Funding and Awards
Internship Funding
Mary and Greg Downes Summer Internship Program in Public Service
The Mary and Greg Downes Endowment provides funding to political science majors to help defray living expenses during a summer internship in public service. It is not intended to be used as a wage replacement. For paid internships, the grant will supplement wages to the extent that food, transportation, and housing costs are covered. Rising juniors or seniors who will not be able to intern without this grant are eligible. Students must have received an internship offer before applying. Due to Notre Dame’s status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, internships with political parties such as PACs, RNC, DNC, or political campaigns are not eligible.
To apply
Please write a personal statement explaining how the internship is related to public service and your learning goals. Upload it along with your resume and budget worksheet (16 KB) to the application form. Applications for summer funding are generally accepted April 1–14, and, under unique circumstances, may be accepted on a rolling basis.
For questions relating to internship funding, please contact:
Angela McCarthy, Ph.D. (amccar2@nd.edu)
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Research funding
Political science majors take advantage of the opportunity to explore fundamental questions and contribute to a scholarly conversation through research. A variety of funding and support is available for undergraduate students.
Expanding horizons through UROP
The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) enables students to transcend the conventional boundaries of classroom learning and engage in hands-on research and creative projects. Administered by Notre Dame’s Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good, UROP facilitates in-depth, self-directed learning by providing grants to support an array of needs associated with undergraduate projects.
UROP gives the students in the College extraordinary opportunities to pursue scholarship and creative works that reflect their own interests and aspirations. Funding is available for conference presentations, research and materials, senior thesis, and a variety of topic-based project grants.
Flatley Center for Scholarly Undergraduate Development (CUSE)
CUSE can help you develop and find funding for many different kinds of research to help you make the most of your Notre Dame experience and expand your intellectual life at the University.
CUSE also assists students in applications for national and international fellowship programs such as Fullbright, Rhodes, Marshall, and Gates Cambridge Fellowships.