Learn from the top minds at Peking University and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Engage in an intensive academic training experience to tackle real social issues using an evidence-based approach.
The International Policy Action Lab (IPAL) program offers top global students and young professionals an unforgettable four-week experience. Participants will gain rigorous, interdisciplinary training on data analysis and international policy research, work with top faculty members from Peking University and the University of Chicago, complete a faculty-led policy research capstone project, and explore the rich culture of the city of Beijing.
Access a sample program syllabus from 2022.
This course, taught by Peking University, introduces you to econometrics methodology and its applications, and basic functions with the programming language Stata. It will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the econometric modeling tools that are frequently used in empirical economic research.
The program concludes with a capstone research project, led by the University of Chicago. You will analyze real datasets and research on an international policy topic led. You will work in small groups led by faculty director Austin Wright on a capstone project, conducting a comprehensive policy analysis using real datasets. The project enables you to work through real world problems and collaborate with peers and faculty to design a solution.
Read the Academic Highlights blog post to hear from three participants of the 2021 program.
Participants will receive a Certification of Completion, issued electronically, upon successful completion of the credential program. The Certification of Completion will include the grade earned. The certification can be shared in future job applications, graduate school applications, or share on professional platforms such as LinkedIn.
Austin L. Wright is an assistant professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. His research leverages microlevel data to study the political economy of conflict and crime in Afghanistan, Colombia, Indonesia, and Iraq. His work is supported by the National Science Foundation, Niehaus Center for Global Governance, The Asia Foundation, and World Bank.
“The capstone project is an opportunity for students to take the skills that they have acquired from the program and start to think about: ‘How do I ask and answer a really important research question rigorously?’”
Xuezheng Qin
Xuezheng Qin is a professor and deputy dean in the School of Economics at Peking University, and the director of the Peking University Research Center for Market Economy. Dr. Qin’s primary research interests include health economics, economics of human capital, and applied econometrics.
July 17 - August 11, 2023 (four-weeks)
You can anticipate a commitment of approximately 25 hours per week. Please see a sample schedule below.
All courses have office hours with faculty and graduate teaching assistants, conducted in-person or virtually in Zoom. You will also leverage a virtual discussion board for quick communication with peers and teaching assistants.
The program will be delivered fully in-person at the Peking University campus in Beijing, China, which allows you to have face to face interactions with faculty and peers. Possible site visits to selective international organizations based in Beijing, China are open to program participants.
Admitted PKU-UChicago Summer School participants can apply for on-campus accommodation at the PKU Global Village (opposite PKU east gate) for the duration of the program. Please note that vacancy is limited and on first-apply first served basis.
The dormitories are consisted of two or three bedrooms (one student occupies one room) with a shared living room and shared bathroom. Air-conditioning, and cable Internet are available. Please check the detail information as below.
Accommodation Fees
|
Location |
Global Village |
|
Deposit |
500 RMB |
|
Room Rate (per person per night) |
120-160 RMB |
※ Payment for housing will be at the reception desk upon check-in.
※ Participants' lodging, meal, travel and health insurance, transportation, visa application fee, etc. are not covered in the program fee.
PKU Global Village
Check-in: Reception Desk of Building No. 4.
Room type: 2 or 3 single bedrooms with shared living room and bathroom
Address: No. 126 North Zhongguancun Street, Haidian, Beijing (10 mins walking to PKU main campus)
Phone: +86-10-62752288
Website: http://pkugv.pku.edu.cn/ (in Chinese)
Off-Campus Accommodation
International students not living in on-campus housing or a hotel must, according to Chinese law, register at their local police station within 24 hours of arriving in the country. When registering, students must provide their exact address as well as a telephone number.
All applicants are required to complete an online application and will be notified electronically. We encourage you to apply as early as possible. This program is available for undergraduate students, graduate students, and working professionals. To enroll in the program, you must have finished at least one year of full-time study at an undergraduate institution by the time you attend the program. There are no prerequisites as this program is available for all academic backgrounds.
The application for 2023 is closed. Sign up here to be notified when the application for 2024 opens.
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Application Deadline
|
Notification
|
Reply Deadline | |
| Early Action | April 18, 2023 | April 30, 2023 | May 9, 2023 |
| Round 1 | May 23, 2023 | June 2, 2023 | June 10, 2023 |
| Round 2* | June 18, 2023 | June 23, 2023 | June 27, 2023 |
Admissions notifications are issued approximately two weeks after the deadline. Notifications are issued by email. Reply deadline is the date for admitted students to confirm their intent to enroll by submitting the Admission Reply Form and non-refundable Enrollment Deposit. Details are noted in the letter of admission.
We encourage you to apply early to take advantage of the early action discount and longer timeline to confirm acceptance. For participants who need to apply for a visa to go to China, please reserve enough time for visa application.
*Please note the Round 2 has a short timeline for admitted students to confirm acceptance and submit the enrollment deposit. The application may close before this date if space is no longer available.
The program fee for the 2023 program is $3,600.
The program fee only includes program materials and organized required group activities. Participants' lodging, meal, travel and health insurance, transportation, visa application fee, etc. are not covered in the program fee.
The program offers some discounted program fees. See below for the eligibility and discounted fees:
There is no scholarship available for the program.
Admitted students are required to submit a non-refundable $700 USD enrollment deposit to confirm their seat in the program by the deadline listed in their admission letter. The enrollment deposit is applied to the total program fee. Students who fail to submit the deposit by the deadline listed in their admission letter will be viewed as voluntarily giving up the seat to attend the program.
The remaining balance is due July 10, 2023 - one week before the program begins. Payment for the deposit and remaining balance is submitted by credit card in the application portal. Admitted students will receive details on the payment process.
We encourage you to expand and diversify your funding sources. For example, past students received support from their current academic institution or employer. Other students found external scholarships based on their academic study, career goal, citizenship or other affiliations.
Read our blog post with Tips on Financial Planning.
Email us at harriscredential@uchicago.edu.
Visit the events webpage for the full list of upcoming events!
"They made coding understandable and enjoyable. By the time it came to finalizing the capstone project, I was using R to create data visualizations and everything. The program gave me excellent tools to assess policy."
"Both institutions offered high quality content, and the lectures were brilliant and amazing in conveying knowledge."
"Before IPAL I thought I wouldn’t be able to code, but during the program I became much more confident as we applied coding to real world issues."
"The IPAL program was truly a unique learning opportunity that enhanced my research skills and deepened my understanding of critical international policy issues. Because of IPAL, I now have a clearer idea of what master's program I would like to pursue."
