HKS Admissions Brochure
HKS Admissions Brochure
HKS Admissions Brochure
edu
Masters Programs
Admissions
Why
HARVARD
KENNEDY
SCHOOL
Every generation faces an opportunity and a responsibility to meet the great challenges of its era. Todays most
compelling global issuesfrom nuclear proliferation to
climate change to entrenched povertyare complex,
interrelated, and urgent. They require bold thinking and
passionate leaders with the courage and the spirit to
turn ideas into action.
At Harvard Kennedy School, our
mission is to educate exceptional
public leaders and generate ideas that
help solve public problems. Through
our rigorous educational programs
and cutting-edge research initiatives,
we seek to influence and improve
governance and the development
of smart public policy at all levels.
Harvard Kennedy School brings together from across continents and
sectors a unique and diverse group
of individuals who are committed
to the public interest. Scholars and
practitioners, public officials and
social entrepreneurs, educators and
students, teach and learn from one
another in a vibrant atmosphere
of intense inquiry and open dialogue.
ASK WHAT
YOU CAN DO
www.hks.harvard.edu/degrees/admissions/overview
STUDENT
Data
***
Degree Programs
73
71
199
Average Age 26
28
30
39
13
Gender
47% female
53% male
46% female
54% male
35% female
65% male
35% female
65% male
International
25% 70% 54% 52%
Students*
U.S. Students
40% 42% 39% 30%
of Color**
Joint/Concurrent
yes yes yes no
Program Option
* Defined as non-resident aliens
** Represents the percentage of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are students of color
*** Includes students in the mc/mpa Mason Program, also referred to as the Mason Program
HARVARD
CONCURRENT DEGREES
mpp, mpa/id, mpa
t Harvard School
of Dental Medicine
t Harvard Graduate
School of Design
t Harvard Divinity School
t Harvard Medical School
CONCURRENT
BUSINESS DEGREES
CONCURRENT
LAW DEGREES
CONCURRENT
MEDICAL DEGREES
mpp, mpa/id
t University of California,
San Francisco
School of Medicine
tO
ther schools on a
case-by-case basis
www.hks.harvard.edu/joint
1
MPP
The two-year Master in Public Policy (mpp) is a rigorous program
that prepares students to understand complex policy problems and
to craft concrete solutions. Through courses, exercises, and fieldwork,
students master a conceptual tool kit that draws on the social
sciences but is adapted for action. mpp candidates arrive at Harvard
Kennedy School committed to improving the world, and they equip
themselves to do so by developing broad-spectrum analytic
competency. This defining feature of the mpp translates into intellectual honesty, a hunger for evidence, and the capacity to extract
answerable questions from the messy clutter of real-world public
problems. Students develop familiarity with a wide range of analytic
methods and the habit of picking the right tool to fit the task.
www.hks.harvard.edu/mpp
Professionally and personally, the
mpp experience was transformative.
After ten years in the private sector,
I felt the two-year mpp would allow
time to explore my interests in public
service and reset my professional
priorities. It led to the Boston mayors
office and the most rewarding job Id
ever had the privilege to undertake.
Personally, I was inspired to find such
a civic-minded, passionate, and
diverse group of classmates. I continue to marvel that I get to count
myself among them.
Katharine Lusk mpp 2012
United States
Executive Director,
Initiative on Cities at Boston University
MPA/ID
Curriculum
MPA
POLICY AREAS
MC/MPA
Spring Exercise
The Spring Exercise is a
two-week simulation that
challenges students to intellectually integrate and practically apply the disciplines
taught in the mpp core.
The exercise gives students
the opportunity to apply
core tools and concepts to
a complex policy problem in
a setting and at a pace similar
to those of a professional
environment. It serves as a
capstone to the first-year core
and a bridge to the secondyear pae and subsequent
professional work.
MASTERS DEGREES
MPP
Unspecified 1%
National/Federal
Government 22%
State/Provincial
Government 6%
Regional/Local
Government 7%
Nonprofit/ngo Sector
26%
Intergovernmental
Organizations 5%
MPP GRADUATES
mpp graduates apply their core
training, policy interests, and functional skills to roles and organizations across employment sectors.
The majority of MPPs find positions
in the public and nonprofit sectors
following graduation. However,
each graduating class demonstrates
a wide diversity of employment
preferences.
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 economicscentered 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 developing or transitional economy countries.
www.hks.harvard.edu/mpa-id
The two years at the mpa/id proved
to be the most valuable and stimulating of my life. The program placed
me in the middle of a unique and
brilliant group of colleagues and
professors, opening my mind to new
challenges, solutions, and opportunities in the realm of what became my
passion: inclusive economic growth.
Rafael Puyana mpa/id 2013
Colombia
Assistant Director for Science, Technology,
and Innovation at the National Planning
Department of Colombia
MPA/ID
Curriculum
MPA
MC/MPA
Advanced Macroeconomics
Advanced Statistics and Econometrics
Economic Development:
Theory, Evidence, and Policy Design
Management in a Development Context
Institutions in Development
Good Governance
Applications and Cases in
International Development
MASTERS DEGREES
MPP
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
Intergovernmental
Organizations 21%
Nonprofit/ngo Sector
17%
MPA/ID GRADUATES
Through the mpa/id program,
students share a curriculum
and training in the field of
international development.
Although the sector, geography,
and focus will vary, there is more
predictability in the types of
positions MPA/IDs secure
compared to other hks programs.
Positions secured by MPA/IDs
following graduation include:
MPA
The two-year Master in Public Administration (mpa) prepares established professionals and concurrent degree students for positions of
significant responsibility in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
The program is designed for students with a record of high academic
distinction and exceptional professional accomplishment and promise.
Applicants are expected to have prior graduate-level training in a
relevant field and at least three years of substantial 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 studentorganized seminars, informal weekly gatherings with classmates,
small-group dinners, and other social events. Students also work
closely with the faculty on developing leadership skills and networks
to prepare for their post-hks careers.
www.hks.harvard.edu/mpa
After spending five years practicing
law in England and Australia, I came
to hks looking to transition careers.
It was the combination of classroom
learning and interactions with classmates/colleagues from a wide variety
of backgrounds that led me to a new
career consulting for private and public
sector clients across the continent.
Farayi Chipungu mpa 2013
Zimbabwe
Associate, McKinsey & Company
in Lagos, Nigeria
MPA/ID
MPA
MC/MPA
Curriculum
The mpa curriculum offers extraordinary flexibility. Students
are invited, in consultation with their advisors and mentors, to design an individual 16-credit study plan over four
semesters. However, they are required to take two elective
courses in one of the hks policy areasBusiness and
Government Policy; Democracy, Politics, and Institutions;
International and Global Affairs; International Trade and
Finance; Political and Economic Development; or Social
and Urban Policy. Students are also required to earn one
credit in each of the following areas:
MASTERS DEGREES
MPP
E
conomics and Quantitative Analysis
M
anagement and Leadership
P
olitical Thought and Institutions
The remaining nine (or more) credits may
be selected from the breadth of the hks
curriculum.
Unspecified 6%
Private Sector 63%
National/Federal
Government 9%
State/Provincial
Government 1%
Regional/Local
Government 6%
Intergovernmental
Organizations 1%
Nonprofit/ngo Sector
14%
MPA GRADUATES
mpa students often come to hks
with existing advanced degrees and
solid professional experience or as
students in a concurrent mba or jd
program. They benefit from a flexible curriculum that they can tailor
to their unique interests.
The number of private sector jobs
secured at graduation is, in large
part, a reflection of our many concurrent degree graduates. Anecdotal
evidence suggests that these graduates will move between sectors
throughout their careers.
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 and at other graduate schools at Harvard and in
the Boston area. mc/mpa students represent a range of professions
from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and come from more
than 60 countries to study innovative ways to tackle the worlds most
complex public challenges. Graduates have gone on to become heads
of state, cabinet ministers, military officers, diplomats, journalists,
chief executives, and non-governmental organization directors.
www.hks.harvard.edu/mc-mpa
As a Navy seal Officer with 13 years
of service, I relished the opportunity to
envelop myself in the Harvard Kennedy
School experience, to learn from an
extremely diverse and accomplished
group of classmates, and to spend
time thinking and developing new
strategies to lead our country on a
path towards global security.
Richard Witt mc/mpa 2013
United States
Lieutenant Commander,
Current Operations Planner,
Special Operations Command Central
(soccent) in Tampa, Florida
MPA
MPA/ID
MC/MPA
Curriculum
The mc/mpa program begins with the required Mid-Career
Summer Program, an intensive five-week course for students to study applied economics, quantitative analysis,
political institutions, and globalization in preparation for the
academic year. During the fall and spring semesters, students are responsible for choosing courses that align with
their individual goals. Their only requirement is to complete
at least one credit in three fundamental skill areas:
MASTERS DEGREES
MPP
The Edward S. Mason Fellows are a cohort of approximately 85 students within the mc/mpa program who
are from developing, newly industrialized, and
transitional economy countries.
Fellows are required to attend a two-week Mason
Fellows Summer Seminar ahead of the Mid-Career
Summer Program. During the seminar, they draw from
international development cases created by hks faculty
members along with those from their own professional
experience to explore questions of leadership, strategic
management, communication, and policy decision
making. 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.
Unspecified 2%
Private Sector 25%
MC/MPA GRADUATES
National/Federal
Government 37%
State/Provincial
Government 1%
Nonprofit/ngo Sector
25%
Regional/Local
Government 3%
Intergovernmental
Organizations 8%
FINANCIAL
Assistance
Paying for
Graduate School
A Partnership
Types of Financial Assistance
Fellowships
and Scholarships
Student Loans
Federal Loans
Supplemental Loans
Supplemental loans are also available
to bridge the gap between a students
cost of attendance and other aid
received. Terms of these loans vary.
Although international students are
not eligible for federal student loans,
they may apply for private educational
loans, typically with a co-signer who
is a U.S. citizen.
www.hks.harvard.edu/degrees/sfs
10
Loan Repayment
Assistance and
Forgiveness Programs
The hks Loan Repayment Assistance
Program (lrap) assists graduates working with modest salaries in the nonprofit
and public sectors by providing assistance with educational loan repayment.
Applicants 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 years of participation.
Through the Federal Public Service
Loan Forgiveness Program (fpslf), federal loan borrowers going into public
service may qualify to have 100 percent of their remaining federal loans
forgiven after 10 years. To qualify, they
must be employed by a federal, state,
local, or tribal government or by a
501c(3) nonprofitand be repaying
their loans on an income-based repayment plan. For further information
on the fpslf, please visit studentaid.
ed.gov/repay-loans/forgivenesscancellation/charts/public-service.
Tuition + Fees
Academic Year Tuition
Other Expenses
$44,323
$992
$405
$2,153
$2,366
$1,500
$2,000
$4,700
$5,300
$175
$ 7,798
$3,500
FINANCIAL Assistance
20142015
50
40
44%
mpp
43%
mpa/id
30
46%
mpa
29%
20
mc/mpa
10
(including
0
Mason)
Domestic
58%
mpa/id
35%
mpp
35%
mpa
26%
mc/mpa
32%
Mason
International
Domestic
International
mpp $34,587
mpp $40,244
mpa/id $35,774
mpa/id $ 43,582
mpa $29,777
mpa $35,016
mc/mpa $72,393
Mason
Mason $58,808
45%
43%
MPA/ID
45%
46%
MPA
15%
personal
savings
Harvard
aid
employer
support
24%
8%
sponsor
hks certified
organization
loans
8%
external
loans
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
Debt
Debt at graduation by degree type (three-year average)
Domestic Borrowers
mpp $59,278
mpa/id $48,879
mpa $60,940
mc/mpa $48,401 (including Mason)
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
11
FREQUENTLY
Asked QUESTIONS
How do I apply?
How do I apply?
We accept all necessary documents
through our website at www.hks.
harvard.edu/apply.
Is an interview required
to be considered for
admission?
Interviews are not a required part
of the admission process. The
admissions committee may contact
applicants on a case-by-case basis.
Must I be fluent in
a foreign language
in order to apply?
We have no foreign language
requirement.
www.hks.harvard.edu/apply
12
Do you have an
online or distancelearning program?
hks does not offer such programs.
Is student housing
available?
Admissions Blog
Asked QUESTIONS
Which standardized
tests are required?
FREQUENTLY
Other Info
hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com
13
HARVARD
KENNEDY
SCHOOL and
Your CAREER
General Employment
Highlights from oca
62%
90%
of graduates
were settled by
October
14
539
A Five-Year
View
13
Approximately two-thirds
of our graduates choose
public or nonprofit
employment immediately
after hks.
20
11
12
20
10
20
20
20
09
public
ngo private
UNSPECIFIED
CLASS OF 2013
graduates were
finalists in the U.S.
Presidential Management Fellows
Program; three accepted
pmf positions. Two 2014
White House Fellowships
were awarded to 2013 and
2002 mpp graduates.
students
graduated
in 2013
85%
of employers
hired or rehired
a single graduate from the
class of 2013. This demonstrates
hkss diversified hiring base and
the unique career trajectories of
our graduates.
What is career
coaching?
Students will find informal
career coaches throughout
hks. In oca, the career
coaching team is available
for individual meetings.
Each coach has focus areas
that align with the specific
professional interests of
hks students. Students are
encouraged to meet with
a career coach early in
their program to design
a career development
strategy. Alumni also
consult with oca coaches
as their careers progress.
Do employers
come to campus?
HKS and
Your CAREER
Professional Development
at Harvard Kennedy School
Is funding available
for internships?
Harvard Kennedy School,
through both a general summer internship fund and the
generous support of its
research centers, provides
funding for unpaid or
minimally paid internships,
primarily in the public or
nonprofit sector. Funding
is competitive and requires
an application.
www.hks.harvard.edu/career
15
LIFE at
HARVARD
KENNEDY
SCHOOL
Student Government
Diversity Committee
Clubs and
Organizations
Student Journals
Africa Caucus
Arab Caucus
Student Conferences
Green Team
Black Policy
European
India
Jewish Caucus
International Development
Latino/Hispanic Caucus
Muslim Caucus
Regional, State, Local and Tribal
(rslt) Governance pic
LGBTQ
Social Enterprise
Soccer Club
Social and Urban Policy Professional
Interest Council (suppic)
Tech for Change
Women and Gender Caucus
www.hks.harvard.edu/degrees/life
16
Centers &
Programs
hks is home to world-class research
centers, programs, and initiatives,
including:
Ash Center for Democratic
Governance and Innovation
Belfer Center for Science and
International Affairs
Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
Center for International Development
Center for Public Leadership
Institute of Politics
lgbtq Caucus
Student Public
Service Collaborative
A GLOBAL
LOOK
Afghanistan
Cte dIvoire
Jamaica
Nicaragua
Albania
Croatia
Japan
Niger
Syrian Arab
Republic
Argentina
Denmark
Jordan
Nigeria
Taiwan
Armenia
Kazakhstan
Norway
Thailand
Australia
Dominican
Republic
Kenya
Pakistan
Austria
Ecuador
Azerbaijan
Egypt
Republic
of Korea
State of
Palestine
The former
Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia
Bahrain
Ethiopia
Kuwait
Peru
Bangladesh
Finland
Kyrgyzstan
Philippines
Trinidad and
Tobago
Barbados
France
Latvia
Portugal
Tunisia
Belgium
Gambia
Lebanon
Qatar
Turkey
Benin
Georgia
Liberia
Romania
Turkmenistan
Bhutan
Germany
Lithuania
Uganda
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Ghana
Madagascar
Russian
Federation
Malawi
Rwanda
United Arab
Emirates
Greece
Ukraine
Brazil
Guatemala
Malaysia
Saudi Arabia
Brunei
Darussalam
Guinea
Maldives
Senegal
Haiti
Mali
Serbia
Bulgaria
Mauritius
Sierra Leone
Cambodia
Hong Kong
sar, China
Mexico
Singapore
Cameroon
India
Somalia
Canada
Indonesia
Republic
of Moldova
South Africa
Venezuela
(Bolivarian
Republic of)
Chile
Morocco
Spain
Viet Nam
China
Iran (Islamic
Republic of)
Myanmar
Sri Lanka
Zambia
Colombia
Ireland
Nepal
Sweden
Israel
Zimbabwe
Costa Rica
Netherlands
Switzerland
Italy
New Zealand
United
Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Sources: UNTERM, United Nations Multilingual Terminology Database and Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School
THE POWER
of the ALUMNI
NETWORK
www.hks.harvard.edu/alumni
Our alumni can be found in more than
200 countries and territories.
18,121
36,442
HKS EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
ALUMNI
As of June 2013
MASTERS PROGRAMS
All questions regarding admission and application requirements should be directed to the
Office of Admissions. Questions
related to the curriculum and
academic program requirements
and options may be directed to
the degree program offices.
OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
617-495-1155
[email protected]
hksadmissionblog.tumblr.com
STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
617-495-1155
[email protected]
MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAMS
MPP
[email protected]
MPA/ID
[email protected]
MPA
[email protected]
MC/MPA
[email protected]
MC/MPA Mason Program
[email protected]
JOINT AND CONCURRENT PROGRAMS
[email protected]
DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
PhD ADMISSIONS
Four PhD programs are administered jointly with Harvards 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:
[email protected]
Admissions questions:
[email protected]
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.
The PhD in Political Economy and Government is intended for students interested in
academic or policymaking careers that require
an advanced knowledge of economics and
political science. It is designed for the small
number of students whose needs are not met
by studying economics, political science,
or public policy alone.
www.hks.harvard.edu/phd
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
Executive Education at hks can transform
your capabilities in just a few extraordinary
days. Experienced professionals, a worldclass faculty, and a dynamic curriculum
are brought together in a setting where
the common denominator is a commitment
to public service. With more than
30 programsaddressing economic
617-496-0484
[email protected]
photo credits:
Martha Stewart, Kent Dayton, Grace Chung
This brochure was printed in May 2014.
Information, policies, dates, and fees are subject to change.