Hero Image

SIPA & LKYSPP Dual Degree Program

Study in New York and Singapore: Dual Degree Program with LKYSPP

Columbia SIPA and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) offer a two-year dual degree program in which students complete their first year at their home institution and, if admitted, their second year at the partner school—earning master’s degrees from both institutions in the time typically required for one. SIPA students study in New York and Singapore, while LKYSPP students study in Singapore and New York, benefiting from LKYSPP’s small cohort, SIPA’s broader academic environment, and the combined resources, networks, and career opportunities of both schools.

Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid

Students pay tuition at the institution where they are in residence. During the New York year, tuition and fees are paid to Columbia SIPA; during the year abroad, they are paid to the partner school

SIPA → LKY

Tuition and fee information is available on the LKY Fees and Funding webpage. Scholarship questions should be directed to the LKY.  U.S. citizens and permanent residents planning to apply for U.S. federal financial aid should contact the SIPA Office of Financial Aid.

Additional Fees: 
Students attending the partner school in their second year will be charged the following SIPA fees.

LKY → SIPA

Full tuition and fee information is available on the SIPA financial aid website. Institutional funding for International Dual Degree students is very limited—fewer than 10% of students receive scholarships—so students are strongly encouraged to seek external funding.  U.S. citizens and permanent residents planning to apply for U.S. federal financial aid should contact the SIPA Office of Financial Aid.

Scholarship Application Timeline

  • Financial aid application opens: February–March
  • Scholarship decisions released: April

 

SIPA Students - Second Year at LKYSPP

  • For eligibility criteria and application link and instructions, please refer to the International Dual Degree landing page, under the Flexible Track subsection.

    Note: 

    • Students completing their second year abroad are not required to complete a concentration.
    • SIPA students are required to complete the core curriculum in their first year; in the second year, they complete LKYSPP curricular requirements.
    • LKY Curriculum: Please visit the LKY website for detailed course information
       

LKYSPP Students - Second Year at SIPA

  • LKYSPP students interested in the dual degree program should consult their administrative office regarding eligibility and obtain approval from their home institution before applying to SIPA. The International Dual Degree application at SIPA typically opens in early February.

  • Dual degree students completing their second year at SIPA must:

    • Complete a minimum of 30 credits in residence
    • Fulfill all core requirements
    • Complete concentration requirements
    • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0
    • Complete all first-year curricular requirements at the partner school

    Degrees from both institutions are awarded only after all requirements at both schools are satisfied.

    Note: Certain partner school courses may satisfy SIPA core requirements; approved equivalencies are listed in the table below. Students may also apply one first-year course toward their SIPA concentration, with approval from the relevant concentration office. Direct concentration questions to the appropriate office.

    Core MIA Curriculum
    Concentration Page

    The table below lists approved course equivalencies for rising second-year dual degree students.
      

    MIA Track I Core Requirements MIA Track II Core Requirements LKYSPP Courses
         
    Economics Fundamentals (3 credits)- Covers both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics   For students in MIA Track I ONLY: Either PP5403 Economic Foundations for Public Policy or PP5401 will meet the Economics Fundamentals requirement in full. 
      IA6400 - Microeconomics for International and Public Affairs  
         
      IA6401 - Macroeconomics for International and Public Affairs PP5401 Policy Challenges
         
    U6500 Quantitative Analysis Same as track  I PP5406 Quantitative Research Methods for Public Policy I
        PP5407 Quantitative Research Methods for Public Policy II
        (Note: If BOTH courses are taken this also meets the SIPAU6501 Quantitative Analysis II requirement)
         
      Quantitative Analysis II (3 credits) See above
         
    Politics I & II, Policy Skills I & II (6 credits) Same as track  I PP5103 Politics and Public Policy
         
    Leadership & Management I , II,  & III ) -  (3) 1.5 credit courses - (4.5 credits) Leadership & Management I (1.5 credits) PP5274 Financial Management for Policy Makers
        PP5549 Financial Management for Households.
        Any Public Management and Leadership elective
         
    International Law (1.5 credits) Same as track I No Equivalent 
         
    Global Requirement I & II (6 credits) -(Waived for International Dual Degree Students) Global Requirement I (3 credits) -(Waived for International Dual Degree Students) Any Politics and International Relations Specialization elective
         
    Ethics for Policymakers (1.5 credits) Same as track 1 No Equivalent - Must be completed at SIPA
         
    Thesis OR Capstone Workshop & Prepatory course Same as track I Must be completed at SIPA
         
    Foreign Language Proficiency Same as track I Proficiency at B2 level or above - Please refer to SIPA's Foreign Language Requirement Page
         
    Professional Development: Required but course is not registered. Contact Career Advancement Center regarding requirement completion Same as track I Must be completed at SIPA:  Can be waived with sufficient work experience
    Internship: 0 credits Same as track I Complete either Year 1 or Year 2 or the summer between the partner school  and SIPA: Can be waived with sufficient work experience
     

  • Dual degree students completing their second year at SIPA must:

    • Complete a minimum of 30 credits in residence
    • Fulfill all core requirements
    • Complete concentration requirements
    • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0
    • Complete all first-year curricular requirements at the partner school

    Degrees from both institutions are awarded only after all requirements at both schools are satisfied.

    Note: Certain partner school courses may satisfy SIPA core requirements; approved equivalencies are listed in the table below. Students may also apply one first-year course toward their SIPA concentration, with approval from the relevant concentration office. Direct concentration questions to the appropriate office.

    Core MPA Curriculum
    Concentration Page

    The tables below list approved course equivalencies for rising second-year dual degree students.  

    MPA Core Requirements LKYSPP Courses
    IA6400 - Microeconomics for International and Public Affairs PP5403 Economic Foundations for Public Policy
       
    IA6401 - Macroeconomics for International and Public Affairs PP5401 Policy Challenges
       
    U6500 Quantitative Analysis PP5406 Quantitative Research Methods for Public Policy I
      PP5407 Quantitative Research Methods for Public Policy II
      (Note: If BOTH courses are taken this also meets the SIPAU6501 Quantitative Analysis II requirement)
    Quantitative Analysis II (3 credits) See above 
       
    Politics I & II, Policy Skills I & II (6 credits) PP5402 Policy Process and Institutions
      PP5405 Politics and Public Administration
      PP5409 Foundations in Public Policy
       
    Leadership & Management I & II (2) 1.5 credit courses Any Public Management and Leadership elective
       
    Financial Management I & II (2) 1.5 credit courses

    PP5274 Financial Management for Policy Makers

    PP5549 Financial Management for Households.
       
    Ethics for Policymakers (1.5 credits) Must be completed at SIPA
       
    Capstone Workshop including Capstone Preparatory course Must be completed at SIPA
       
    Professional Development: Required but course is not registered. Contact Career Advancement Center regarding requirement completion Must be completed at SIPA:  Can be waived with sufficient work experience
       
    Internship: 0 credits Complete either Year 1 or Year 2 or the summer between the partner school  and SIPA: Can be waived with sufficient work experience