Ask what you can do.

Transform your desire to do good in the world into real, life-changing action.

The master’s degree programs at Harvard Kennedy School are designed to equip you with the essential skills to shape public policy, champion impactful ideas, and elevate your leadership potential. If you are ready to engage and are passionate about creating a better world, HKS offers an unparalleled opportunity to turn your aspirations into action.


Explore our programs

 

Master in Public Policy 

The two-year MPP Program prepares you to understand complex public problems and craft concrete solutions.

 

Master in Public Administration in International Development

The MPA/ID Program offers two years of rigorous economics and quantitative training with an emphasis on policy and practice.

 

Master in Public Administration

The two-year MPA Program teaches the skills you need to be an even more effective leader in solving public problems.

 

Mid-Career Master in Public Administration

The one-year MC/MPA Program allows established professionals to hone skills and pursue specialized interests.

 

Combined Degrees

Explore how the world’s challenges can be addressed at the intersection of public policy and business, law, medicine, design, or other fields.

 

Data and Research Methods Track

MPP, MPA, and MC/MPA students can pursue the STEM-designated Data and Research Methods track.

If you are considering applying to an HKS master’s degree program, you may still be asking yourself which degree program is the right fit. This is ultimately a personal decision that hinges on your personal preferences, educational background, and professional goals.

headshot of SaMee Harden
“The people you are in class with come from around the world. And that’s the beautiful thing about HKS—it brings together people from all corners of the earth to exchange ideas.”
SaMee Harden MC/MPA 2024

Our students come to Harvard Kennedy School from around the world to become public leaders and policymakers addressing global and local issues that are urgent and complex. 

We asked them: What is your Why? What impact do they want to have in the world? Which public problem do they want to tackle—and what or who inspired them to address that problem?   

 

Featured student stories

 

Several Equity Fellows reflect on their work to address inequities in Latinx and Hispanic communities and involvement in the Center for Public Leadership.

 

Students in Professor Justin de Benedictis-Kessner’s Urban Politics Field Lab evaluated the impact of the Open Newbury program on businesses.

 

We asked HKS students who serve—and have served—in the military: What does public service mean to you? 


Learn more about the HKS community

 

Explore the HKS campus from wherever you are. Navigate to the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, where you may one day attend a panel discussion with heads of state and political leaders. Look inside a classroom. Stop in the Student Lounge, where students socialize and study between classes. Get to know the HKS campus.

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Take the next step

We are currently accepting applications for our master’s degree programs for the 2025-2026 academic year.