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SIPA & LSE MPA Dual Degree Program

Program Overview: Master of Public Administration


Study in London and New York: Earn Master's Degrees from the London School of Economics and Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs

This dual degree allows students to earn a Master of Public Administration from both LSE and Columbia SIPA in just two years. Students complete the first year at LSE in London and the second year at SIPA in New York, gaining a global perspective on public policy from both European and North American approaches. LSE’s small cohort of approximately 90 students offers a personalized, intimate learning experience, complementing SIPA’s larger, dynamic cohort of roughly 500 students. Graduates benefit from the academic resources, professional opportunities, and extensive alumni networks of both institutions and cities.

 

Understanding Curriculum and Requirements

  • SIPA Tuition & Fees

    Students pay tuition at the institution where they are in residence. Dual Degree students pay tuition to the partner school in their first year while enrolled. Once matriculated at SIPA in the second year students will pay tuition & fees to SIPA.  Additionally students must be enrolled in Columbia University health insurance plan or have comparable insurance coverage while attending Columbia in their second year.

    Note: a one-time Document Fee and semesterly Health and Related Services Fee is charged to students by Columbia University during the first year at LSE. 
    SIPA Tuition & Fees 
    LSE Tuition & Fees

     

    Financial Aid 

    Students in the GPPN program will receive a financial aid application in February for review ahead of their second year at SIPA. Funding is extremely limited, and typically fewer than 10% of GPPN students are awarded support for their program of study. Students planning to apply for U.S. federal financial aid, should contact the SIPA Office of Financial Aid to initiate the process.

    Students planning to apply for U.S. federal financial aid, should contact the SIPA Office of Financial Aid to initiate the process.

     

  • Interested in the LSE/SIPA dual degree? Applications are submitted through LSE. For detailed admissions requirements and deadlines, visit the LSE program overview and dual degree admissions page.  Please address admissions related questions to the LSE Office of Admission.

  • Dual degree students must complete all first-year coursework at LSE before continuing to SIPA. In the second year at SIPA, students must:

    • Complete a minimum of 30 credits in residence
    • Fulfill all SIPA core requirements
    • Complete concentration requirements
    • Attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0

    Degrees from both institutions are awarded only upon completion of all requirements at both schools.

    Year One - LSE
    For detailed first-year course information, visit LSE's Curricular Requirements Page.
     

    Year Two - SIPA
    Approved first-year courses from the partner school may count toward SIPA core or concentration requirements, with approval from the relevant concentration office.

    Incoming dual degree students, in their second year, must complete all remaining core requirements and a concentration. 
    Core MPA Curriculum
    Concentration Page

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

    MPA Core Requirements LSE Courses
    IA6400 - Microeconomics for International and Public Affairs & IA6401 - Macroeconomics for International and Public Affairs PP440 Micro and Macro Economics for Public Policy
      OR
      PP419 Advanced Empirical Methods for Policy Analysis (Formerly: Methods of Economic Policy Analysis)
      Note: Passing the LSE proficiency exam along with the completion of a graduate level LSE Economics course satisfies this requirement.
       
    IA6500 Quantitative Analysis PP455 Quantitative Approaches and Policy Analysis (This course also satisfies the SIPA U6501Quantitative Analysis II equivalency)
      PP419 Advanced Empirical Analysis
      ST425 Statistical Inference: Principles Methods and Computation
       
    IA6501 Quantitative Analysis II GRAD-C6-2001 Statistics II: Statistical Modeling and Causal Inference with R
     
       
    Politics I & II, Policy Skills I & II (6 credits) PP478 Political Science and Public Policy
       
    Leadership & Management I & II (2) 1.5 credit courses PP4E5 Innovations in the Governance of Public Services Delivery
      PP4G3 (H)Designing and Managing Change in the Public Sector (Not Offered 2025-26)
      PP414 Policymaking: Process, Challenges and Outcomes
      PP450 Public Organisations: Theory and Practice (Not Offered 2025-26)
      MG402 Public Management: A Design-Oriented Approach
      MG4J2: Social Business Design
      MG4D5 Leadership in Organisations: Theory and Practice
      Additional LSE courses can be submitted for review
       
    Financial Management I & II (2) 1.5 credit courses PP4J5: Fiscal Governance and Budgeting (Not Offered 2025-26)
      AC415 Management Accounting for Decision Making – half unit
      AC444 Valuation and Security Analysis– half unit
      AC490 Management Accounting, Decisions and Control – half unit
      AC491 Financial Accounting, Reporting and Disclosure – half unit
      FM473A Financial Markets– half unit
      FM474W Managerial Finance
      PP4E5 Innovations in the governance of public services delivery– half unit
      PP4J5: Fiscal Governance and Budgeting (Fall 2025)
      Additional LSE courses can be submitted for review
       
    Ethics for Policymakers (1.5 credits) No Equivalent - Must be completed at SIPA
       
    Capstone Workshop &  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 during Year 1 or Year 2 or the summer between the partner school  and SIPA: Can be waived with sufficient work experience