Deadline: September 30, 2025
Are you a high school student passionate about understanding the interconnectedness of political, economic, and social systems? The Exploring Complex Solutions for a Complex World Fellowship 2025 offers a unique chance to dive deep into complex global issues through guided academic exploration with leading scholars. This prestigious online programme is hosted by the Hayek Program at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
This blog outlines everything you need to know about the fellowship—including eligibility, benefits, curriculum, and how to apply.
About the Fellowship
The Exploring Complex Solutions for a Complex World Fellowship 2025 is a semester-long, fully online programme designed for curious and ambitious high school students. It focuses on helping participants engage with concepts such as planning, trade-offs, complexity, and systemic thinking across political, economic, and social domains.
Facilitated by scholars at the Mercatus Center, the programme provides structured readings, guided online discussions, and direct interaction with experts in political economy, sociology, and economics.
Key Dates and Eligibility
- Application Deadline: 30 September 2025
- Review Timeline: Begins immediately after the deadline. Selection decisions are expected within 8 weeks.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the fellowship:
- You must be currently enrolled in high school (public, private, or homeschool).
- You must be at least 16 years old by the start of the programme.
- Although hosted in the United States, the programme is open to students worldwide who meet the above criteria.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected participants will receive:
- A stipend of up to $750 to support their participation and learning.
- Access to an enriching community of peers, scholars, and alumni.
- A structured curriculum of curated readings and scholar-led discussions.
- Mentorship and exposure to academic and professional pathways in political economy.
Programme Format
This is a fully remote, semester-long fellowship that blends flexibility with intellectual rigour. Participants will:
- Commit approximately 2 hours per week to asynchronous, text-based discussions.
- Participate in online seminars and Q&A sessions with leading Mercatus scholars.
- Explore challenging literature and real-world policy dilemmas.
Curriculum Highlights
Fellows will engage with a curated list of thought-provoking texts, including:
- Applied Mainline Economics – Mitchell & Boettke
- Do Markets Corrupt Our Morals? – Storr & Choi
- Community Revival in the Wake of Disaster – Storr et al.
- Doing Bad by Doing Good – Coyne
- National Economic Planning – Lavoie
These materials are aimed at fostering critical thinking, intellectual humility, and an understanding of how complex systems behave and evolve.
Application Process
Interested students must complete an online application that includes background information and short essay responses.
Applicants are encouraged to apply well ahead of the deadline to ensure full consideration.
Why You Should Apply
The Exploring Complex Solutions for a Complex World Fellowship 2025 is more than just an academic opportunity—it’s a gateway to lifelong networks, intellectual growth, and potential career inspiration. Whether you’re considering a future in economics, public policy, or the social sciences, this fellowship equips you with tools to think critically about the world around you.
Need help preparing your application?
Contact grantsdatabase.org for proposal drafting, refining, and review.
