Our master’s degree application for the 2025-2026 academic year is now available.
If you’re ready to develop the skills and network to improve public policy, pursue powerful ideas, and advance your capacity to lead, we hope you will apply to join us at Harvard Kennedy School.
Applications and all required documentation must be submitted by Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 11:59 a.m. ET. There is one admission application deadline and one start date for each degree program per year. You may apply to only one master’s degree program per admissions cycle.
There are a few updates to this year’s application we’d like to highlight.
Standardized Test Policy Updates: GRE/GMAT Waiver
We will now allow MPP and MPA applicants who have successfully completed certain quantitative coursework to waive the GRE/GMAT requirement.
- MPP applicants who have earned grades of B+ (or its equivalent) or better in intermediate economics and statistics (and/or calculus) can waive the GRE/GMAT requirements.
- MPA applicants who have earned grades of B+ or better in two courses in economics, statistics, and/or mathematics (algebra or higher) can waive the GRE/GMAT requirements.
- These courses must have been full-semester courses taken for credit at a regionally accredited higher education institution. Courses taken as pass/fail (including those taken as satisfactory/unsatisfactory) will not be considered. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), certifications, and other non-credit options will not be considered.
Waiver Instructions
If you would like to waive the GRE/GMAT requirement, you will indicate whether you wish to submit standardized test scores or take advantage of the waiver opportunity. Should you choose the waiver option, you will be prompted to list the classes that meet the requirements outlined above.
Please see our earlier blog post for additional information and answers to some frequently asked questions about our waiver policy.
Standardized Test Policy Updates: Official Score Deadlines & Testing Dates
In previous admissions cycles, applicants were permitted to take standardized tests up until the application deadline. This year, however, we must receive official, valid scores by the application deadline.
As such, we strongly recommend that you take all required exams no later than one month prior to the application deadline to account for any processing delays. Please have official score reports sent directly to us by the testing services.
If we do not receive official scores by the application deadline, your application will be marked as incomplete, your file will be closed, and your application fee will not be refunded.
We encourage you to review the How to Apply section of our website for full application details and then begin your application. Be sure to visit this blog often throughout the application process, as we’ll share helpful information about the application process and answer applicants’ most frequently asked questions.
The information and policies outlined above are for applicants applying for the 2025-2026 academic year and are subject to change in future admissions cycles. For the latest policies, please see the How to Apply section of our website.
