Fels Institute of Government

About the school

Fels Institute of Government began its operation in 1973, and since then, it has been a pioneer in the training and practice of Public Administration. The college today helps produce the public leaders of the country. The faculty and Penn scholars at the Fels Institute of Government are renowned and celebrated nationwide. The curriculum at the institute is designed in a way that helps the students achieve academic and career goals. The approach followed by the institute to educate and prepare their students is context, analysis and practice with real-world issues. The college offers various programmes to pursue a master's degree. Due to its innovative approach of delivering specialised knowledge, exposure to practical experience and valuable connections, the students become very successful in their respective fields once they graduate.

Location of the school

Philadelphia is a beautiful city with historic significance. It is the second most populated city in the Mid-Atlantic region and Northeast Megalopolis, right after New York City.

Life at Fels Institute of Government

Life at the Fels Institute of Government is vibrant and full of activities. Multiple groups are available for the students, which they can join depending on their interests and passion. The core goal of these communities is the professional engagement and development of the students. Being a part of the groups allows the students to broaden their views, an essential quality of any public leader. The students run these organisations, and it helps to connect everyone with a close-knit academic community, everyone sharing a common interest.

The Fels Student Association is the body that works in unison to build connection and community among all the institute's students. This organisation is responsible for conducting various events that help foster growth and academic and professional development among the students. The body works as the voice of the students and works diligently to provide the best graduate experience to every student enrolled at the Fels Institute of Government. Some of the most popular past events organised by the FSA include community service, book club, bowling, mini golf, guest speaker panels, etc.

Apart from the FSA, another association comprises only the Fels Students. It is the Penn Student chapter of the International City/ County Management Association. This is built for those interested in becoming a local management leader. The association allows the students access to ICMA content and programming, which includes opportunities like attending national and regional conferences. This student chapter is also involved in events that allow the students of Fels to engage and communicate with the leaders of local government bodies across various service sectors.

The Fels Institute Of Government has a special organisation named Women of Fels. It is a body that advocates and voices the issues faced by women in the public sector. They organise various fundraisers, speaker panels, etc., to create awareness about the issue and find ways to reduce it. Some previously conducted events by the WOF include the End of Year celebration, a speaker series called Intersectionality in Feminism, Mistakes I've Made, etc.

Additional benefits of studying at Fels Institute of Government

Apart from the practical and result-oriented curriculum, the institute offers multiple programmes and services to help students develop a professional network and succeed.

One of the most renowned events conducted by the Fels Institute of Government is the Public Policy in Practice. It is a series that invites distinguished public figures to the campus to discuss their careers and career opportunities with the students. Some renowned speakers who have already visited the campus include Ezekiel Emanuel, Marty Baron, Tina Tchen, and the ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush. The institute also conducts events focused on enhancing job-related skills and career day events in the city.

The mentors and advisors at the Fels Institute of Government are highly qualified and trained professionals. They work with the students from the first day to help them identify their career goals and what opportunities they might have and avail. During the mentoring programmes arranged by the college, the students are matched with the mentors. The mentors assist the students in developing professional contacts and provide personal guidance for each of them.

Admissions criteria

The Fels Institute of Government is one of the most premium colleges that offers a master's degree in public service. To get a chance to be admitted to this college, the students must be thorough with their application process. Pay the application fee The applicants should submit a personal statement of an essay under 500 An updated resume The applicants must submit all the transcripts obtained Two letters of recommendation Submission of GRE or LSAT scores

Apart from the documents mentioned above, some additional ones should be submitted for international. Submitting the official scores of English proficiency tests directly to the institution The transcripts must be evaluated course-by-course by WES or the CertiFile/CollegeNet Document service

Job placements

The Fels Institute of Government prepares the students to become the future public leaders. 100% of the graduate students were placed within six months of graduation, according to the 2017 records