John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum
The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum is one of the world's premier arenas for political speech, discussion and debate.
Center for International Development
This university-wide center seeks to advance understanding of development challenges and offer viable solutions to problems of global poverty.
Home > Degree Programs > Master's Degrees > Master in Public Administration/ International Development > MPA/ID Admissions
MPA/ID Admissions
The Office of Programs in International Development administers the admissions process for the MPA/ID program. Information about other degree programs at the Kennedy School and instructions on how to apply online can be found on the main Admissions website.
The deadline for application to the MPA/ID Program is January 8, 2010.
Criteria for Admission to the MPA/ID Program
The MPA/ID Program is a rigorous economics-centered program designed to prepare development practitioners. When evaluating an application, the Admissions Committee looks for:
- Strong academic record, including good grades in economics and mathematics courses.
- Required prerequisite courses, including at least one university-level course each in microeconomics and macroeconomics, and three university-level courses in calculus, which must include multivariable calculus. Statistics and linear algebra are desirable, but not required.
- Demonstrated commitment to the field of international development and compelling evidence of professional potential in the field. While work experience is not an absolute requirement, development work often serves to demonstrate this commitment.
- Strong recommendations from academic and professional recommenders who know you well and can comment on the qualities needed for this program.
- Competitive GRE or GMAT quantitative section score. In general, candidates who score in the top 80th percentile and above on the GRE or GMAT quantitative section are most competitive for admission.
- For applicants whose native language is not English, evidence of fluency in English as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score.
print
emailFinancial Aid
The Student Financial Services website contains important information about financing your education at the Harvard Kennedy School. The External Resources Database provides a selected list of scholarships not affiliated with the Kennedy School; use "View All Scholarships" for best results.
Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines
It is not too early to begin your search for financial aid. Fulbright Fellowships and Ford Foundation International Fellowships for international students may have deadlines in summer or fall 2009 for programs beginning fall 2010.