“GPSI: Celebrating over 45 Years of Leadership Lived”

Obtaining a GPSI internship is a competitive process. If you are selected to be a GPSI intern by a participating agency, you will have the opportunity for a long-term (up to 21 months) internship with outstanding benefits.

GPSI applications are continuously accepted and will be reviewed for the next interview round. Deadlines to complete your application is found under the Interview Logistics tab.

Please be aware that selection for a GPSI internship is a very competitive process. Applying to the GPSI program does not guarantee an interview nor does obtaining an interview guarantee an internship. At this time, students enrolled in Athletic Training, Public Affairs Reporting and any online College of Business and Management programs are not eligible for GPSI placements.

Other online students, who will live within a commutable distance to Springfield for the duration of the internship, are welcome to apply for the GPSI program.

Check out our webinar on GPSI for more information!

GPSI Chicago

The Graduate Public Service Internship Program (GPSI) has expanded to offer paid graduate student internships with state government agencies in the greater Chicago-area. GPSI-Chicago is open to UIS graduate students enrolled full-time in one of UIS’s online programs. At this time, students enrolled in any College of Business and Management online programs are not eligible for GPSI placements.

Students participating in the GPSI-Chicago program will receive the same great benefits offered to all GPSI interns. More information about the benefits of the program can be found here, on our benefits page.

The application for the Chicago program is available now and the deadline to apply is June 1 for August placements and November 1 for January/February placements. Interested students can find more information, including application procedures and the online application by clicking here: GPSI Application Information.

Doctoral Fellowship Program

While GPSI has offered paid internships to students seeking master’s degrees for decades, we are now pleased to begin offering high-level Fellowship placements for students seeking a doctoral degree through the UIS Public Administration department. The Doctor of Public Administration program is devoted to bridging the worlds of scholarship and practice.

Participation in this program is contingent upon an interview with the Director of the GPSI program and the Associate Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Administration.  If the applicant is determined to be a good match for the program, GPSI will work to find you a placement in your area of interest. Placements can last the duration of the DPA study, with contract renewals being contingent upon Fellowship & DPA degree performance.

To apply, please complete the DPA application for admission and indicate your interest on the program application.