Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy

Shaping Global Leaders through Collaboration and Innovation

You’ve seen the challenges. Now lead the solutions. Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy empowers current and emerging leaders to advance their careers, broaden their perspectives, and drive meaningful impact.

Fast Facts

• MIDP: 95% international students (newest cohort comprises 29 students from 21 countries)
• MPP: 30% international students
• 123 RPCVs to date
• 71 local nonprofit or government agency partners for Coverdell Fellow internships
• Career support from day one. Dedicated Graduate Career Services offers personalized access to internship help, job search strategy, employer connections, and career workshops.
• A global policy alumni network. Sanford graduates work across every sector — Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, the World Bank, UNICEF, and leading NGOs and consulting firms.
• Faculty who shape policy. A mix of top researchers and practitioners bring real government, international, defense, and development leadership straight into the classroom.
• Small cohorts, close mentorship. Smaller class sizes mean direct, sustained interaction with faculty and peers.
• Outstanding student experience. Meet world leaders and humanitarian innovators through the Distinguished Lecture Series, join student-led organizations, and take part in campus-wide cultural events.

Learn More

Join on Thursday, December 3 at 8:00 a.m. ET to learn how Duke Sanford helps RPCVs build upon their Peace Corps experience to advance careers in policy, development, government, and the nonprofit sector.

Outrageous Ambition

For Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) eager to deepen their impact in public policy or international development, Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy offers an unparalleled opportunity to build on the global framework of skills and knowledge they gain during their service. RPCVs can tailor their education through specialized Master of Public Policy (MPP) concentrations or Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) areas of focus, and engage with resources across the campus such as the Margolis Center for Health Policy, the Nicolas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, the Duke Global Health Institute, the Duke Global Policy Program in Geneva, or the Duke Center for International Development.

As a partner in the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, Duke’s Sanford School supports RPCVs with a tuition waiver of up to 50%, paid Coverdell community service internships, and opportunities to continue serving communities while advancing their professional skills.

Join a Community of RPCVs at Duke

Through our partnership with the Peace Corps, RPCV applicants are eligible for application fee waivers. RPCVs selected for the Coverdell Fellows Program receive a tuition scholarship and a monthly stipend during their required internship service. This opportunity is available for both the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) programs.

“Peace Corps gave me a perspective that would be impossible to gain in a classroom alone, but as an RPCV, I know I need academic insight to support the observations I made in country. For me, grad school is a way to build the skills to contribute to policy that is effective, sustainable, and grounded in the communities it serves. I chose Duke Sanford because I believe it will provide the resources to transform my passions into the practical skills I need to contribute to community work.”

 –Melissa Scianimanico, MPP’28

Peace Corps Service Country: Philippines

“Sanford’s Master of International Development Program (MIDP) program stood out to me for many reasons! One of the main aspects of the MIDP program that I thought was unique was that I would truly be in a global classroom with colleagues coming from different countries, with each classmate having unique and impressive backgrounds! I also liked the small cohort size of the MIDP program. The MIDP program’s interdisciplinary approach stood out to me a lot too because I would be able to take courses from different colleges across Duke’s campus.”

–Haley Davenport, MIDP’28

Peace Corps Service Country: Rwanda

An Inside Look at Sanford’s Residential Master’s Programs

Master of Public Policy:

Master of International Development Policy:

Put Your Mastery Into Practice

The career services team at Duke’s Sanford School includes expert staff dedicated to graduate-level professional development, networking, and post-graduate career opportunities. Our career advisors offer numerous panels, workshops, individualized advising appointments, and a Career and Professional Skill Development course—all tailored to the specific needs expressed by you and your cohort.

Coverdell alumni from the Sanford School work with consulting firms, NGOs and Nonprofits, local and federal government.

• US Agency for International Development (Sanford’s largest employer of RPCVs)
• US Federal Reserve Board
• NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development
• Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service
• Deloitte
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• RTI International
• US Department of State

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