Program Overview
The Master's (MPAID) in Master in Public Administration International Development at Harvard Kennedy School is a rigorous postgraduate programme delivered on-campus at Harvard Kennedy School. Designed for graduates and professionals seeking advanced expertise in business & management, the programme develops both theoretical foundations and applied skills essential for today's competitive environment.
Spanning 24 months, students engage with cutting-edge research, industry-relevant case studies, and practical projects. Instruction is delivered in English by research-active faculty with professional expertise.
The programme culminates in a dissertation or capstone project. Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles, research careers, and doctoral study in business & management.
Key Program Features
- Immersive On-Campus Experience: In-person seminars, laboratory sessions, and professional networking at Harvard Kennedy School.
- Expert Faculty: Taught by research-active academics and practitioners with deep expertise in Business & Management.
- Diverse International Cohort: Study alongside students from around the world, broadening your global professional network.
- Research-Informed Curriculum: Content grounded in the latest academic research and real-world industry practice.
- Dissertation / Capstone Project: Culminating independent project applying your expertise to an original research question or industry challenge.
- Dedicated Career Support: Access to career coaching, employer networking events, and job placement assistance.
- 24 months Duration: Part-time and accelerated options may be available — enquire with the admissions office.
Career Opportunities
Career Focus
Most students admitted to the MPA/ID Program have at least two years of development-related work experience in government, nonprofits, central or regional banks, international development institutions, research organizations, or private businesses. Usually at least some of the work has been in developing countries.
Quantitative Analysis
We also look for applicants who are interested in applying quantitative analysis and economics to development policy design.
Program Curriculum
Core Curriculum
- Advanced Microeconomic Analysis I: Supply, Demand, and Equilibrium ( API-109 )
- Advanced Microeconomic Analysis II: Game Theory and Information Economics ( API-110 )
- Advanced Macroeconomics for the Open Economy I ( API-119 )
- Advanced Macroeconomics for the Open Economy II ( API-120 )
- Advanced Quantitative Methods I: Description and Prediction ( API-209 )
- Advanced Quantitative Methods II: Causal Inference ( API-210 )
- Economic Development: Theory and Evidence ( DEV-101 )
- Economic Development: Using Analytic Frameworks for Smart Policy Design ( DEV-102 )
- Applications and Cases in International Development ( DEV-401 )
- The Politics of Development: Power, Institutions, and Prosperity ( DPI-410 )
- Political Philosophy for Development ( DPI-411 )
- Getting Things Done: Management and Implementation for Development ( MLD-102 )
- Second Year Policy Analysis Seminar ( DEV-250 )
You will gain professional expertise through the case workshop and speaker series, a required summer internship , and an integrative capstone paper .
Second Year Policy Analysis : Using Your Toolkit
The Second Year Policy Analysis (SYPA) serves as the capstone experience for the MPA/ID Program. You will choose a current development issue of interest to you; select your faculty advisor; and draw on the tools of economics, management, and political analysis to define the problem, analyze the evidence, develop alternatives, and provide specific policy recommendations for a concrete development problem.
Summer Internships : Out of the classroom, into the field
During the summer between your first and second year, you will engage in a development project, typically in a low- to middle-income country other than your own. This field experience allows you to apply the skills you’ve acquired during your first year and explore a new organization, substantive area of interest, or part of the world.
STEM Eligibility
The MPA/ID Program is a designated STEM-eligible program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Students with F-1 visas may apply to work in the United States for two additional years beyond the standard 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) following graduation.
Admission Requirements
STEM Eligibility
The MPA/ID Program is a designated STEM-eligible program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Students with F-1 visas may apply to work in the United States for two additional years beyond the standard 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) following graduation.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
USD 47,068/year (international)
2026-2027 Tuition and Fees
Expense Cost Tuition $64,340 MPA/ID Math Seminar** $2,299 Course materials fee $618 HKS student activity fee $250 HUHS Student Health Fee (SHF)* $1,944 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)* $4,954 Total tuition and fees $74,405
The full cost of attendance for the 2026-2027 academic year, including indirect costs such as living expenses, is outlined in Funding Your Master’s Education to help you plan financially for our master’s degree programs. The 2027-2028 academic year rates will be published in March 2027. HKS tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.
Financial Assistance
While our resources are limited, we are committed to distributing as much financial assistance as possible to our talented students. You are strongly encouraged to explore all funding opportunities .
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities
A range of funding options may be available to students enrolling at Harvard Kennedy School. Explore all options early — many scholarships have deadlines months before programme start.
- University Scholarships: Harvard Kennedy School may offer merit-based, need-based, or programme-specific scholarships for postgraduate students. Contact the international or financial aid office for current awards.
- Government Scholarships (): National governments often fund outbound and inbound student mobility. Check your home country's government scholarship schemes (e.g., national student loan bodies, ministry of education awards).
- International Scholarships: Major funders include: Commonwealth Scholarships, Fulbright (USA programmes), Chevening (UK), Erasmus+ (Europe), DAAD (Germany), Campus France, Australia Awards, and many more.
- Employer Sponsorship: Professionals returning to study may negotiate tuition sponsorship with their employer, particularly for MBA or executive programmes.
- Graduate Assistantships / Fellowships: Some universities offer funded research or teaching assistant positions that include a stipend and partial or full tuition waiver.
- External Foundations: Rotary Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Ford Foundation, and many discipline-specific bodies fund postgraduate study globally.
- Payment Plans: Flexible instalment plans may allow you to spread tuition payments across the academic year.
About Harvard Kennedy School
Harvard Kennedy School
Cambridge, United States
The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly called the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), is the graduate school of public policy of Harvard University, a private Ivy League research university...
University Profile- Application Deadline 2017-12-01
- Start Date 2018-08-31
- Language English
- Duration 24 months
- Credits 120 ECTS / 360 credits (2-year programme)