Immerse yourself with top minds from PKU and UChicago to conduct evidence-based policy analysis in three weeks.
Subjects |
International Policy, Policy Research, Applied Econometrics, Programming in Stata |
Level |
All levels welcome |
Duration |
3 weeks, 20-25 hours per week |
Dates |
July 7 - July 25, 2025 |
Cost |
$4,000 with various discount types |
Format |
In-person at the Peking University campus in Beijing, China |
Associate Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy
“I would recommend IPAL to anyone with an interest in policy, regardless of academic background. IPAL provides all the support you need and a very solid foundation in data analysis. I always felt supported and guided during this program, which was invaluable.”
IPAL’22
“The combination of theoretical learning, practical exercises, and field visits has given me a deeper understanding of the formation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies and related issues, and I feel very inspired and encouraged. ”
IPAL’23, student at Peking University
“IPAL is highly comparable to the MACRM program that I am going to study, which provided me with a solid foundation to prepare for greater challenges and boost my confidence. IPAL is a fulfilling program that will undoubtedly be of great assistance to students, like me, seeking to establish a strong academic and technical foundation for postgraduate study, whether toward a Ph.D. program in the future or a longer-term academic research path.”
IPAL’23, MACRM Candidate at UChicago Harris
The International Policy Action Lab (IPAL) program offers top global students and young professionals an unforgettable three-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, expand career knowledge and industry network, and explore the rich culture of the city of Beijing.
This course, taught by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, aims to equip participants with a fundamental understanding of the international policy landscape and the essential methodologies for conducting effective policy research through an evidence-based approach, illustrated with case studies. Throughout the course, students will acquire skills in:
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.
Instructor Profile
Austin L. Wright is an associate 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.
Instructor Profile
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.
Instructor Profile
Yanran Chen obtained a Ph.D. degree from Peking University and a joint Ph.D. degree from Yale University. Now she works at the School of Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business. Her main fields of study are environmental health economics and labour economics. She has been offering courses in econometrics, advanced econometrics and applied econometrics for a long time.
Head Teaching Assistant Profile
Fanmei Xia, MPP’21, is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Yale University. Coming from a Psychology and Education background, she has abundant experience teaching and mentoring students. Prior to graduate school, Fanmei worked at the Center for the Economics of Human Development at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on education and human development, particularly how to maximize people’s potential in development contexts.
July 7 - July 25, 2025
20-25 hours per week
The program will be delivered fully in-person at the Peking University campus in Beijing, China.
Issued by Peking University and University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy to showcase your academic rigor.
All courses have office hours with faculty and graduate teaching assistants, conducted in-person. You will also leverage a virtual discussion board for quick communication with peers and teaching assistants.
PKU-UChicago Summer School participants can apply for on-campus accommodation for the duration of the program. Please note that vacancy is limited and on first-apply first served basis.
Option 1: PKU Global Village (opposite PKU east gate)
Successful applicants will be assigned to the dormitories consisted of two or three bedrooms (one student occupies one room) with a shared living room and shared bathroom.
Option 2: PKU Wanliu Apartment Center (4.7km to PKU campus, 10-15mins’ drive or 30-40mins by bus)
Successful applicants will be assigned to the dormitories consisted of four beds (one student occupies one bed) with a shared bathroom.
Air-conditioning, and cable Internet are available for both options. Please check the detail information as below.
Accommodation Fees:
Location |
Global Village |
Wanliu Apartment Center |
Deposit |
500 RMB |
TBD |
Room Rate (per person per night) |
120-220 RMB |
100 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. 1
Room type:1 or 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)
PKU Wanliu Apartment Center:
Check-in: Reception Desk of Front Building at Wanliu Apartment Center
Room type: Four students share one room with four beds and shared toilet & shower facilities
Address: No. 29 Wanliu Central Street, Haidian, Beijing (4.7km to PKU campus, 10-15mins’ drive or 30-40mins by bus)
Phone: +86-10-62758588
Website: http://dorm.pku.edu.cn/guide/wlgy_fw/index.htm (in Chinese)
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.
“I find this program worthwhile and satisfactory. It had a very intense schedule, covering those important econometric models for different data types. In addition, I have met many friends from different universities and had a field visit in the European Union where we had pleasant talks with some European representatives.”
IPAL’23, MSCAPP Candidate at UChicago Harris
“Though I worked as a senior manager, I knew very well what I lacked—compared to traditional business students, I had a knowledge gap in econometrics. Fortunately, IPAL filled this gap for me. With IPAL’s practical training in the statistical coding language, STATA, I quickly mastered econometrics skills through my final project.”
IPAL’22
“I felt fortunate to have excellent professors and supportive teaching assistants who helped me navigate the complex content. Studying alongside passionate peers enriched my experience as well. After-class discussions have helped me digest the knowledge more, and the friendships I formed during the program will last a lifetime.”
IPAL’23, student at Columbia University
The program fee is $4,000. We offer partial discounts to early action applicants, PKU and UChicago community members. In addition, we support applicants to explore funding sources from your academic institution, employer, or external scholarships.
Audience |
Fee |
General Applicant |
$4,000 |
Early Action Applicant |
$3,700 |
Current PKU / UChicago students or alumni |
$3,500 |
Once being admitted, participants will secure the seat by submitting a $1,000 USD enrollment deposit, which is non-refundable and applies toward your total program fee. The remaining program fee balance will be paid before the program starts. Detailed payment instructions will be provided to admitted participants via email.
|
Application Deadline |
Notification |
Reply Deadline |
Early Action |
November 12, 2024 |
Late November |
December 9, 2024 |
Round 1 |
January 14, 2025 |
Late January |
February 10, 2025 |
Round 2 |
February 11, 2025 |
Late February |
March 10, 2025 |
Round 3 |
April 8, 2025 |
Mid April |
May 5, 2025 |
Round 4 |
May 6, 2025 |
Mid May |
May 26, 2025 |
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.
If the participant decides to cancel their Program enrollment, the participant must submit a request in writing at least 30 days prior to the program start date to harriscredential@uchicago.edu to receive the paid amount less the non-refundable enrollment deposit. Requests received 14 to 30 days before the Program start date are subject to a payment of 50% of the Program fee. Requests received within 14 days of the Program start date are subject to full payment of the Program fee. If the participant is unable to join the Program due to circumstances that the participant has no control or influence over, the refund amount will be considered on an individual case-by-case basis.
IPAL content is rigorous, but we accommodate participants of all backgrounds. There are no prerequisites for this program. Our aim is to provide support and guidance to help you succeed, regardless of your prior experience.
For participants who need accommodation support, we provide on-campus housing at the PKU Global Village (opposite PKU east gate) for the duration of the program. The dormitories are consisted of two or three bedrooms (one student occupies one room) with a shared living room and shared bathroom. Please note that vacancy is limited and on first-apply first served basis, and the housing fee is not included in the program fee. Details regarding the accommodation application will be provided to admitted students.
Participants will be given a PKU Student ID Card that allows you to enjoy a variety of cuisine in the campus dining halls. The card will also allow you to get access to the campus library.
The program is a non-credit program. You will receive a shareable certification from Peking University and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy upon completion to showcase your academic rigor after successfully completing the program.
There are no scholarship offerings for IPAL participants. Details about the possible discount types can be found in the “Program Fee and Payment” section. For more financial tips, please read the blog "Financial Planning for Credential Programs".
Please feel free to reach out to us at harriscredential@uchicago.edu. You can also book a 20-minute online appointment with the admissions team to talk through your questions directly.