The Policy Research and Innovation Bootcamp (PRIB) is a two-week, in-person program for participants who are ready to advance their quantitative research skills and plan creatively for their social impact-driven career. Whether you are an undergraduate student curious about how policy research can be applied, or a working professional exploring a career pivot with newfound quantitative research skills, PRIB serves as a launching pad to achieve your next academic or professional goal. For participants with limited quantitative background or who might need to increase their English language proficiency, an optional two-week jumpstart course is also provided before the program starts.
Subjects
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Policy Research Method |
Level
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Beginner, intermediate |
Duration
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2 weeks, 30-40 hours per week; optional: 2 jumpstart weeks, 15-20 hours per week |
Dates
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Standard: July 27–August 7, 2026 Jumpstart: July 13–24, 2026
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Cost
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$4,800 - $6,400 with partial scholarship available |
Format
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100% in-person in Chicago |
Associate Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy
Ensure a smooth transition into the PRIB curriculum with our Jumpstart course - an optional two-week course tailored for participants entering the program with a limited quantitative background or who might need to increase their English language proficiency. The optional two weeks provide a refresher on essential mathematical principles and quantitative analysis. Intensive language immersion helps participants improve their technical English language skills and learn to use English more confidently in the field of public policy. Together, these two optional courses set the stage for a successful experience in PRIB.
This module adopts a hands-on approach, guiding participants through each stage of creating impactful research. It places a strong emphasis on effectively navigating academic literature, empowering participants to develop rigorous research designs. By the end of the module, participants will actively engage in researching a question, proposing solutions, and collaborating in groups to craft comprehensive policy proposals. Participants will present their work at the conclusion of the module and receive valuable feedback from faculty.
Immerse yourself in thought-provoking dialogues with practitioners at the forefront of innovative research, shaping insights that drive impactful policymaking. Engage with leaders from distinguished research centers at the University of Chicago such as:
You will also get the unique opportunity to participate in networking lunches with research associates and pre-docs. Expand your network, exchange ideas, and be part of a community dedicated to advancing research and shaping the future of policymaking.
A Policy Hackathon creates a challenging and fun experience in which participants collaborate intensively to develop innovative solutions and ideas related to specific policy challenges with the guidance from professors and teaching assistants. Participants will form teams and work together to brainstorm, research, analyze data, and propose policy recommendations to a given policy issue.
The condensed timeframe encourages rapid idea generation, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. At the end of the module, teams will present their findings and solutions to a panel of experts and get feedback.
Learn more about the PRIB Policy Hackathon from the teaching team.
Your journey toward leadership greatness begins from within. Through a series of guided self-exploration exercises with group and individual coaching support, you will become more self-aware and gain deeper insights into your natural talents and abilities. You will walk away with enhanced decision-making ability to build a cohesive career compass that aligns your destination with your strengths and authentic leadership skills.
The one-day social impact career trek will take you outside the classroom and into the heart of organizations that are leading social impact-driven work through research and innovation.
You will visit employers in Chicago, meet industry leaders, witness the inner workings of leading organizations, and network with professionals who are shaping the landscape you might aspire to be part of. Past treks have included:
Austin Wright is the Faculty Director for the Policy Research and Innovation Bootcamp Program, ensuring the holistic curriculum is designed and taught to meet participant needs. Wright is an Associate Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy, and faculty affiliate of The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts at the University of Chicago.
Faculty Profile
"The goal with our credential programs is to find ways to enable a broader set of learners to have access to the UChicago tools and resources and help them achieve their ultimate goals of improving the world around us."
Faculty Profile
Benjamin Krause, Executive Director at the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics, is an economist, social sector leader, international development professional, and humanitarian emergency responder. For more than two decades, he has been identifying and implementing impactful programming with marginalized communities and local governments across more than 30 low- and middle-income countries as well as in the US. Ben has a record of launching, rapidly building, and strategically leading highly collaborative, diverse, and dynamic organizations. He focuses on designing and writing causally-identified, policy-relevant research and then crafting and implementing evidence-based policy.
Instructor Profile
Noah Liu is a PhD student at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. He is interested in labor economics and economics of education. He currently works on two large-scale experiments, which measure the impact of behavioral messaging and learning methods on parents’ engagement in their children’s education and resulting literacy and math performance.
July 27–August 7, 2026
30–40 hours per week.
July 13–24, 2026
15–20 hours per week.
Chicago is our place to learn, play, and be inspired.
Issued by Harris to showcase your academic rigor.
Read the Blog Post "Six Reasons to Participate in the Policy Research and Innovation Bootcamp".
Admitted Policy Research and Innovation Bootcamp participants can apply for on-campus accommodation at the Renee Granville-Grossman Residential Commons (6031 S Ellis Ave Chicago, IL 60637) for the duration of the program. Please note the housing fee is not included in the program fee. Vacancy is limited and on first-apply first served basis.
Renee Granville-Grossman Residential Commons opened in the Autumn 2009 and features modern design while maintaining the traditional focus of the Houses. The Hall houses eight vibrant communities around two courtyards, defining two distinct residence hall communities (East and West), each with their own complement of Resident Heads and Resident Assistants, charged with community building.
Participants need to provide for their own insurance coverage while they are on campus.
The program fee is $4,800. We are pleased to offer merit-based partial scholarships to outstanding applicants.
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Audience |
Costs/Award amounts |
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General |
$4,800 |
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Optional - Foundational Quantitative Analysis |
$800 |
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Optional - English Language Immersion |
$800 |
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Merit-Based Scholarship Range, or Harris Community Impact Scholarship award amounts* |
$300 to $1,000 |
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Organizational Sponsorship for 3+ Applicants |
Contact us at harriscredential@uchicago.edu to discuss group rates |
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If enrolling in two or more credential programs during the same cycle |
Receive an additional 20% discount on the program fees (After the initial discounts and scholarships) |
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.
* Eligible applicants may be considered for the Community Impact Scholarship, which provides $1,300 to PRIB participants. The scholarship application is included in the PRIB application and awards are determined at the time of admission. Please note that recipients of the Community Impact Scholarship will not be considered for additional merit-based scholarships.
Prerequisites:
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Application Deadline |
Notification |
Reply Deadline |
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Early Action |
December 2, 2025 |
Mid-December |
December 30, 2025 |
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Round 1 |
January 20, 2026 |
Early February |
February 17, 2026 |
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Round 2 |
March 10, 2026 |
Late March |
April 14, 2026 |
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Round 3 |
April 21, 2026 |
Mid-May |
May 19, 2026 |
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Round 4 |
May 19, 2026 |
Late May |
June 2, 2026 |
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.
Enrollment is open to individuals who have taken introductory levels of statistics or data analytics courses. For participants with limited quantitative background, an optional jumpstart week is also provided before the program starts. In addition, we strongly welcome Harris credential alumni who completed the DPSS/IPAL/PAC (DAC) programs to join.
For participants who need accommodation support, we provide on-campus housing at the Renee Granville-Grossman Residential Commons (6031 S Ellis Ave Chicago, IL 60637) for the duration of the program. Please note the housing fee is not included in the program fee. You can also explore your own housing options on campus, in Hyde Park, and throughout the city of Chicago.
More information will be shared with admitted participants of the program.
Although full funding is not available for the PRIB program, we offer merit-based scholarships to eligible applicants. Applying early can greatly improve your chances of receiving financial support.
You may also be considered for the Community Impact Scholarship, which awards $1,300 to PRIB participants. No separate application is needed—it’s part of the PRIB application, and decisions are made at the time of admission.
Please note: if you are awarded the Community Impact Scholarship, you won’t be eligible for additional merit-based scholarships.
For more guidance, check out our 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.
This program is not eligible to sponsor F-1 or J-1 student visas. International participants may require a visa to enter the U.S. Harris will issue a support letter for you to apply for the B1 visa to enter the U.S. as needed. Please email harriscredential@uchicago.edu for further assistance.
To learn more visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html or contact your nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. International participants already in the U.S. on a visa may want to consult with the sponsor of their visa to determine if their visa status permits participation.
