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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 offers a unique opportunity to study both in London and New York City, enabling students to earn Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees from both institutions in the same timeframe it typically takes to complete a single degree.  

This is a fixed track program where students will complete the first year at LSE and the second year at SIPA. obtaining an education from a world class center of excellence based in Europe and an Ivy League institution.

In addition to the professional advantages of studying public policy in both cities, students will experience diverse pedagogical from across North American and the British/European context. Dual degree candidates will have access to extensive resources in New York City, as well as the global network of alumni from both programs.

The LSE MPA is characterized by its small intimate setting, with approximately 90 students in each entering class, providing a distinct and complementary experience compared to SIPA's larger cohort of roughly 500 students. 

  • 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.

     

  • If you are interested in applying to the LSE/SIPA dual degree program please click here for application and admission information. The application process is managed by LSE. Please address admissions related questions to the LSE Office of Admission.

  • Students are required to complete the curriculum at LSE in the first year.  For detailed information about the first-year curriculum please refer to the LSE site.

    Dual degree students completing their second year at SIPA must meet the following graduation requirements:

    • Complete a minimum of 30 credits in residence
    • Complete all core requirements
    • Complete concentration requirements
    • Attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0
    • Complete all first year curricular requirements from the partner school.

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

    Note: Select courses completed at the partner school may fulfill specific SIPA core requirements. Approved core equivalencies are listed in the table below. Students may also apply one course from their first year toward their SIPA concentration requirements subject to approval from the relevant concentration office. Direct any concentration related questions to the appropriate concentration office. 

    New Curriculum Note
    Due to the implementation of a new curriculum all course equivalencies are currently under review. The equivalency table below applies only to rising second year dual degree students matriculating at SIPA in Fall 2025. Students should have also confirmed which curriculum they will be pursuing in this coming year. 

    Students beginning their first year at the partner school in Fall 2025 must complete the new curriculum.  There may also be changes to the current equivalency chart. However some course equivalencies approved below under the prior curriculum are expected to remain unchanged.  

    An updated equivalency chart for newly admitted dual degree students will be available during the Fall 2025 semester.

    Year One - LSE
    Curricular Requirements

    Year Two - SIPA
    Current Curriculum & Current Concentrations and Specializations
    OR
    New Curriculum (Effective Fall 2025)

    SIPA Core Core Requirements-NEW Curriculum MPA LSE (Applies to Rising Second Years Only)
    Microeconomics & Macroeconomics Only 6400/6401 (upper level) 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.
    Quantitative Analysis I No change 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
    Quantitative Analysis II 3 credit required course GRAD-C6-2001 Statistics II: Statistical Modeling and Causal Inference with R
     
    Politics of Policymaking Politics I & II, Policy Skills I & II (6 credits) PP478 Political Science and Public Policy
    Management 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
        PP450 Public Organisations: Theory and Practice (Not Offered 2024-25)
        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 Financial Management I & II (2) 1.5 credit courses PP4J5: Fiscal Governance and Budgeting (Not Offered 2024-25)
        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
        PP4E5 Innovations in the governance of public services delivery– half unit
        Additional LSE courses can be submitted for review
    Ethics for Policymakers (1.5 credits) Ethics for Policymakers (1.5 credits) Must be completed at SIPA
    Capstone No change Must be completed at SIPA
    Professional Development Requirement remains but this course is no longer registered Must be completed at SIPA
    Internship 0 credits Can be completed in either the 1st or 2nd year or in the summer between