Internship at Hoover Institution

Posted: 12/23/2025

About the Company/Organization:

Hoover Institution
Type: Nonprofit/NGO
Size:
https://www.hoover.org/

The Hoover Institution, Stanford University, is a public policy research center devoted to the advanced study of economics, politics, history, and political economy—both domestic and foreign—as well as international affairs. With its eminent scholars and world-renowned Library & Archives, the Hoover Institution seeks to improve the human condition by advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity and prosperity and secure and safeguard peace for America and all mankind.

Internship Project/Opportunity

Location: Palo Alto, CA
Anticipated internship dates: August 10-14, 2026
Target intern experience level: Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students
https://www.hoover.org/hoover-institution-summer-policy-boot-camp

The Hoover Institution’s Summer Policy Boot Camp (HISPBC) is an intensive, four-day residential immersion program in the essentials of today’s national and international United States policy. The program is intended to instruct college students and recent graduates on the economic, political, and social aspects of United States public policy. The goal is to teach students how to think critically about public policy formulation and its results.

Designed to foster fact-based critical thinking on the most important policy issues, students will have a unique chance to interact directly with the faculty of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, comprised of world-renowned scholars in economics, government, political science, and related fields. Session topics are selected because of their immediate relevance to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Participants will collaborate through class discussions and study groups that encourage diverse perspectives. Enrollment is limited, in order to facilitate maximum interaction with the faculty and other participants.

Applications for the 2026 Summer Policy Boot Camp are now open.

 

Qualifications to Apply

Only those who meet one of the following requirements should move forward with this application:

  • Completed at least two years of a four-year undergraduate degree by summer 2026 (i.e., current sophomores, Juniors or seniors)
  • Completed at least two years of a three-year undergraduate degree by summer 2026 (some international applicants); or
  • Recent graduate from an undergraduate degree program (graduate students are eligible to apply).

 

Time Commitment

HISPBC requires a 100% time commitment for the duration of the four-day program, including active collaboration with study groups outside of class.

 

Cost / Tuition

The boot camp is FREE to all accepted applicants. Program fees, food and lodging will be covered for participants accepted into the program. Travel expenses and other incidentals are not included. It is FREE to apply during Early Bird Registration – after that deadline, there is a nonrefundable $100 application fee to submit an application.

 

Deadline Dates

  • November 2025 – Applications open
  • January 19, 2026 – Early Bird Registration Ends ($0 registration fee)
  • March 3, 2026 – Regular Registration & Letters of Recommendations Due ($100 nonrefundable application fee required – see payment instructions below)
  • April 8, 2026 – Admissions Notify Date

 

Application Fee Payment Instructions

When your application is ready to be submitted, pay the $100 (non-refundable) fee on Stripe and upload your receipt within the application. Use the same email for both application and payment. Stripe is a Stanford-approved third-party e-commerce platform designed to securely accept credit card payments online. Click here to submit payment.

 

Certificate of Completion

Successful participants receive a certificate of completion endorsed by Hoover Institution’s director and HISPBC’s faculty directors. To successfully complete the program, participants must:

  • Attend all sessions
  • Complete assignments and projects
  • Collaborate with their fellow participants in class discussions

For any questions related to the program, please email hispbcadmin@stanford.edu.

 

Contact: Email