MASTER'S PROGRAMS ADMISSIONS

ASK WHAT
YOU CAN DO
Every generation faces an opportunity and a responsibility
to meet the great challenges of its era. Today’s most
compelling global issues—entrenched poverty to climate
change to security threats—are complex, interrelated, and
urgent. They require bold thinking and passionate leaders
with the courage and the tools to turn ideas into action.
At Harvard Kennedy School, our mission
is to improve public policy and leadership
so people can live in societies that are
more safe, free, just, and sustainably
prosperous. Through our rigorous
educational programs and cutting-edge
research initiatives, we seek to influence
and improve governance and the
development of effective public policy
at all levels. Harvard Kennedy School
brings together from across continents
and sectors a diverse group of individuals
who are committed to the public interest.
Scholars and practitioners, public officials
and social innovators, educators and
students, teach and learn from one
another in a vibrant atmosphere of intense
inquiry and open dialogue.
This unique learning environment
stimulates the development of principled
and effective public leaders and
innovative solutions that can influence
societies and improve lives. At Harvard
Kennedy School, we take great pride in
the international connections we make,
the professional networks we facilitate,
and the inspiration we evoke. If you are
prepared to engage and be engaged—if
you care deeply about the world and are
committed to helping lead the way toward
a better future—Harvard Kennedy School
presents an opportunity like no other.

Harvard Kennedy School offers four master's degree programs,

attracting a diverse group of candidates. This snapshot shows
our degree programs based on a five-year average.

Master in Public
Mid-Career
Administration Master in Public
Master in Public Master in Public
International Administration
Policy (MPP) Administration
Development (MPA)
(MC/MPA)
(MPA/ID)

ENTERING CLASS SIZE 242 72 88 194

AVERAGE AGE 26 27 28 37

AVERAGE YEARS WORKED 3 5 5 13

FEMALE* 52% 47% 43% 44%

MALE* 48% 53% 57% 56%

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS** 28% 84% 50% 56%

U.S. STUDENTS OF COLOR*** 42% 59% 55% 38%

* We acknowledge that these two genders do not fully capture our community members’ diverse gender identities.
** Defined as those who do not hold U.S. citizenship.
Ask What You Can Do. HKS students come from approximately 100 countries and territories outside the United States.
*** Represents the percentage of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who identify as students of color.
1
 MPP
The two-year Master in Public Policy (MPP) is a rigorous program that prepares students SPRING EXERCISE

to understand complex policy problems and to craft concrete solutions. Through courses, Spring Exercise is a two-week simulation that
challenges students to intellectually integrate and
exercises, and fieldwork, students master a conceptual tool kit that draws on the social
practically apply the disciplines taught in the MPP
sciences but is adapted for action. MPP candidates arrive at Harvard Kennedy School core. The exercise gives students the opportunity
committed to improving the world, and they equip themselves to do so by developing to apply core tools and concepts to a complex policy
broad-spectrum analytic competency. This defining feature of the MPP translates into problem in a setting and at a pace similar to those of
a professional environment. It serves as a capstone
intellectual honesty, a hunger for evidence, and the capacity to extract answerable questions
to the first-year core and a bridge to the second year
from the messy clutter of real-world public problems. Students develop familiarity with PAE and subsequent professional work.
a wide range of analytic methods and the habit of picking the right tool to fit the task.
Past Spring Exercise topics have included:
—
• Anti-microbial resistance
Curriculum Policy Areas • Autonomous vehicles
MPP candidates enroll in a first-year core curriculum As a complement to the MPP core curriculum,
• Iceland’s energy future MPP Class of 2021
designed to develop professional competencies in students are required to specialize in a policy area of Employment Overview
economics, quantitative analysis, negotiation, and concentration (PAC). MPP candidates develop expertise • Preparing for the next pandemic
policy design and delivery. The MPP core also aims in their areas through required and elective courses MPP graduates apply their core training, policy
—
to instill in students a deep understanding of race and a policy-oriented seminar, which culminates in the interests, and functional skills to roles and
and racism and their intersecting forms of power generation of the PAE. organizations across employment sectors.
and oppression, as well as a facility with navigating The majority of MPPs find positions in the public and
POLICY ANALYSIS EXERCISE (PAE)
professional environments that are ethically and Students choose from the following policy areas: nonprofit sectors following graduation. However,
The PAE is an analytic and consultative professional
politically complex. The first year culminates in each graduating class demonstrates a wide diversity
• Business and Government Policy product, typically about 40 pages, in which students
a two-week integrative Spring Exercise, and most of employment preferences.
examine an existing public or nonprofit policy or
students spend the summer in a policy-oriented • Democracy, Politics, and Institutions
management issue presented by a client. As an applied
internship. The Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE)— • International and Global Affairs thesis, the PAE allows students to integrate and
a client-driven practicum—caps a second-year apply the technical skills and specialized knowledge
• Political and Economic Development
curriculum balanced with elective courses. they have gained through their coursework. MPP
• Social and Urban Policy graduates often point to the PAE as a highlight of
—
their HKS education.

Past PAE projects have included: Employment

Sector Breakdown
• Strategies for implementing policies and
“At HKS, my professors taught —
practices to maximize diversity at a mission-
me valuable quantitative skills, driven start-up
30% Public
21% National/Federal Government
strategies on working multilaterally • A community-based approach to early childhood 6% State/Provincial Government
with different stakeholders in development in Brazil 3% City/Local/Regional Government
different sectors, the power of • An analysis of threats to security and democracy 1% International Governmental Organization
storytelling, and how to build an in South Africa for the U.S. Department of State 44% Private

effective organization.” 24% Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organization

• Recommendations for shaping a clean energy
1% Unspecified
SEBASTIAN AGIGNOAE MPP 2022 future for a major U.S. city
United States
Founder, International Orchestra for Refugees

LEFT An MPP student presents her PAE work at the annual PAE showcase event.
TOP Raymond Vernon Senior Lecturer in Public Policy John Donahue's teaching focuses
2 hks.harvard.edu/mpp on public sector reform and distribution of public responsibilities across government. 3
 MPA/ID
The two-year Master in Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID)
is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in international development.
It is an economics-centered, multidisciplinary program that combines rigorous
training in analytic and quantitative methods with an emphasis on policy and practice.
Applicants must demonstrate competence in economics and quantitative analysis
as well as leadership potential in international development. Most admitted
candidates have at least three years of development-related work experience,
typically in low- and middle-income countries.
— new organizations, areas of interest, or regions of
Curriculum Core courses include:
As part of a multidisciplinary core curriculum, • Economic Development: Theory and Evidence
MPA/ID students take microeconomics,
• Advanced Macroeconomics
macroeconomics, and econometrics sequences.
These courses are taught at the level of advanced • Advanced Microeconomics
graduate economics programs, but with an emphasis • Advanced Statistics and Econometrics
on policy applications to development rather than
pure economic theory. • Applications and Cases in International
Development
— during the program, integrate their coursework, and
• The Politics of Development
• Political Philosophy for Development
• Getting Things Done: Management in
a Development Context
• Second Year Policy Analysis (SYPA) Seminar
“My hope for the future is to use the
skills I’ve developed throughout
this program to help mitigate the
intractable development issues we’re
facing, and ensure that technology
can positively impact the world
without leaving anyone behind.”
NICO MAFFEY MPA/ID 2022
Argentina
Founder, FINICS
4 hks.harvard.edu/mpa-id
SUMMER INTERNSHIP
MPA/ID students spend the summer between their
first and second years working on development
projects, usually in developing countries. These
internships are hands-on opportunities for students
to put the skills they have learned in their first year to
the test, and to gain additional real-world experience
and guidance as they think about the careers they will
pursue after HKS. Students with substantial previous
work experience use their internships to explore
the world. Some students choose to build on their
internship experience when they write their Second
Year Policy Analysis.
—
SECOND YEAR POLICY ANALYSIS (SYPA)
The Second Year Policy Analysis is an integral part of
MPA/ID Class of 2021
the MPA/ID Program. Designed to serve as a capstone
experience, the second year paper offers students
Employment Overview
an opportunity to deploy the skills they acquired Through the MPA/ID Program, students gain knowledge
and training in the field of international development.
design and present policy recommendations for a Though the sector, geography, and focus will vary,
concrete development problem. In the SYPA, students MPA/IDs typically build professional careers in
pose a policy question and draw on their economics, development-policy related fields.
management, and institutional analysis training to
develop appropriate recommendations.
Past SYPA projects have included:
• Leveraging the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment
Mechanism to incentivize decarbonization
investments in developing countries
• Improving working conditions for domestic Employment Sector
workers in Chile Breakdown
• Promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) —
spillover in Mozambique 22% Public
22% National/Federal Government
• Reducing gang influence on political elections
in El Salvador
0% State/Provincial Government
0% City/Local/Regional Government
13% International Governmental Organization
40% Private
22% Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organization
3% Unspecified
LEFT MPA/ID students are trained to be the next generation of leaders in international development.
TOP MPA/ID Faculty Chair Dani Rodrik has published widely in the areas of economic development,
international economics, and political economy. 5
 MPA
The two-year Master in Public Administration (MPA) prepares established professionals
and concurrent degree students for positions of significant responsibility in the public,
nonprofit, and private sectors. The program is designed for students with a record of
high academic distinction and exceptional professional accomplishment and promise.
Applicants are required to have substantial graduate-level training and at least three
years of work experience. MPA students have significant latitude in selecting courses
and designing their field of study. They may choose courses from a range of disciplines
and study under virtually any HKS faculty member. The program fosters a strong sense
of community through student-organized seminars, informal weekly gatherings with
classmates, small-group dinners, and other social events. Students also work closely
with faculty members on developing leadership skills and networks to prepare for their
post-HKS careers.
—
MPA Students Pursuing MPA Class of 2021
Concurrent Degrees Employment Overview
Curriculum A significant number of MPA students pursue MPA students often come to HKS with existing
concurrent degrees with one of our partner advanced degrees and solid professional experience
The MPA curriculum offers extraordinary flexibility. “My HKS classmates were the people institutions (see page 10) by completing a reduced or as students in a concurrent MBA or JD program.
Students are invited, in consultation with their
who I call ‘servant leaders,’ people who credit study plan over three semesters. They benefit from a flexible curriculum that they
advisors and mentors, to design an individual study
plan over four semesters. However, they are required
prioritize and act on behalf of others.” —
can tailor to their unique interests.

to take two elective courses in an HKS policy area— JAMIE MITTELMAN MPA 2022 The number of private sector jobs secured at
Business and Government Policy; Democracy, Politics, United States graduation is, in large part, a reflection of our
and Institutions; International and Global Affairs; Founder & Host, Flame Bearers
many concurrent degree graduates.
Political and Economic Development; or Social and
Urban Policy. Students are also required to earn four
credits in each of the following areas:

• Economics and Quantitative Analysis

• Management and Leadership
• Public Ethics and Political Institutions
Employment Sector
Students select their remaining credits to support Breakdown
their unique intellectual and professional skills
—
and objectives.
8% Public
— 8% National/Federal Government
0% State/Provincial Government
0% City/Local/Regional Government
0% International Governmental Organization
90% Private
2% Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organization
0% Unspecified

LEFT Students collaborate in Wexner Commons.

6 hks.harvard.edu/mpa TOP MPA Programs Faculty Chair Kessely Hong teaches negotiation and decision making. 7
 MC/MPA
The Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) is the longest-running
program at Harvard Kennedy School. This intensive one-year program offers a flexible
curriculum to allow highly accomplished mid-career leaders and professionals to
hone their skills, redefine their career goals, or pursue specialized interests through
coursework at HKS. MC/MPA students represent a range of professions from the
public, nonprofit, and private sectors and come from more than 60 countries to study
innovative ways to tackle the world’s most complex public challenges. Graduates
have gone on to become heads of state, cabinet ministers, military officers, diplomats,
journalists, chief executives, and nongovernmental organization directors.
— following graduation include:
Curriculum
The MC/MPA Program begins with the required
Mid-Career MPA Summer Program, an intensive
five-week course designed to prepare students for
the year ahead and the core methodologies utilized
at HKS. The Summer Program includes coursework
in applied economics, quantitative analysis, policy
analysis and communications, and other offerings in
preparation for the academic year.
During the fall and spring semesters, students are
responsible for choosing courses that align with their
individual goals. In addition, they are required to
complete at least four credits in three fundamental
skill areas:
• Economics and Quantitative Analysis
• Management and Leadership
• Public Ethics and Political Institutions
Students select their remaining credits to support
their unique intellectual and professional talents
and objectives.
— Director of Innovation Labs, Dataminr
8 hks.harvard.edu/mc-mpa
MC/MPA Class of 2021
Employment Overview
MC/MPA graduates build on their proven
professional experience with a flexible curriculum
that they can tailor to their interests and goals.
Whether transitioning to new careers or deepening
knowledge and skills in their existing ones,
MC/MPAs gain a rich education from the
classroom and their mid-career colleagues.
Positions secured by MC/MPAs
• Commissioner for a state-level government
agency
• Communications and public affairs specialist
at a media outlet
• Counterterrorism expert at a government agency
MC/MPA Mason Program Fellows
• Executive leadership in human rights,
The Edward S. Mason Fellows are a cohort of
global poverty alleviation, or advocacy NGOs
approximately 85 students within the MC/MPA
Program who are from developing, newly • Policy officer at an intergovernmental
industrialized, and transitional economy countries. organization
In addition to fulfilling the MC/MPA Program
requirements, Mason Fellows attend required
co-curricular seminars throughout the year that
feature topics in international development and
global leadership.
—
Employment Sector
Breakdown
“I had an authentic desire to be —
in a classroom again, consuming 50% Public
information, and I wanted to meet 39% National/Federal Government
8% State/Provincial Government
exceptional people from around 3% City/Local/Regional Government
the world.” 6% International Governmental Organization
SIRENE ABOU-CHAKRA MC/MPA 2022
25% Private
United States 17% Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organization
2% Unspecified
LEFT MC/MPA students focus on honing their skills, redefining their career goals, and pursuing new interests.
TOP Professor Cornell Brooks is Hauser Professor of the Practice of Nonprofit Organizations and Professor of the Practice of Public
Leadership and Social Justice. He is also Director of The William Monroe Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice at the Center
for Public Leadership. 9
 Joint and Student Life at HKS
Concurrent Degrees Harvard Kennedy School offers a stimulating, challenging, and positive learning
environment where student-driven initiatives play a large role. Our students are
Students may pursue joint or concurrent deeply engaged in activities beyond the classroom, participating in more than
programs with other professional schools at 80 clubs that range from the Student Public Service Collaborative to the Soccer Club.
Harvard or with selected professional schools They lead conferences and caucuses, write and edit journals, and are committed
outside Harvard. Joint degree programs to serving in their communities.
feature integrated coursework developed by —
faculty members to provide a holistic learning
experience. Coursework for concurrent
degree programs is not as closely integrated— Centers & Initiatives Student Journals
students weave together the two halves of HKS is home to world-class research centers, • Africa Policy Journal
their learning experience independently. programs, and initiatives, including:
• Anti-Racism Policy Journal
—
• A
 sh Center for Democratic Governance and • Asian American Policy Review
Innovation
• The Citizen, a student-run newspaper
HARVARD CONCURRENT LAW DEGREES
JOINT DEGREES • Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
MPP, MPA/ID, MPA • Gender Policy Journal
MPP, MPA/ID
• Berkeley Law, • Bloomberg Center for Cities
• Harvard Business School
• H
 arvard Kennedy School Journal of African
University of California
• Harvard Law School
• Carr Center for Human Rights Policy American Public Policy
• Columbia Law School
• Duke University • Center for International Development • Human Rights Policy Journal
HARVARD School of Law
CONCURRENT DEGREES • Center for Public Leadership • Journal of Hispanic Policy
• Georgetown Law
MPP, MPA/ID, MPA
• New York University • Institute of Politics • Journal of Middle Eastern Politics and Policy
• Harvard Divinity School
School of Law
• Harvard Graduate • Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy • Kennedy School Review
• Northwestern Pritzker
School of Design
School of Law • M
 ossavar-Rahmani Center for Business • Latin America Policy Journal
• Harvard Medical School
• Stanford Law School and Government
(MPP only) • LGBTQ Policy Journal
• University of
• Harvard School • S
 horenstein Center on Media, Politics and
Michigan Law School • Progressive Policy Review
of Dental Medicine
• University of Public Policy
Pennsylvania • Singapore Policy Journal
DUAL DEGREE • Taubman Center for State and Local Government
Law School
MC/MPA
• Yale Law School • Women and Public Policy Program
• The Graduate
Institute, Geneva
Sampling of Student-Led Conferences
CONCURRENT
BUSINESS DEGREES • Black Policy Conference
CONCURRENT
MEDICAL DEGREES MPP, MPA/ID, MPA For a complete list, visit: • China Conference
MPP, MPA/ID, MPA • MIT Sloan School hks.harvard.edu/centers-initiatives.
of Management • European Conference
• University of California,
• Stanford Graduate
San Francisco • German American Conference
School of Medicine School of Business

• Other schools on a • Tuck School • India Conference

case-by-case basis of Business at Dartmouth
• Mexico Conference
• Wharton School at the
University of Pennsylvania • Social Enterprise Conference
• Women in Power Conference

10 hks.harvard.edu/student-life 11
 HKS and Your Career
Pursuing a degree at Harvard Kennedy School is about career development. While
engaged in a unique academic and personal experience, students begin early—in
partnership with faculty and program staff members, research center affiliates, fellow
students, alumni, and the Office of Career Advancement (OCA) team—the process
of clarifying their professional paths after HKS.
—
What can I expect when it comes to
professional development at HKS?
Everything at HKS supports our students' professional
development, from time spent at events to conversations
over lunch. Given the diversity of interests and experience
among HKS students, the process of taking your next
career step will be a unique journey. Your HKS network
of faculty members, research center and program staff,
alumni, and classmates will be a priceless resource.
The OCA team provides career development resources
in the form of individual coaching, access to potential
employers, job search skill development, and guidance on
building a strong network to support your career interests.
How are graduates faring after HKS?
Our graduates consistently do well after HKS.
By October of their graduation year, more than 90
percent are either employed, running for office,
continuing their education, or launching new ventures.
What is career coaching?
The OCA career coaching team is available for one-on-
one meetings. Coaches help students set career goals,
develop informed job and internship strategies, and
position themselves for success in the job search. Alumni
also consult with OCA coaches as their careers progress.
12 hks.harvard.edu/career
What resources are available for finding jobs
and internships?
The OCA team provides individual and small-group
support to help polish job search skills. The online job
bank and career management system JACK (Jobs and
Careers for the Kennedy School) is a powerful tool
for identifying unique opportunities and potential
employers. OCA screens and posts approximately 3,000
targeted jobs and internships annually. The HKS Alumni
Directory and LinkedIn Group (open to students, alumni,
faculty and staff members, and Executive Education
participants) represent our dynamic professional
network and avenues to internships, Policy Analysis
Exercise (PAE) clients, and employment.
How can HKS students connect with
potential employers?
OCA brings employers to campus for information
sessions, industry-focused career fairs, interviews,
and one-on-one or group chats throughout the year.
In addition, OCA facilitates valuable connections with
alumni who return to HKS to share their expertise.
Students also benefit from the many practitioners and
alumni who are eager to share career advice and speak at
research center seminars every day.
Are summer internship stipends available?
HKS, through a general summer internship fund and
the generous support of its research centers, provides
stipends for unpaid or minimally paid internships,
primarily in the public or nonprofit sector. There is an
application process for summer stipends.
13
 The Power of the Alumni Network HKS BY THE NUMBERS:
CLASS OF 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
Harvard Kennedy School students agree that the connections they make with their
classmates are one of the most valuable parts of their education. After graduation, our alumni
become part of an active global community of individuals who generate positive change in
the world—a robust network that alumni use to further their careers, gain professional advice, 398
GRADUATES
and continue to experience the power of a Harvard Kennedy School education. ARE WORKING IN
38 COUNTRIES
23,000+ HKS degree program alumni AND TERRITORIES,
27 U.S. STATES, AND
— WASHINGTON, DC.
Our alumni can be found in more than 200 countries and territories.

In the past Brazil Ghana Lithuania Palestine, Syrian Arab

78
COUNTRIES AND
several years, Bulgaria Greece Macedonia, State of Republic
TERRITORIES
Cambodia Haiti Republic of Panama Taiwan
students REPRESENTED
Cameroon Honduras North Paraguay Tajikistan IN THIS CLASS.
have come to Canada Hong Kong SAR, Madagascar Peru Tanzania
Harvard Chile China Malawi Philippines Thailand, United
Kennedy China Hungary Malaysia Poland Republic of
School from:
Afghanistan
Colombia
Congo,
Democratic
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Maldives
Mauritius
Mexico
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Timor-Leste
Trinidad and
Tobago
85%
OF EMPLOYERS HIRED OVERALL CLASS OF 2021
Albania
Republic of the Iran, Islamic Moldova, Russian Tunisia ONLY ONE GRADUATE, EMPLOYMENT SECTOR BREAKDOWN
Algeria A MEASURE OF
Costa Rica Republic of Republic of Federation Türkiye —
Argentina OUR GRADUATES'
Côte d’Ivoire Iraq Mongolia Rwanda Uganda 32% Public
Armenia DIVERSE CAREER
Croatia Ireland Montenegro Saudi Arabia Ukraine 25% National/Federal Government
Australia TRAJECTORIES.
Cyprus Israel Morocco Senegal United Arab 5% State/Provincial Government
Austria
Denmark Italy Myanmar Serbia Emirates 2% City/Local/Regional Government
Azerbaijan
Dominican Jamaica Nambia Seychelles United Kingdom 5% International Governmental Organization
Bahrain

98%
Republic Japan Nepal Sierra Leone United States 43% Private
Bangladesh
Ecuador Jordan Netherlands Singapore Uruguay 19% Nonprofit/Nongovernmental Organization
Barbados
Egypt Kazakhstan New Zealand Slovakia Uzbekistan 1% Unspecified
Belgium OF OUR GRADUATES
El Salvador Kenya Nicaragua Somalia Vanuatu WERE EMPLOYED,
Benin
Ethiopia Korea, Niger South Africa Venezuela RUNNING FOR ELECTED
Bhutan
Fiji Republic of Nigeria South Sudan Viet Nam OFFICE, LAUNCHING
Bolivia,
Finland Kosovo North Macedonia, Spain Yemen NEW VENTURES, OR
Plurinational
France Kuwait Republic of Sri Lanka Zambia CONTINUING THEIR
State of
Gambia Kyrgyzstan Norway Sudan Zimbabwe EDUCATION BY
Bosnia and OCTOBER 2021.
Georgia Lebanon Oman Sweden
Herzegovina
Germany Liberia Pakistan Switzerland

SOURCES FOR COUNTRY LIST: UNTERM, United Nations Multilingual Terminology Database
14 and Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School hks.harvard.edu/alumni 15
 Admissions
You have read about our master’s degree programs, been introduced to our student
community, and learned about our global alumni network. If you are ready to take the next
step—ready to join a community of committed public servants, ready for your passions and
aspirations to meet the urgent needs of the world, ready to ask what you can do in service
of others—there is just one thing left to do.
—
Application Timeline
Our application for admission typically opens in
September with a submission deadline in December.
Admission decisions are released in March.
There is one application deadline and one start date for
each degree program per year. You may apply to only one
master’s degree program per application cycle.
Required Application Materials
Application requirements vary by degree program,
but a complete application to one of our master’s degree
programs includes the following:
• Online application
• Application fee
• Academic transcripts
• Essays (varies by program)
• Additional analytical and quantitative résumé or
statement (varies by program)
• Three strong letters of recommendation
(varies by program)
• Standardized test scores (varies by program)
Interviews are not a required part of the application
process. You should submit only the required documents;
additional writing samples, links to outside sources,
and newspaper articles will not be considered.
Visit our website at hks.harvard.edu/apply for full
application details and degree program prerequisites.
16
What We Look For Previous Applicants
HKS is a school of leadership and public service. If you have applied to one of our master’s programs
Successful candidates typically demonstrate leadership in the past, you are welcome to reapply. You may
experience and commitment to the public good. These apply to the same HKS degree program up to three
characteristics are often displayed through professional times. To do so, you will need to submit a new online
experience and volunteer work during and after college. application, application fee, and essays; however,
you may reuse valid test scores, transcripts, and
HKS students come from a variety of academic and letters of recommendation.
professional backgrounds. We do not look for particular
academic majors or types of work experience. Rather,
we evaluate each applicant’s potential to serve the Receive Updates from HKS
public interest. If your academic and/or professional
If you would like to receive updates from the Office
background varies from what you intend to study at HKS,
of Admissions & Financial Aid about upcoming
you should ensure that your application addresses how
admissions events, important application
an HKS education will allow you to make a transition.
information, and HKS news, join our mailing list at
Our curriculum is demanding. We look for applicants admissions.hks.harvard.edu/register/prospect.
with the skills to manage rigorous coursework. Course
requirements vary by program; however, quantitative
coursework is part of the curriculum for all programs.
Previous coursework in micro- and macroeconomics
and multivariable calculus is required for the
MPA/ID Program. Graduate-level courses similar to
those in the MPP Program core curriculum, including
two courses that are quantitative in nature, are required
for the MPA Program. Coursework related to quantitative
methods (e.g., economics, statistics, and mathematics)
is recommended for the other degree programs.
Successful candidates also demonstrate strong writing
and communication skills. Work experience is preferred,
and some programs have specific work experience
requirements.
Apply.
17
 Tuition and Financial Aid Student Loans
Loan Repayment Assistance and
Financial assistance at Harvard Kennedy School is a partnership. As a partner, Forgiveness Programs
The HKS Loan Repayment Assistance
we assist as many students as we can with our limited scholarship and fellowship
Program (LRAP) assists graduates working
resources. The students’ role in the partnership is to reduce consumer debt, maintain with modest salaries in the nonprofit and
realistic expectations for standard of living, investigate all possible sources of outside public sectors by providing assistance with
funding, and save as much as possible. Nevertheless, attending HKS may require educational loan repayment. Applicants
significant borrowing. Advance planning is a crucial part of making enrollment possible. must be employed in qualified public service
positions and have a household income within
—
the LRAP income scale. Funding is limited
and eligibility is restricted to no more than five

31%
years of participation. Federal Loans
Fellowships and Scholarships U.S. citizens and permanent residents who
We offer competitive fellowships and Through the Federal Public Service Loan have completed a Free Application for Federal
scholarships based on merit and need. Forgiveness Program (PSLF), created by the Student Aid (FAFSA) are eligible for federal
OF ADMITTED APPLICANTS ARE AWARDED
Completing the financial aid application allows U.S. Congress in 2007, federal loan borrowers loans (i.e., Direct Unsubsidized Loans and
ASSISTANCE (THREE-YEAR AVERAGE)
applicants to be considered for scholarships and going into public service may qualify to have Graduate PLUS Loans).
fellowships. Applicants must apply for financial 100 percent of their remaining federal loans

$52,669
forgiven after 10 years. To qualify, borrowers Supplemental Loans
assistance before learning whether they have
must be employed by a U.S. federal, state, Supplemental loans are also available to bridge
been admitted. All applicants are strongly
local, or tribal government—or by a 501c(3) the gap between a student’s cost of attendance
encouraged to apply for financial assistance,
nonprofit—and be repaying their loans and other aid received. Terms of these loans
as opportunities to apply for funding (other than
AVERAGE AWARD DISBURSED ANNUALLY on an income-based repayment plan. For vary. Although international students are not
loans) after admission are extremely limited.
TO ADMITTED APPLICANTS RECEIVING information on the PSLF, visit studentaid. eligible for federal student loans, they may
HARVARD AID (THREE-YEAR AVERAGE) apply for private educational loans, typically
gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/
public-service. with a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen.

2022–2023 TUITION AND EXPENSES*

MPP MPA/ID MPA MC/MPA

Academic Year Tuition $55,982 Academic Year Tuition $55,982 Academic Year Tuition $55,982 Academic Year Tuition $55,982
Course Materials $575 MPA/ID Program Seminar $2,000 Course Materials $575 Mid-Career MPA Summer Program $8,563
HKS Activity Fee $220 Course Materials $575 HKS Activity Fee $220 Mason Fellows Program Seminar $3,832
HUHS Student Health Fee $1,304 HKS Activity Fee $220 HUHS Student Health Fee $1,304 Course Materials $575
Student Health Insurance Plan** $4,080 HUHS Student Health Fee $1,304 Student Health Insurance Plan** $4,080 HKS Activity Fee $220
TOTAL TUITION AND FEES $62,161 Student Health Insurance Plan** $4,080 TOTAL TUITION AND FEES $62,161 HUHS Student Health Fee $1,304
TOTAL TUITION AND FEES $64,161 Student Health Insurance Plan** $4,080
Estimated Living Expenses (9 months) $21,258 Estimated Living Expenses (9 months) $21,258 TOTAL TUITION AND FEES $70,724
Personal Expenses and Travel $4,806 Estimated Living Expenses (9 months) $21,258 Personal Expenses and Travel $4,806 MASON FELLOWS TUITION AND FEES $74,556
Books and Supplies $1,548 Personal Expenses and Travel $4,806 Books and Supplies $1,548
TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS $27,612 Books and Supplies $1,548 TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS $27,612 Estimated Living Expenses (10 months) $23,620
TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS $27,612 Personal Expenses and Travel $5,340
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE $89,773 TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE $89,773 Books and Supplies $1,820
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE $91,773 TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS $30,780

TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE $101,504

* Tuition is expected to increase 3-4% each year and can change without notice. MASON FELLOWS COST OF ATTENDANCE $105,336
** May be waived if student is enrolled in a comparable health insurance plan.

18 19
 Contact Us
Master’s Programs Admissions
Questions about admissions, application requirements,
and financial aid should be directed to the Office of Admissions
& Financial Aid using the contact information below.
Direct questions about the curriculum and academic program
requirements to the degree program offices.
Admissions & Financial Aid
617-495-1155 | AdmissionsandAid@hks.harvard.edu
Master’s Degree Programs
MPP PROGRAM | mpp_program@hks.harvard.edu
MPA/ID PROGRAM | mpaid_program@hks.harvard.edu
MPA PROGRAM | mpa_program@hks.harvard.edu
MC/MPA PROGRAM | mpa_program@hks.harvard.edu
MC/MPA MASON PROGRAM | mason_program@hks.harvard.edu
Joint and Concurrent Programs
jointconcurrentdegrees@hks.harvard.edu
Executive Education
HKS can transform your capabilities in just a few
extraordinary days. Experienced professionals, a world-class
faculty, and a dynamic curriculum are brought together in
a setting where the common denominator is a commitment
to public service. With more than 35 programs—addressing
critical subjects from economic development and decision
making to infrastructure and national security—HKS
offers the most comprehensive range of executive education
programs in public leadership available anywhere in the world.
617-496-9000 | exed@hks.harvard.edu
hks.harvard.edu/executive-education
Public Leadership Credential
Delivered fully online, the Public Leadership Credential
program equips learners around the world with the skills
and knowledge to tackle some of today's biggest challenges,
advance the public good, and make an immediate impact
in their communities. The PLC also provides a potential
pathway to the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration
(MC/MPA). Those interested in the PLC Pathway to the
MC/MPA must earn the credential prior to submitting
an admission application and must apply to the MC/MPA
Program during the admission cycle that immediately follows
the capstone experience.
hks.harvard.edu/educational-programs/public-leadership-
credential
20
Doctoral Programs
PhD Admissions
Our PhD programs are administered jointly with
Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
(GSAS). It is important to note that GSAS, not HKS,
administers the admission application and deadline.
Questions regarding the PhD Program may be directed
to the Doctoral Degree Programs office.
DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
Academic questions: phd@hks.harvard.edu
Admissions questions: admiss@fas.harvard.edu
hks.harvard.edu/phd
PhD in Public Policy
The PhD in Public Policy prepares qualified candidates
to shape the direction of public policy research and
to train the next generation of leaders, teachers, and
researchers for programs in public policy and the social
sciences. It qualifies individuals to perform high-level
policy analysis and to lead in the public sector.
PhD in Health Policy
The PhD in Health Policy is designed for students
seeking teaching careers in institutions of higher
learning and/or research careers in health policy. It is a
collaborative program offered by HKS, Faculty of Arts
and Sciences (FAS), Harvard School of Public Health,
Harvard Medical School, and Harvard Business School.
PhD in Social Policy
The PhD programs in Social Policy award a PhD in
either Government and Social Policy or in Sociology
and Social Policy. This is a joint PhD program for
students who wish to combine the disciplinary depth
of a doctoral degree in political science or sociology
with a multidisciplinary study of social policy issues.
Public Policy Leadership
Conference (PPLC)
PPLC is held at Harvard Kennedy School each fall to
© 202 2 TH E PR E SI D ENT AN D FELLOWS O F HARVAR D CO LLEG E
inspire talented, driven, and diverse undergraduate
PH OTOS BY MARTHA S TE WART, J E S SI C A SCR ANTO N ,
student leaders—particularly those from historically
R AYCH EL C A S E Y, B EN N CR AIG , TO M FIT Z SI M M O N S ,
underrepresented and underserved communities—
RI CHARD H OWARD, NATALI E M O NTAN ER
to pursue careers in public service. Students are
introduced to a graduate school environment focusing
on public policy and international affairs, and learn
about fellowship opportunities that may help fund their hks.harvard.edu
graduate studies.
hks.harvard.edu/pplc Ask What You Can Do. This booklet was updated in September 2022.
Information, policies, dates, and fees are subject to change.
79 JOHN F. KENNEDY STREET | CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02138 | 617-495-1155 | ADMISSIONSANDAID@HKS.HARVARD.EDU