PAUL D COVERDELL FELLOWS PROGRAM
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, in partnership with the Peace Corps, now offers the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program to eligible Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs), Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCR), and Global Health Service Partnership Volunteers (GHSP) enrolled in a participating master’s program in the school.
Up to three students will be selected as Fellows per academic year for the Fall term, and will receive a tuition waiver and stipend. Through this Fellowship, it is possible to earn a graduate degree from a top-ranked academic program for less than $5,000, fees and living expenses not included.
The Andrew Young School, ranked No. 20th in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools for Public Affairs, is in downtown Atlanta, the center of one of the nation’s largest hubs for government employment and nonprofits. Its 2,200 students are provided easy access to both distinguished mentors and unparalleled internship and graduate research opportunities.
Participating programs include:
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Master of Arts in Economics
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Public Policy
- Master of Social Work
- M.I.S. Urban Studies
For more information, contact the Office of Academic Assistance. You can also visit the Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program website.
Tuition Waiver:
Upon admission into one of our participating master’s programs, up to three RPCVs are selected for the Coverdell Fellowship program each academic year for the fall term. Recipients of this prestigious program will receive a full tuition waiver for fall and spring semester, excluding fees and $37.50/semester in tuition.
Graduate Research Assistantship:
Coverdell Fellows receive a graduate research assistantship for fall and spring semesters, which includes a stipend of $2,000 per semester. Students will work approximately eight hours per week as research assistants for faculty or a research center, with the aim of matching the student’s interests with the assistance required.
Peace Corps Coverdell Fellow Eligibility:
All Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who satisfactorily complete their service have lifetime eligibility for Coverdell Fellows Program. This includes volunteers who meet one of the following guidelines:
- They have completed the full two-year tour of Peace Corps service, or the full tour minus up to 90 days if they returned home on an emergency leave;
- They were granted “Early Close of Service” or “Interrupted Service” status due to circumstances that were beyond their control; or
- They were medically separated as a Volunteer.
In addition, returned Peace Corps Response (PCR) Volunteers and Global Health Service Partnership (GHSP) Volunteers who serve a full 12 months are eligible.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Coverdell Fellow Eligibility & Requirements:
All Coverdell Fellows must be admitted into a participating graduate degree-seeking program.
Once admitted, all Coverdell Fellows must maintain full-time academic status and complete the service as outlined below:
- Graduate Research Assistantship during fall and spring semesters, including work of approximately eight hours per week as a research assistant for faculty or a research center.
- Complete an internship course working with an underserved U.S. community.
- When Coverdell Fellows begin their coursework, they will meet with a graduate advisor to plan their course of study. In that plan, they will be required to meet with AYS Career Services to identify internship locations that support underserved American communities. Students will enroll in an internship course for credit to count towards their graduate degree.
The graduate program application is a separate process from the Coverdell Fellows application. Up to three Coverdell Fellows are admitted per academic year, so it’s advantageous to submit both applications by the priority deadline for a given degree program.
Please follow these step-by-step instructions to complete your program application and Coverdell Fellows application.
-
-
- Apply for admission into a participating program:
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Master of Arts in Economics
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Public Policy
- Master of Social Work
- M.I.S. Urban Studies
- Complete the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers section on the Andrew Young School Information page of your graduate application. All Returned Peace Corps Volunteers must upload the following to receive an application fee waiver. Once approved, an application fee waiver will be processed directly to your application. If admitted into a participating graduate program, this application will be reviewed for consideration into the Coverdell Fellows Program:
- Cover letter of your service in the Peace Corp: include a statement about your service in the Peace Corps, career interests as it relates to low-income populations, and potential internship locations desired.
- Official Description of Service (DOS): The official DOS must be signed by your Country Director. If you are still in service, request a letter from your Country Director confirming your current service.
- Deadlines:
- Applications for Fall admission: The program’s graduate application and Coverdell Fellowship application must be submitted by the program’s priority deadline.
- Applications for Summer admission (MSW-Advanced Standing only): The program’s graduate application and Coverdell Fellowship application must be submitted by the program’s priority deadline.
- After being notified of admission into one of the participating master’s programs, prospective Fellows will be reviewed for consideration for a Coverdell Fellowship and will be notified of an award within two months.
- Apply for admission into a participating program:
-
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, in partnership with the Peace Corps, now offers the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program to eligible Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs), Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCR), and Global Health Service Partnership Volunteers (GHSP) enrolled in a participating master’s program in the school.
Up to three students will be selected as Fellows per academic year, and will receive a tuition waiver and stipend. Through this Fellowship, it is possible to earn a graduate degree from a top-ranked academic program for less than $5,000, fees and living expenses not included.
The Andrew Young School, ranked No. 18 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools for Public Affairs, is in downtown Atlanta, the center of one of the nation’s largest hubs for government employment and nonprofits. Its 2,200 students are provided easy access to both distinguished mentors and unparalleled internship and graduate research opportunities.
Participating programs include:
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Master of Arts in Economics
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Public Policy
- Master of Social Work
For more information, contact the Coverdell Coordinator. You can also visit the Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program website.
Application Fee Waiver:
All Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are eligible to receive an application fee waiver into one of our participating programs. Complete this online form to process your request to receive a waiver code. It must be completed to be considered for the Coverdell Fellows Program after admission into a participating master’s program.
Tuition Waiver:
Upon admission into one of our participating master’s programs, up to three RPCVs are selected for the Coverdell Fellowship program each academic year. Recipients of this prestigious program will receive a full tuition waiver for fall and spring semester, excluding fees and $37.50/semester in tuition.
Graduate Research Assistantship:
Coverdell Fellows receive a graduate research assistantship for fall and spring semesters, which includes a stipend of $2,000 per semester. Students will work approximately eight hours per week as research assistants for faculty or a research center, with the aim of matching the student’s interests with the assistance required.
Peace Corps Coverdell Fellow Eligibility:
All Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who satisfactorily complete their service have lifetime eligibility for Coverdell Fellows Program. This includes volunteers who meet one of the following guidelines:
- They have completed the full two-year tour of Peace Corps service, or the full tour minus up to 90 days if they returned home on an emergency leave;
- They were granted “Early Close of Service” or “Interrupted Service” status due to circumstances that were beyond their control; or
- They were medically separated as a Volunteer.
In addition, returned Peace Corps Response (PCR) Volunteers and Global Health Service Partnership (GHSP) Volunteers who serve a full 12 months are eligible.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Coverdell Fellow Eligibility & Requirements:
All Coverdell Fellows must be admitted into a participating graduate degree-seeking program.
Once admitted, all Coverdell Fellows must maintain full-time academic status and complete the service as outlined below:
- Graduate Research Assistantship during fall and spring semesters, including work of approximately eight hours per week as a research assistant for faculty or a research center.
- Complete an internship course working with an underserved U.S. community.
- When Coverdell Fellows begin their coursework, they will meet with a graduate advisor to plan their course of study. In that plan, they will be required to meet with AYS Career Services to identify internship locations that support underserved American communities. Students will enroll in an internship course for credit to count towards their graduate degree.
The graduate program application is a separate process from the Coverdell Fellows application. Up to three Coverdell Fellows are admitted per academic year, so it’s advantageous to submit both applications by the priority deadline for a given degree program.
Please follow these step-by-step instructions to complete your program application and Coverdell Fellows application.
-
- Apply for admission into a participating program:
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice
- Master of Arts in Economics
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Public Policy
- Master of Social Work
- Complete the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers section on the Andrew Young School Information page of your graduate application. All Returned Peace Corps Volunteers must upload the following to receive an application fee waiver. Once approved, an application fee waiver will be processed directly to your application. If admitted into a participating graduate program, this application will be reviewed for consideration into the Coverdell Fellows Program:
- Cover letter of your service in the Peace Corp: include a statement about your service in the Peace Corps, career interests as it relates to low-income populations, and potential internship locations desired.
- Official Description of Service (DOS): The official DOS must be signed by your Country Director. If you are still in service, request a letter from your Country Director confirming your current service.
- Deadlines:
- Applications for Fall admission: The program’s graduate application and Coverdell Fellowship application must be submitted by the program’s priority deadline.
- Applications for Summer admission (MSW-Advanced Standing only): The program’s graduate application and Coverdell Fellowship application must be submitted by the program’s priority deadline.
- Applications for Spring admission: The program’s graduate application and Coverdell Fellowship application must be submitted by the program’s regular deadline.
- After being notified of admission into one of the participating master’s programs, prospective Fellows will be reviewed for consideration for a Coverdell Fellowship and will be notified of an award within two months.
- Apply for admission into a participating program: