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MPA in Global Leadership
Program Start
The program starts in mid-July.
Deadlines: Summer 2027
Early Action Deadline:
November 1, 2026
Regular Deadline With Scholarship Consideration Due:
December 20, 2026
Final Application Due:
March 1, 2027
Program Length
10 Months
Degree Awarded
MPA
Enhance your global perspective with our new MPA for mid-career leaders.
Leadership with impact requires strategic thinking, an understanding of critical global issues, and a dash of courage. From the local community to the national or international arena, contemporary problems reflect a variety of forces at work; solutions must do the same.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Global Leadership helps prepare experienced professionals to tackle global challenges and make a difference. It’s a 10-month, full-time program for leaders with more than 10 years of experience who seek the skills to keep growing in their careers, enhance their leadership capacity, and create greater impact.
Join a cohort of leaders — in business, international and domestic public affairs, and the nonprofit sector — striving for meaningful change. You’ll become part of the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) community at Columbia University, a place that fosters some of the world’s boldest thinkers and doers.
Meet and learn from global leaders. Customize and design your curriculum. Build lifelong relationships. Experience New York City.
MPA in Global Leadership
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Global Leadership is a 10-month, full-time program for mid-career professionals who seek the skills to keep growing in their careers, enhance their leadership capacity, and create greater impact.
Why an MPA in Global Leadership
Customize a curriculum that best suits your needs. You’ll follow SIPA’s rigorous curriculum and enjoy access to the best tools and guidance to manage your professional development. Customize 75 percent of your studies with courses that will help you achieve your professional goals.
Join a highly accomplished group of professionals. Your classmates will comprise a diverse international community and a range of disciplinary backgrounds, enriching the learning environment of the program. Learn from their experiences, work collaboratively, and build lifelong relationships.
Learn from leaders around the world. Hear from prize-winning scholars and distinguished figures from a host of nations, including during the 6-week Summer Program. Talks by visiting heads of state, government officials, and business executives will deepen your insights and forge the connections you’ll need to make an impact.
Call New York City your home. Your experience will extend beyond the classroom walls. NYC is an incredibly exciting and dynamic place to live, with incomparable career opportunities, enviable cultural resources, and exciting social opportunities.
Be part of Columbia University’s alumni network. Across the world, Columbia’s network of more than 380,000 alumni are shaping the future in every discipline and sector.
MPA-GL Fast Facts
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The program provides you with the policy expertise, analytical skills, and strategic thinking to advance your career, expertise, and impact. You’ll receive tailored advice from the faculty program director to help align your studies with your career objectives and personal interests
Summer Program
You begin the program with a six-week (6-credit) immersion experience during late July and August, focused on major global policy issues and the strategies to address them.
The summer session includes private sessions with SIPA’s faculty as well as cohort-building activities. It’s an opportunity to refresh your knowledge of economics and quantitative analysis, enhance your leadership and management skills, and individually craft your educational plans for the remaining two semesters.
Fall & Spring Semesters
You are required to complete at least 12 credits in both Fall and Spring semesters, drawing from nearly 450 courses offered every year at SIPA, as well as courses throughout Columbia University. Depending on your educational interests, you will select at least one 3-credit course from one of the following categories: 1) Economics and Quantitative Analysis; 2) Management and Leadership; 3) Policy Foundations.
In addition, you’ll be part of a unique 3-credit workshop each semester on policy leadership that introduces you to global leaders in the public and private sectors.
FALL Integrative Seminar I on Global Policy Leadership 3 credits Individualized course of study from SIPA courses and eligible courses elsewhere in Columbia University Minimum of 12 credits SPRING Integrative Seminar II on Global Policy Leadership 3 credits Individualized course of study from SIPA courses and eligible courses elsewhere in Columbia University Minimum of 12 credits -
The MPA in Global Leadership is designed for accomplished professionals who are seeking to deepen their leadership capacity, expand their global policy expertise, and develop innovative approaches to addressing complex challenges.
The program is ideal for individuals with significant professional experience who want to strengthen their ability to lead across sectors, organizations, and borders. Students bring diverse perspectives from government, international organizations, business, civil society, and other fields, creating a dynamic learning environment grounded in professional experience and peer exchange.
MPA-GL students are motivated by a commitment to public service, global engagement, and meaningful impact. Through an individualized curriculum, leadership-focused coursework, and opportunities to engage with global leaders, the program enables students to refine their expertise, expand their networks, and prepare for the next stage of their careers.
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This 10-month degree program is designed for leaders with an average of 10 to 15 years of experience who seek to deepen their knowledge of specific global policy issues, strengthen analytical and leadership skills, and expand their professional networks.
Application checklist:
- Personal statement / Essay questions
- Professional résumé / CV
- Two recommendations (a third one is optional) from individuals in professional and academic settings who know you well and can provide insight on your qualifications for the program
- Academic transcripts (undergraduate and beyond)
- GRE or GMAT scores (optional)
- Evidence of fluency in English if it’s not your native language. See more details in the FAQs.
- Application fee: $95
- Online Video Response. This video of your response to a random question, generated by the SIPA Admissions office, helps us to assess your English language skills. It is not meant to measure your expertise in global policy issues.
Interview
By invitation only. The admissions committee will conduct interviews with selected applicants via Zoom. -
Explore our Tuition & Fees »
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View the complete SIPA Academic Calendar →
Explore MPA-GL
Employment Statistics
Employment information as reported by the graduates six months after graduation. In 2025, 24 students graduated from the MPA-GL program, 17 reported.
94%
Employed/Further Study
6%
Seeking Employment
0%
Not Seeking Employment
Scholarship Opportunity
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
SIPA’s MPA-GL is a participating program in JJWBGSP. A JJWBGSP scholarship provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.
Ready to Apply?
Students in this 10-month, full-time program gain the advanced skills needed to solve complex global challenges. Tailored for leaders with more than a decade of experience, the MPA in Global Leadership empowers students to elevate their careers and maximize their impact.
MPA-GL Related News
Contact MPA-GL
MPA-GL Leadership
[email protected]
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