The Max Baucus Institute, the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana, and the University College Cork collaborate on a 2-credit ABA-accredited Comparative Law Study Abroad summer course. Students in this program will work directly with law faculty and other students from both law schools to analyze current legal issues through a comparative lens. This program includes lectures, skills exercises, and enrichment activities, including observing Irish court proceedings.
The program is inspired by Max's life and work experience building diplomatic bridges, both as a U.S. Senator for Montana and the U.S. Ambassador to China. The Baucus Institute works to break down barriers for students to have immersive, life-changing international experiences that will inspire them to engage in public service. The students, many of whom have never traveled internationally, engage in people-to-people diplomacy with students, professors, and leaders. This program reflects the Alexander Blewett III School of Law's commitment to applied learning and rigorous skills-based education. It is also a reflection of the long-standing relationship between the University of Montana and the University College Cork.
2026 Program:
Dates: May 22 - June 5, 2026. (Students should plan to check in to lodging in Cork on Thursday, May 21, and check out on Saturday, June 6.)
Focus: What is Corruption and How to Prove it - A Comparative Look at Legal Accountability for Corruption
Credits: A 2-credit comparative law course. Grading will be credit/no credit. Students who successfully complete the course will also meet the Oral Advocacy Requirement required for all ABIII students.
Location: University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. Lodging for 2026 will be at the UCC dorm The Crow's Nest, which is the nicest UCC housing available. It is a large part of the program cost.
Cost: $4,250. This covers tuition, lodging, and international health insurance. Students must purchase their own flights and meals. A nonrefundable deposit of $500 is required to secure a spot in the program. (If the program is cancelled for any reason, the deposit will be refunded.)
The deposit payment system is through University of Montana's Treasury Services. Mel Brittner Wells, Deputy Director at the Baucus Institute, will email applicants with specific instructions for paying the deposit. If you have questions, you can reach her at mel@baucusinstitute.org.
Participants will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program cap of 19 participants is reached, or until December 1, 2025, whichever is first. Students must pay a $500 deposit to secure their spot.
NOTE: For the purposes of this program, the information included in this application will be shared with the Max Baucus Institute, a 501(c)(3), as well as the Alexander Blewett III School of Law.
The Max Baucus Institute
The Max Baucus Institute invites applications from undergraduate and graduate students attending Montana-based universities and colleges to be 2026 Baucus Leaders DC. This is a paid summer internship opportunity in Washington DC.
The Baucus Institute is a Montana-based nonprofit organization founded on Max's extensive public service career as the longest-serving U.S. Senator for Montana, and the U.S. Ambassador to China. We work to break down barriers so that Montana students can see, serve, and lead locally and throughout the world. We do this through three areas of focus: public service, climate, and U.S.-China relations.
Baucus Leaders DC Program
The Baucus Leaders program is founded on Max's legacy as a U.S. Senator and his desire to get Montana students involved in public service. This program is generously supported by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation.
Baucus Leaders are placed with U.S. Senate offices as summer interns. The 2026 Baucus Leader placements are not yet finalized, but will be bipartisan and similar to previous years. Examples of partner DC offices include:
- Senator Steve Daines (R–MT)
- Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT)
- Senator Amy Klobuchar (D–MN)
- Senator Charles Grassley (R–IA)
- Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
- Senator John Hoeven (R-ND)
- Senator Chuck Schumer (D–NY)
- Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)
- The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee
Dates & Funding
Each internship will start on or around June 1 and end on or around August 1. Baucus Leaders DC receive a $5,000 stipend to support travel and living expenses. The Baucus Institute also provides optional group housing (shared rooms) at a very discounted rate. The Baucus Leader will be solely responsible for any expenses incurred during the internship period over and above this amount.
Qualifications
Baucus Leaders are selected based on commitment to service, academic performance, and interest in a public service career (working for a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government, or nonprofit organization). The program is open to all current undergraduate and graduate students at Montana-based colleges and universities. Students must be in good academic standing at the time of applying. Students must be enrolled full-time at a Montana public college or university during Spring Semester 2026. Students from BIPOC, LGBTQ+2S, and underserved communities are highly encouraged to apply.
Application Materials
- 500 word statement about why you want to be a Baucus Leader and your commitment and interest in public service
- Resume
- Academic Transcript (can be unofficial)
- Letter of Recommendation
Applicant Selection Process
The Institute will select two to three finalists for each internship. Finalists will be notified by email of their selection in late February. Finalists will likely be interviewed by the DC office either by phone or online, but there is no guarantee that an interview will be conducted as part of their selection process. The DC office has final selection of their Baucus Leader(s). A finalist may be required to submit additional application materials to that office.
Applications are due Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:59pm MST.
Please contact us at hello@baucusinstitute.org with any questions you have about the program. We look forward to reviewing your application.
The Max Baucus Institute
The Max Baucus Institute invites applications from undergraduate and graduate students attending Montana-based universities and colleges to be 2026 Baucus Climate Scholars. This is a paid summer internship opportunity.
The Baucus Institute is a Montana-based nonprofit founded on Max's extensive public service career as the longest-serving U.S. Senator for Montana, and the U.S. Ambassador to China. We work to break down barriers so that Montana students can see, serve, and lead locally and throughout the world. We do this through three areas of focus: public service, climate, and U.S.-China relations.
Baucus Climate Scholars Program
The Baucus Climate Scholars program builds off of Senator Baucus's long and distinguished bipartisan legislative record in environmental and natural resources matters, including his sponsorship of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and his leadership in protecting wild lands along the Rocky Mountain Front. We want to continue this legacy by providing opportunities to students with an interest in natural resources and environmental and climate issues to intern with organizations working on these issues.
Baucus Climate Scholars are placed with host organizations as summer interns. Climate Scholars work full-time for about two months, usually June and July.
The 2026 Climate Scholar placements is not yet finalized, but will be similar to previous years. Examples of partner organizations include:
- The Nature Conservancy (Singapore)
- The Climate Reality Project (DC, founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore)
- The International Energy Agency (Paris, France, preference given to law students)
- New Leaf Climate (NYC)
- Disneyland Shanghai
- The Nature Conservancy (Montana)
- City of Missoula Climate Team (Missoula, MT)
- Centigrade (Bay Area or NYC)
- Northwestern Energy (Helena, MT, law students only)
- Henry's Fork Foundation (Ashton, ID)
- South China Morning Post (Hong Kong, journalism students)
- Big Sky Sustainability Network (Big Sky, MT)
Projects that Baucus Climate Scholars have worked on include literature reviews, collaborating on original research, writing research reports and briefs, creating resource packets, creating maps, writing recommendations, and assisting with trainings/meetings.
Dates & Funding
Each internship will be full-time. Interns will start on or around June 1 and end on or around August 1. Baucus Climate Scholars will be given a $5,000 stipend to cover living and travel expenses during their internship. The students in DC will have the option to participate in group housing (shared rooms) at a very discounted rate. The Baucus Climate Scholar will be solely responsible for any expenses incurred during the internship period over and above the stipend amount.
Qualifications
Baucus Climate Scholars are selected based on commitment to public service, academic performance, and interest in climate change and environmental policy. The program is open to all current undergraduate and graduate students at Montana-based colleges and universities. Students must be in good academic standing at the time of applying and must be enrolled as full-time students at a Montana public college or university during Spring Semester 2026. Students from BIPOC, LGBTQ+2S, and under-resourced communities are highly encouraged to apply.
The skills required will vary by organization and year. We are updating the Climate Scholars page on our website as we finalize placements for 2026. For all positions, a successful Climate Scholar will be reliable, motivated, and communicative. We encourage our Scholars to get out of their comfort zones, ask questions, and take initiative to learn and grow.
Application Materials
- Resume (upload)
- 500 word statement about why you want to be a Baucus Climate Scholar & your commitment to/interest in climate change and environmental policy
- Academic Transcript (can be unofficial)
- Letter of Recommendation. NOTE: We recommend contacting your letter-write early in the process so that they have time to complete this by the deadline.
Applications are due Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (end of day) MST.
Please contact us at hellol@baucusinstitute.org with any questions. We look forward to reviewing your application.
The Max Baucus Institute
The Max S. Baucus Institute invites from undergraduate and graduate students attending Montana-based universities and colleges to be 2026 Baucus Leaders MT. This is a paid summer internship opportunity.
The Baucus Institute is a Montana-based nonprofit founded on Max's extensive public service career as the longest-serving U.S. Senator for Montana, and the U.S. Ambassador to China. We work to break down barriers so that Montana students can see, serve, and lead locally and throughout the world. We do this through three areas of focus: public service, climate, and U.S.-China relations.
Baucus Leaders MT Program
The Baucus Leaders MT program is modeled after our Baucus Leaders program in Washington, DC, but with a local focus. This program gives students opportunities to work with Montana-based governmental and nonprofit organizations.
Examples of past student internships include:
- UM's American Indian Governance & Policy Institute
- Montana Food Bank (spring part-time and summer full-time opportunity)
- Montana Nonprofit Association (Helena)
- Montana Budget & Policy Center (Helena)
- Native American Development Corporation (Billings)
- Montana World Affairs Council
- Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Tribal Court (Pablo)
- and many others!
Dates & Funding
Each fellowship will start on or around June 1 and end on or around August 1. Baucus Leaders MT who work part-time will be given a $3,000 stipend. The Baucus Leader will be solely responsible for any expenses incurred during the experience over and above this amount.
Qualifications
Baucus Leaders MT will be selected based on commitment to public service, academic performance, and interest in Montana's public sector. The program is open to all students currently enrolled (online or in-person) as undergrad or graduate students at a Montana-based college or university. Students must be in good academic standing and continue to be enrolled in Spring Semester 2026. Students from BIPOC, LGBTQ+2S, and under-resourced communities are highly encouraged to apply.
Application Materials
- 500 word statement about why you want to be a Baucus Leader MT and your commitment to and interest in public service
- Resume
- Academic transcript (can be unofficial)
- Letter of Recommendation. NOTE: We recommend contacting your letter-write early in the process so that they have time to complete this by the deadline.
Applications are due Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (end of day) MST.
Please contact us at hello@baucusinstitute.org with any questions you have about the program. We look forward to reviewing your application.
The Max Baucus Institute
The Max S. Baucus Institute invites undergraduate and graduate students attending Montana-based universities and colleges to be a 2026 Baucus Leader at the Big Barn Dialogues, held June 23-25 in Big Sky, Montana.
The Baucus Institute is a Montana-based nonprofit founded on Max's extensive public service career as the longest-serving U.S. Senator for Montana, and the U.S. Ambassador to China. We work to break down barriers so that Montana students can see, serve, and lead locally and throughout the world. We do this through three areas of focus: public service, climate, and U.S.-China relations.
Big Barn Dialogues
Each year, the Baucus Institute brings 4 to 6 students to the Big Barn Dialogues. Held at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana, the Big Barn Dialogues are a high-level and invitation-only event focused on U.S.-China Relations. The Baucus Institute students are responsible for taking notes during the conference, then organizing those notes into a succinct and detailed document that is shared with all the participants.
Dates & Funding
June 23 - 25, 2026 at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, MT.
Hotel rooms are provided in Big Sky for the nights of June 23 and 24. Students will be reimbursed for mileage and receive a $250 stipend for their work.
Qualifications
Baucus Leaders at Big Barn will be selected based on commitment to public service, academic performance, and interest in U.S.-China relations. The program is open to all students currently enrolled (online or in-person) as undergrad or graduate students at a Montana-based college or university. Students must be in good academic standing and continue to be enrolled in Spring Semester 2026. Students from BIPOC, LGBTQ+2S, and under-resourced communities are highly encouraged to apply.
Application Materials
- 500-word statement about why you want to be a Baucus Leader at the 2026 Big Barn Dialogues
- Resume
- Academic transcript (can be unofficial)
- Letter of Recommendation. NOTE: We recommend contacting your letter-write early in the process so that they have time to complete this by the deadline.
Applications are due Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (end of day) MST.
Please contact us at hello@baucusinstitute.org with any questions you have about the program. We look forward to reviewing your application.
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The Max Baucus Institute is planning to bring up to 20 students from Montana-based universities and colleges to China for a four-week academic exchange. The program includes many seminars and visits to high-tech, cultural, and rural sites, providing opportunities for students to learn about Chinese culture, green technology, environment, rural development, and language—while developing intercultural communication skills in an immersive setting. The Baucus Institute is offering scholarships that will cover flights, visas, and in-country program expenses for participating students.
Please complete this short application (contact details and 300-word essay) and submit it no later than midnight on Thursday, January 23, 2025. See program details below.
Program Dates: TBD, two weeks, end of May and early June.
Destinations: Beijing and two other cities. Campus visits will likely include Tsinghua University and Peking University in Beijing, and at least one other.
Expenses: Nearly all expenses are covered, including lodging, in-country travel, international health insurance, group meals, and international flights between China and the Seattle airport. Students should plan to pay for their own flight or drive to and from the Seattle airport, snacks, souvenirs, and other miscellaneous personal expenses.
Requirements: Be in good academic standing and enrolled at a Montana-based university or college in Spring 2026. Also, have a current passport that is valid through at least January 2027.
If you have questions, please contact the Baucus Institute at hello@baucusinstitute.org.