The Institute for Leadership Studies offers a variety of student opportunities! Applications are now open for the Fitzgerald Scholarship, the British Parliamentary Internship, and the Reagan/Nixon Fellowship. These are all due in December 2025. The ILS Internship for the 2026–2027 school year is also open, with applications due in March 2026.
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Former LMU Political Science Professor and Chair, Dr. William Fitzgerald, has been named Distinguished Teaching Fellow of the Institute for Leadership Studies (ILS). Fitzgerald, who taught at LMU from 1953-1955, 1958-1962, and 1967-1991, is being honored for his many years of dedicated service to the University and the Department of Political Science. The Institute for Leadership Studies also administers a scholarship program in Fitzgerald’s name for students requiring financial assistance in the White House Internship, LMU-Oxford Scholars Summer Program, and other internships.
Students can apply for scholarships between $500 and $2,000 for spring and summer 2026 programs, including study abroad, the Washington Center, and more. These scholarships are open to women, minority students, and students who demonstrate significant financial need.
Application: Fitzgeral Scholarships - 2025 Applications
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Each semester, the Institute for Leadership Studies, in conjunction with the Honorable Graham Allen, member of the British Parliament, awards a fellowship to the British Parliamentary Internship program (formerly the Hansard Scholars program). Scholars attend the prestigious London School of Economics and Politics while working as interns for Mr. Allen in the House of Commons. At the London School of Economics and Politics, students take courses in British Politics & Government and Public Policy. This program began in 1994. As part of the program LMU students are exposed to the volatile world of British politics firsthand while receiving a full semester’s academic credit through their studies at the London School of Economics. See past recipients.
Application: ILS UK Fellowship Application 2025
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As LMU is relatively close to both the Reagan and Nixon Presidential Libraries, the Institute allows students to engage in original source research at both libraries.
A summer stipend will be granted to a student or students who, along with the sponsorship of a political science professor, have a research project that can be accomplished at the Reagan or Nixon libraries, both in Southern California.
Application: Reagan Nixon Library Fellowship Application 2025
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Applications for the 2025–2026 academic year are now closed. Applications for the 2026-2027 school year will open shortly.
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In 2005, the Institute for Leadership Studies co-sponsored a new LMU study abroad semester program in London.
Visit the LMU Study Abroad website for more information: https://academics.lmu.edu/studyabroad/
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The Honorable Graham Allen, member of the British House of Commons, is an ongoing International Fellow of the Institute. Allen, who guest lectured for the LMU/Oxford Scholars Program during the summer of 1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001, has been integral in helping the Institute for Leadership Studies make opportunities available to students. Allen has also team-taught summer courses on British politics at LMU with Dr. Michael Genovese for the past several summers.
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The LMU Institute for Leadership Studies is one of three universities selected to develop a new curriculum for liberal arts universities on "Teaching Responsible Leadership." This major grant involves developing new courses, research fellowships for students, and the creation of new programs for teaching leadership and ethics