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SIPA MIA or MPA/LSE MPA Dual Degree Program

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The MPA is an interdisciplinary degree designed to produce effective policymakers and policy analysts by focusing on the skills necessary to understand the formulation and management of public policy.

Admission Process

Students have two options to apply: they may either apply directly into the dual degree program (Start in NYC, end in London), or apply in their first year at either institution.

Direct Admissions/Fixed track: If you are a new student and have not already begun studies at SIPA, you may apply to the SIPA MIA or MPA/LSE MPA Dual Degree program directly through our regular admissions website (Jan. 5 deadline). SIPA and LSE MPA will convene to make joint-decisions by April. All admitted students will begin in New York and finish in London and be awarded either the MIA or MPA from SIPA and the MPA from the LSE.

First Year Admissions/Flexible track: To be eligible, students must have been accepted to either SIPA or the LSE, and have the option to apply in the spring semester of their first year to complete the dual degree at the other institution in their second year. (Spring term, Feb. 1 deadline)

Application forms for currently enrolled 1st year SIPA MIA or MPA first year students here.

Generally, 5-8 students will participate in the Dual Degree Program each year. The number of accepted students will vary from year to year, depending on the number of applications from both schools.

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid (2012-13 tuition figures)

Students pay the tuition and fees at the school where they are in residence (e.g., if you are attending LSE, you will pay LSE tuition and fees, and similarly at SIPA). Dual Degree students will pay one year each of SIPA and LSE tuition and fees. Students who begin the dual degree at SIPA will be enrolled in Columbia University health insurance and pay those fees during the semesters they are at LSE to maintain their insurance coverage. Students who begin at LSE will be enrolled in Columbia University health insurance or have comparable insurance coverage when they are at Columbia during their second year.

Fellowships are administered by the school where students attend. Students should clearly indicate which institution they would like their federal student loans and/or private educational loans to be administered. SIPA students completing their dual degree at LSE should continue to have SIPA administer their loans in their second year.

Columbia Tuition and Fees: $47,724
LSE MPA Tution :£20,030

Columbia Fees | LSE Fees

Curriculum

Students will complete the core curriculum at their home institution and then pursue an area of specialization at the partner institution in their second year. Both Programs have a Capstone course, which is project work done in student teams for organizations. LSE also requires its Dual Degree Program students to complete a 10,000 word dissertation. Columbia requires the summer internship for their students, and a Professional Development course.

1. In the first year, students satisfy core requirements at the home institution.

Columbia Core Courses | LSE First Year Requirements

Students spending the first year at LSE

  • EC440 Macro and Microeconomics for Public Policy (1 unit)

  • EC455 Quantitative Approaches and Policy Analysis (1 unit)

  • GV478 Political Science and Public Policy (1 unit)

  • One further unit of courses

2. Students specialize in their second year:

The second year concentrations at SIPA (for students who did their initial year at LSE): All students choose one concentration consisting of 5 courses:

Specializations: All students also choose one specialization consisting of 3 courses: a skill or area of specialized knowledge to pair with their policy concentration.

For SIPA students going to LSE in their second year, the curriculum for the MPA Dual Degree at LSE will be:

LSE FAQ's

For further information, please contact:

At SIPA
Tan Nguyen, Assistant Dean, Office of Student Affairs, tn2102@columbia.edu

At LSE
Jo Underwood, LSE-MPA Programme Manager, j.underwood@lse.ac.uk

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