The Harvard Kennedy School master’s degree application for 2027-2028 is now open

Whether you’re passionate about economic inequality, climate change, technology policy, the health of democracy, international development, or national security, you’ll gain the skills and network to make an impact at Harvard Kennedy School. We hope you will apply to join us—the master’s degree application for the 2027-2028 academic year is now open. 

Applications and all required documentation must be received by Tuesday, December 1, 2026 at 12 p.m. (noon) 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.

Application Checklist

Application requirements vary by degree program, but a complete application to one of our master's degree programs will include the following:

• Online application
• Essays
• Résumé/CV
• Three letters of recommendation
• Academic transcripts
• Standardized test scores, which vary by program and English language proficiency
• Application fee or waiver

Updates for the 2027-2028 Application Cycle

There are several changes to the application process this year. We encourage you to review these updates and thoroughly review the How to Apply section of our website before beginning your application.

New TOEFL Scoring Model

Our requirements for who must submit proof of English language proficiency has not changed; however, the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) has moved from a 120-point scale to a 6-point scale. 

• If you took the TOEFL after January 2026, you must have an overall score of 5 or better. The most competitive applicants will also have a minimum of 5 on each section.
• If you took the TOEFL prior to January 2026, you must have an overall score of 100 or better. The most competitive applicants will also have a minimum of 25 on each section. 

English Language Proficiency Video Essay

All applicants who are required to submit English proficiency scores will also be required to submit a video essay as part of the application process. The process will work as follows:

1. On the application, you will be directed to a page with a randomly generated question or prompt. 
2. The question or prompt will be displayed for 60 seconds for you to prepare.
3. After 60 seconds have passed, the recording process will begin. 
4. You will then have 90 seconds to record your response. 

There is no opportunity to stop the recording once it begins nor is there an opportunity to repeat the process. There is also no opportunity to see multiple questions or prompts—you must respond to the one question or prompt that is displayed. You should test your system to be absolutely sure it is functioning correctly, and the recording should take place in a quiet environment where you will not be interrupted. 

Updated Essay Prompts

The Master in Public Policy (MPP), Master in Public Administration (MPA), and Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) programs now require fewer essays. Familiarize yourself with this year’s essay prompts.

AI Disclosure Question

We are interested in learning about how our applicants are using generative AI as part of the application process, so we have added an optional AI disclosure question to the application. If you used AI in any part of the application process and would like to share with us, you may do so in 250 words or fewer. This disclosure is for data collection purposes only; your answer will not be shared with the Admissions Committee and will have no impact on your admission decision.

Note that the use of generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software is permitted only for assisting with edits and/or identifying grammatical errors in your essays; the content must be your own. Wherever it would be inappropriate to ask a human contributor to do work for you, it is equally inappropriate for you to prompt an AI tool to do work for you.