarships & Fellowships Loans & Work-Study Third-Party Funding Tuition & Expenses In order to break down access barriers and support the essential work of the public sector, The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy is now offering a Public Sector Scholarship. Admitted applicants who have completed at least three years of full-time, professional work in the US public sector will be eligible for this scholarship, which includes at least 60% tuition scholarship for all master’s programs (a minimum of $40K towards a full-time degree program).How to applyStarting in fall 2025 the applications for admission to all Harris master’s programs will include an optional essay prompt for applicants who want to be considered for the Public Sector Scholarship. For more information, please complete this form.Fall 2024 Evening Master’s Program (EMP) applicants can complete the EMP application.Applicants will be required to submit at least one letter of recommendation from a public sector supervisor or colleague.The Public Sector Scholarship will be awarded at the time of admission. Admitted applicants who are not selected for the Public Sector Scholarship will be considered for other merit-based scholarship funding. Eligibility for the scholarship does not guarantee admission.Please email harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu with any questions.How do I qualify for the Public Sector Scholarship?How do I qualify for the Public Sector Scholarship?You qualify for the Public Sector Scholarship if:You have at least three years of full-time, professional US public sector experience at the time of application submission.US Active-duty military service counts toward the three-year eligibility requirement regardless of when it occurred.In most other cases, the applicant’s public sector work experience must occur after obtaining a bachelor’s degree.If you have any questions about whether your work experience qualifies toward scholarship eligibility, please email harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu.What constitutes public sector experience?What constitutes public sector experience?Public sector is defined as working for the government of the United States, a state, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, a city, a municipality, a township, a county, a parish, or a similar government body in the United States. This includes military service and working for a public school, college, or university.The Public Service Scholarship may not be combined with any other Harris administered scholarship.Full-time public sector programs such as AmeriCorps, Teach for America, and Peace Corps count towards your eligibility for this scholarship.Can I combine the Public Sector Scholarship with other Harris scholarships?Can I combine the Public Sector Scholarship with other Harris scholarships?The Public Sector Scholarship award may be included as part of a larger merit-based scholarship. However, it is not possible to combine the Public Sector Scholarship with another service recognition scholarship.If I am employed in the nonprofit or another sector, do I qualify for this scholarship?If I am employed in the nonprofit or another sector, do I qualify for this scholarship?While this scholarship is only for public sector employees, all applicants to the Harris School of Public Policy are eligible for other merit-based scholarship funding.I am an international applicant with public sector experience in my home country: Do I qualify for this scholarship?I am an international applicant with public sector experience in my home country: Do I qualify for this scholarship?This scholarship is for applicants with three years of public sector experience in the US. However, applicants to the Harris School of Public Policy are eligible for other merit-based scholarship funding.I am an international applicant who worked in the US public sector for three years then returned to my home country. Do I qualify for this scholarship? I am an international applicant who worked in the US public sector for three years then returned to my home country. Do I qualify for this scholarship? Yes.Can I combine different types of US public sector and/or US military service to qualify for the three years? Can I combine different types of US public sector and/or US military service to qualify for the three years? Yes. I served in the US military for at least three years: do I qualify for this scholarship?I served in the US military for at least three years: do I qualify for this scholarship?Yes. Active-duty service in the US military will count toward the public sector work requirement, regardless of when it was performed. Applicants with military education and service who have questions about eligibility may contact harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu.I’m a college student and I’ve interned in the public sector for three years. Do I qualify? I’m a college student and I’ve interned in the public sector for three years. Do I qualify? No. The Public Sector Scholarship is only available to those who have at least three years of full-time, professional US public sector experience.I am an applicant with two years of public sector experience in the US and then worked for another year abroad or in another industry. Do I qualify?I am an applicant with two years of public sector experience in the US and then worked for another year abroad or in another industry. Do I qualify?This scholarship is for applicants with three years of US public sector experience.However, applicants to the Harris School of Public Policy are eligible to be considered for other merit-based scholarship funding.
How do I qualify for the Public Sector Scholarship?How do I qualify for the Public Sector Scholarship?You qualify for the Public Sector Scholarship if:You have at least three years of full-time, professional US public sector experience at the time of application submission.US Active-duty military service counts toward the three-year eligibility requirement regardless of when it occurred.In most other cases, the applicant’s public sector work experience must occur after obtaining a bachelor’s degree.If you have any questions about whether your work experience qualifies toward scholarship eligibility, please email harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu.
What constitutes public sector experience?What constitutes public sector experience?Public sector is defined as working for the government of the United States, a state, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, a city, a municipality, a township, a county, a parish, or a similar government body in the United States. This includes military service and working for a public school, college, or university.The Public Service Scholarship may not be combined with any other Harris administered scholarship.Full-time public sector programs such as AmeriCorps, Teach for America, and Peace Corps count towards your eligibility for this scholarship.
Can I combine the Public Sector Scholarship with other Harris scholarships?Can I combine the Public Sector Scholarship with other Harris scholarships?The Public Sector Scholarship award may be included as part of a larger merit-based scholarship. However, it is not possible to combine the Public Sector Scholarship with another service recognition scholarship.
If I am employed in the nonprofit or another sector, do I qualify for this scholarship?If I am employed in the nonprofit or another sector, do I qualify for this scholarship?While this scholarship is only for public sector employees, all applicants to the Harris School of Public Policy are eligible for other merit-based scholarship funding.
I am an international applicant with public sector experience in my home country: Do I qualify for this scholarship?I am an international applicant with public sector experience in my home country: Do I qualify for this scholarship?This scholarship is for applicants with three years of public sector experience in the US. However, applicants to the Harris School of Public Policy are eligible for other merit-based scholarship funding.
I am an international applicant who worked in the US public sector for three years then returned to my home country. Do I qualify for this scholarship? I am an international applicant who worked in the US public sector for three years then returned to my home country. Do I qualify for this scholarship? Yes.
Can I combine different types of US public sector and/or US military service to qualify for the three years? Can I combine different types of US public sector and/or US military service to qualify for the three years? Yes.
I served in the US military for at least three years: do I qualify for this scholarship?I served in the US military for at least three years: do I qualify for this scholarship?Yes. Active-duty service in the US military will count toward the public sector work requirement, regardless of when it was performed. Applicants with military education and service who have questions about eligibility may contact harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu.
I’m a college student and I’ve interned in the public sector for three years. Do I qualify? I’m a college student and I’ve interned in the public sector for three years. Do I qualify? No. The Public Sector Scholarship is only available to those who have at least three years of full-time, professional US public sector experience.
I am an applicant with two years of public sector experience in the US and then worked for another year abroad or in another industry. Do I qualify?I am an applicant with two years of public sector experience in the US and then worked for another year abroad or in another industry. Do I qualify?This scholarship is for applicants with three years of US public sector experience.However, applicants to the Harris School of Public Policy are eligible to be considered for other merit-based scholarship funding.