APSA is now accepting applications for the 2026 Ralph Bunche Summer Institute. The RBSI is an intensive five-week program designed to introduce undergraduate juniors to the world of doctoral study in political science. The 2026 institute will be held May 24 – June 25, 2026, at Duke University. Please consider sharing this with students that could benefit from the program.
Students participating in the program take two courses for transferrable credit – one in quantitative analysis and one in race and American politics. Students also receive an introduction to the demands of graduate school, learn political science research methods, and participate in a graduate school recruitment fair. Top students in the program will also be given the opportunity to present their research at the 2026 APSA Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
Applications are due January 25, 2026. Completed applications will include a resume, personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. Learn more about the program and application eligibility. Submit your application here.
About the RBSI
The Ralph Bunche Summer Institute Program (RBSI) is an annual, intensive five-week program held at Duke University. The program is designed to introduce aspiring political scientists to the world of doctoral study. The program is open to students interested in broadening participation in political science and pursuing scholarship on issues affecting underrepresented groups or issues of tribal sovereignty and governance.
Please email diversityprograms@apsanet.org with any questions.
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