UTMB Graduate Archer Fellowship

Program Overview

The Graduate Archer Fellowship Program provides graduate students from across The University of Texas System with a unique opportunity to live, learn, and intern in our nation’s capital during the summer. Home to many government, media, research, and cultural institutions, Washington, D.C., offers unparalleled opportunities for career development and cultural enrichment. While in D.C., students earn in-residence UT Medical Branch credit for their coursework and gain hands-on work experience in an internship. Through a shared cohort experience, Graduate Archer Fellows build lasting friendships and professional connections with each other. The Graduate Archer Fellowship Program is tailored to students’ own personal and intellectual interests, which allows them to connect their developing expertise to policy and public service.


Eligibility

The Graduate Archer Fellowship Program is available to graduate, medical, and doctoral students of all academic disciplines, and we welcome a diverse array of student interests and backgrounds.

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to apply:

  • Applicant must be pursuing a graduate degree (masters, Ph.D., M.D., J.D.) at a University of Texas System university
  • GPA of 3.0 or greater at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (first year students must meet this requirement by the end of the fall 2021 semester)
  • Previous professional or internship experience
  • Campus involvement and/or community leadership experience

If selected for the Graduate Archer Fellowship Program, students must meet the following requirements by the beginning of the summer they will be in Washington, D.C.:

  • Nine hours of in-residence credit completed at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
  • GPA of 3.0 or greater

Courses

Archer Fellows take courses housed in the Population Health Sciences, which are taught by faculty from UT Dallas and policy experts from the Washington, D.C., community. Students earn 9 hours of graduate-level credit:

PHS 6367 (1301): Policymaking from the Ground Up

PHS 6368 (1400): Archer Center Washington Internship

PHS 6369 (1401): Archer Center Study and Research

Students are strongly encouraged to consult their academic advisors to learn how these classes will fit into their degree plans.

Internship

All Archer Fellows participate in a full-time internship that aligns with their academic and professional goals. Archer Fellows are responsible for researching and applying for internships, while Archer Center staff provides guidance and assistance throughout the process. The Archer Center has a vast network of connections in a variety of fields in the nation’s capital, and Archer Fellows have developed a fantastic reputation as high quality interns.

While many internships in Washington, D.C., offer financial compensation (e.g. stipends, hourly pay, etc.), some opportunities remain unpaid. For that reason, students should not expect to earn an income while in D.C. Visit archercenter.org for a non- exhaustive list of potential internship sites.

Program Costs and Scholarships

The summer 2023 Graduate Archer Fellowship Program fee is $3,900, and is subject to change in future years. This fee does not cover housing or other expenses. Archer Fellows pay a program fee in lieu of UT Medical Branch tuition, and most financial resources currently used on their home campus can apply to the Archer Fellowship Program costs. Students are encouraged to visit archercenter.org/funding- your-fellowship.html for more information on program expenses.

Generous scholarships are available to help Archer Fellows fund their semester in Washington, D.C.

Typically, students fund their fellowship through existing financial aid, designated campus funding, and Archer Center need and merit-based scholarships. If you have concerns about the cost of the program, please reach out to the Archer Center. We do not want financial concerns to keep you from applying to be an Archer Fellow.

Contact Information

Dan Jupiter
Associate Professor
The University of Texas Medical Branch
dajupite@utmb.edu

Christine Anderson
Assistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions
The Archer Center
chanderson@utsystem.edu

Archer Center Admissions
archeradmissions@utsystem.edu