Master of Public Administration

This two-year programme equips early-stage professionals with a comprehensive understanding of public administration and policy analysis through a powerful combination of core skills training with practical, real world experience.

In your first year, you’ll complete rigorous empirical training, with a focus on economics, political science and quantitative methods.

In Year 2, you’ll work on a real-world policy challenge through a six-month Capstone consultancy project with an external client – equipping you with practical experience for your future career.

In addition, optional courses allow you to tailor your studies to your strengths and interests and you can also choose a specialism (which can be added to your degree title). MPA students may also apply to study at one of three partner universities in their second year of study, as part of the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN) dual degree scheme.

The MPA attracts students from many different nationalities and wide-ranging academic and professional backgrounds. Our diverse community of students and academics contribute rich and varied perspectives to public policy topics and debates.

You’ll also benefit from LSE School of Public Policy’s (SPP) emphasis on practical training by placing policy in practice through our regular seminar events with policy practitioners, our Professional Skills Accelerator and our alumni mentorship scheme and networking events.

Graduates will be equipped with the analytical and professional skills to effectively understand and address the challenges of contemporary governance and make an immediate impact for employers in public, private and non-profit organisations around the world.

In the first year, you'll take three compulsory courses, in micro- and macro-economics, political science and quantitative methods of analysis. These provide a rigorous foundation to support you in your second year.

Micro and Macro Economics for Public Policy: you'll learn macro- and micro- economic concepts, models and methods suitable for appraising policy, applicable in a wide variety of contexts. This includes the study of demand and supply, the labour market, public goods, market failure, inflation and monetary policy, fiscal policy and debt, and exchange rates.

Political Science and Public Policy: you'll learn concepts and models for understanding the behaviour of political actors and why they lead to particular outcomes. This includes the study of voting, political parties, interest groups, legislative politics, corruption, democratisation and ethnic conflict. These tools are essential for designing policy interventions to achieve desired future outcomes.

Quantitative Approaches and Policy Analysis: you'll learn skills for the quantitative evaluation of public policies, such as causal relationships; randomised control trials; difference-in-difference estimation; instrumental variables; regression discontinuity designs and cost-benefit analysis.

Option courses (electives) - Year one

In addition to your required core courses, you'll take full unit or half-unit option courses (electives). The SPP offers a wide range of courses as options.

The MPA Capstone

The key features of the second year are the MPA Capstone and the option to choose a specialisation to be a part of your degree title.

The MPA Capstone is a compulsory one unit course. You'll carry out analysis and research, as part of a team, in order to address a practical policy issue relevant to a real-life client organisation. It allows you to extend your capabilities by applying what you have learned in the MPA core courses in a professional context.

Other core courses

You'll also take a half unit core course, Strategic Policymaking: Economic Analysis, Narrative Development, Political Feasibility, and Implementation which will consolidate your learning from Year One and enable you to continue to apply this throughout Year Two.

Option courses (electives)

You'll additionally select option courses (electives) from the School of Public Policy (or elsewhere in LSE, subject to permission and availability).

Alternatively, you may choose to write a policy paper (6,000 words) or a dissertation (10,000 words) as an option course. You will choose your own topic if you decide to write a Policy Paper or Dissertation, which you will develop in consultation with your allocated supervisor.

Specialisms

You can either choose to pursue a general MPA or you can request that one of the following specialisms is added to your degree title.

The current specialisms are:

• Economic Policy
• International Development
• Inequality and Poverty
• Social Impact
• International Political Economy

Each specialism has one or more courses attached to it (please refer to the programme regulations for details). To be eligible for a specialism to be added to your degree title, you must meet the requirements to be eligible for the overall degree and pass the courses attached to your chosen specialism. You can only choose one specialism but you can take courses from other specialisms as option courses (electives).

MPA Dual Degree

LSE's School of Public Policy is a member of the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN). During your first year at LSE, you can apply to spend the second year of your MPA at three other selected GPPN member institutions. Students in their first year at one of these partners can also apply to enter directly into the second year of the LSE MPA.

By combining study on the LSE MPA with study at another internationally-renowned university, you'll experience the challenges and processes of public policy-making and analysis from different academic and cultural perspectives thus equipping you with a high-demand professional skill-set and providing the international exposure frequently sought by top employers.

The SPP's dual degree international partner schools and their corresponding programmes are:

• The MPP at the Hertie School, Berlin's University of Governance
• The MPP at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY), National University of Singapore
• The MPP at the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) at the University of Tokyo*

* Note that the programme length for students studying at the University of Tokyo is 24 months with graduation no earlier than December of the second year.

The application process for the dual degree scheme takes place during Year 1 and further information will be provided during the first term.

Successful applicants will spend their second year of study at one of the above partner institutions and will receive two degrees: one from LSE, and one from the partner institution at which they studied.

Find out more about GPPN dual degree

SPP Double Degrees

LSE SPP also offers three double degree programmes with Toronto University, Sciences Po and Columbia SIPA. Applicants for the double degree programmes will need to apply via the standard school admissions process prior to commencing their studies and cannot apply as part of the MPA dual degree scheme.

Find out more about the double degree programmes and the application process

The School of Public Policy aims to equip the next generation of policy and political leaders with the skills needed to improve people’s lives and transform societies.

The School is at the heart of LSE – ranked the top university in London and number 6 in the world for social science and management subjects. Situated in the centre of a global city, LSE is the perfect place to study and contribute to public policy debates.

Our programmes enable students to develop rigorous and empirical skills underpinning evidence-based policymaking. Students learn how to apply these skills to real-world problems and contexts.

We have an inclusive, diverse community, open to enquiring minds. From small beginnings, the School of Public Policy now has a thriving community of more than 400 students taking a wide range of degrees.

Public policy and public service are the founding missions of LSE – which was created in 1895 “to understand the causes of things and for the betterment of society”. This perfectly captures the mission of the School of Public Policy more than 100 years later.

Connnect with us

Find out more about SPP activities, faculty news, upcoming events and student life by connecting with us on social media:

• Linkedin: LSE School of Public Policy
• Instagram: @lsepublicpolicy
• X/Twitter: @lsepublicpolicy

School of Public Policy

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Information events

• SPP information sessions

Throughout the year we'll be hosting online SPP programme information sessions for prospective students. These sessions provide an opportunity for prospective students to interact with our faculty and students to find out more about a specific SPP programme. Details of upcoming sessions can be found on our website and we also encourage you to register your interest to hear more about our upcoming sessions.

• LSE information events and videos

LSE also have a number of webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries which will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study more broadly at LSE

Experience LSE from home

LSE representatives also travel around the world to meet with prospective students at information fairs and events

Find details on LSE's upcoming visits

• Visit LSE

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.

Find out about opportunities to visit LSE.

Contact us

• Admissions: LSE Graduate Admissions Knowledge Base (An online resource for quick answers) - spp.admissions@lse.ac.uk
• Programme queries: mpa@lse.ac.uk
• Fees and Funding queries: Visit SE Financial Support Office webpages
• Visa queries: Visit LSE Student Advice and Engagement webpages

The MPA attracts a highly diverse range of students from all over the globe. Our 2022 cohort (years 1 and 2) represented over 35 nationalities.

There is no formal work experience requirement to study the MPA, however our students have a wide range of prior experience ranging from recent graduates to 15+ years of prior professional experience. Our MPA students have an average of three and a half years' working experience.

We welcome students from wide-ranging areas of expertise including economics, law, social sciences, political science, business and international relations.

Their combined experience encourages a mature and reflective approach to study that draws on professional skills and experience gained prior to the MPA.

This diversity is a major strength, providing many different national, economic and societal perspectives to problems and solutions of public policy.

View our MPA 2022 intake class profile

Our early application deadline is 20 January 2025. We encourage all applicants to apply by this date. All applicants who want to be considered for a SPP scholarship will need to submit an application for admission by this date in order to be eligible for consideration.

Whilst we will consider applications for admission after this date, our applications will close once spaces are full.

Year 1 (2025/26):

Home students: £32,400

Year 2 (2026/27):

Home students: £32,400 (provisional)

Year 1 (2025/26):

Overseas students: £32,400

Year 2 (2026/27):

Overseas students: £32,400 (provisional)

All taught courses include formative coursework which does not contribute towards the final grade. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. We use a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Our graduates go on to pursue careers in a wide range of sectors with popular destinations including; Government and Politics, Consultancy, Financial Services, NGOs & Charities, Data, Research & Think Tanks, International Development and Aid, Public Policy, and International Finance and Trade.

Find out more about our alumni and their career journeys after graduation.

Our Alumni

The SPP boasts of a strong global community of over 2,000 alumni. Our international network of alumni not only transforms the world around them by designing policy to tackle some of the world’s leading problems in the top levels of government, international organisations, and NGOs – but also makes our community a vibrant and supportive one long after graduation.

Alumni benefits

As part of LSE SPP’s alumni engagement programme our alumni stay connected via our regualr newsletters and in-person and virtual professional development and social events throughout the year.

Our alumni also connect regularly with our students throughout their studies and share their expertise through our student mentoring scheme and our career Q&A series.

As well as belonging to LSE School of Public Policy’s alumni network, SPP students will also belong to LSE’s prestigious alumni network of over 220,000 alumni across the world.

At the heart of the SPP is an emphasis on helping our students shape and enhance their future careers in policy-related fields. SPP students come to LSE from very diverse professional backgrounds, and it is our priority to support each of you as you move to the next stage of your career.

LSE Careers offers students a programme of support throughout their studies and after graduation.

In particular, students at LSE SPP have access to:

• one-to-one coaching in all aspects of career planning and professional development careers discussions with the School of Public Policy's Careers Consultant
• a weekly SPP Careers newsletter, compiled by a student employee, with relevant short-term and long-term opportunities
• Q&A events with alumni working in particular sectors of interest
• SPP-only discussions to employers including through visits to offices to discuss career options and learn about different employment sectors
• access to LSE Careerhub, listing hundreds of opportunities, from short-term volunteering and internships to full-time positions for experienced professionals
• Careers Impact Sessions which takes place early in year 1, followed by a networking evening with employers in relevant sectors
• specialist careers seminars run by LSE Careers, including sessions on CVs and cover letters, career management, networking, interviews and advice specific to particular employment sectors

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year. LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the support available.

SPP Professional Skills Accelerator

The SPP also offers an extensive and tailored programme of Professional Skills for Public Policy which is especially designed to complement the skills and insights that you gain as part of your programme curriculum and equip you with the necessary skills for the next step in your career.

You'll benefit from a series of training workshops with experienced practitioners and experts in key areas of professional development such as leadership, negotiation and persuasive communication.