Harvard Kennedy School empowers public leaders

Applications for our master’s programs are now open. Apply by December 1 to join the next generation of leaders.

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Master’s Programs

Master’s Programs

One- and two-year master’s degree programs in public policy or public administration prepare students to lead.

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Executive Education

Executive Education

Open-enrollment and custom programs to help leaders gain the skills needed to solve current challenges in real time.

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Doctoral Programs

Doctoral Programs

Full-time PhD programs in public, health, and social policy prepare candidates for careers in academia, research, or policymaking.

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Public Leadership Credential

Public Leadership Credential

A series of online courses developed to help learners improve their decision-making, leadership, and policymaking skills for the public good.

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Featured Stories

Honoring legacy and embracing public service

During his Dukakis Fellowship in the Office of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Eli Melendrez MPP 2026 discovered just how unpredictable—and deeply human—public service can be.

Students walking in the HKS Courtyard on a fall day.

Lessons on finding balance and wellbeing in the fast-paced life of HKS

Drawing on her experiences as a student leader and mental health professional, recent HKS graduate Nathalie Timtchenko MC/MPA 2025 shares how prioritizing balance and self-care are essential for public service and personal growth.

Bhuvan Ravindran MPP 2026 speaking to a colleague outside in Bozeman, Montana.

Policy in practice: students take on climate and sustainability challenges this summer

Each summer, HKS students step into the world as practitioners. Among them, four students took on internships bridging climate, sustainability, and social impact, and spanning contexts from East Africa to Bozeman, Montana.

Barbara Filion posing (in the center) with two of colleagues in front of flags

Empowering Indigenous voices through culture and policy

Barbara Filion MC/MPA 2026—an Innu Nation citizen of mixed heritage and member of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation (Ilnu, Mashteuiatsh)—reflects on her work in Indigenous cultural rights, why it is deeply personal to her, and how she will apply her knowledge and skills learned at HKS to her field.

Adam Delgado smiling with Jo Miller and Rochelle Carrig.

“It is people, it is people, it is people”

This past summer, Adam Delgado MC/MPA 2026 traveled to Aotearoa—the Māori name for New Zealand—as a Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Summer Fellow. During his time, he worked on impact evaluation and measurement of community engagement with local Indigenous communities and the city government.

Blurred people walking down a dense city sidewalk with lights and diagrams overlaying them.

Policy in practice: HKS students explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and communities

This summer, several students explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and communities around the globe—from rural healthcare systems to workforce development.