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Public Affairs

Brown University's one-year, on-campus master of public affairs (MPA) program cultivates and elevates future global leaders to address pressing societal challenges, transform policy and make an impact.

Program Description

The master of public affairs (MPA) provides a rigorous curriculum anchored in such areas as quantitative methods, management and leadership, and policy analysis to tackle today’s most pressing societal challenges. The MPA program offers a full-time accelerated schedule that begins in June (summer–fall–spring) and will prepare students for a career spanning public service, all levels of government, NGOs, foundations, and the private sector.

Distinct Program Features

• A one-year, on-campus master of public affairs degree from an Ivy League institution
• Rigorous, multidisciplinary curriculum with the flexibility to pursue a track or specialization in key policy areas through elective coursework, or the option to customize your own
• Policy-in-Action Project with real-world collaborating organizations in the public, private, or nonprofit sector
• Faculty comprised of world–renowned researchers and experienced practitioners
• Merit–based aid is available
• Dedicated career planning and professional coaching support

Application Information

Application Requirements

GRE Subject:

Not required

GRE General:

Not required, but score submission is encouraged.

TOEFL/IELTS:

Minimum scores 100 TOEFL/ 7 IELTS

• Required for any non-native English speaker who does not have a degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction or from a University in the following countries: Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada (except Quebec), Ethiopia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales), West Indies, Zambia.
• The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator exam are accepted.
• Students from mainland China may submit the TOEFL ITP Plus exam.

Official Transcripts:

Required. All applicants may upload unofficial transcripts for application submission. Official transcripts are ONLY required for enrolling students before class start. An international transcript evaluation (WES, ECE or The Evaluation Company) is required for degrees from non-U.S. institutions before enrollment.

Letters of Recommendations:

Three (3) recommendations required

• Two (2) recommendations for current Brown undergraduates (5th-year applicants).

Personal Statement:

Our program’s mission is to cultivate and elevate the next generation of global leaders to address pressing societal challenges. We look forward to learning about why you have decided to pursue graduate work in public affairs through Brown’s MPA. As you think about your future career path, how might you envision yourself addressing the societal challenges you care most about? How would the curriculum and opportunities offered in our MPA program help you advance toward your vision?

• You will have the opportunity to upload a copy of your personal statement document directly to the application portal. There is no minimum word limit, but we encourage you to stay below 1500 words.

Resume/CV:

Required.

• Quantitative resume: Required for applicants who do not submit official GRE scores. A quantitative resume sample can be found on the MPA website.

Additional Requirements:

Comprehensive application requirements are detailed on the Master of Public Affairs website.

Dates/Deadlines

Application Deadline

January 15, 2026

5th Year Deadline

January 15, 2026

Tuition and Funding

• Graduate Tuition & Fees: Please visit the Student Financial Services Office for up-to-date tuition rates.
• Scholarships: All MPA admitted students are considered for MPA merit-based scholarships, including international applicants. There is no additional application process to be considered for a merit scholarship, as the scholarship committee will utilize all information provided in the admissions application to make scholarship decisions. MPA students should plan to fund their cost of attendance to the program through a combination of sources such as our MPA scholarships, loans, savings, and/or outside funding. Student loans are available through Brown’s Office of Financial Aid to eligible U.S. applicants who submit a FAFSA. For more information on MPA program scholarship, visit our MPA scholarships page.

Completion Requirements

MPA skills-based courses are designed to equip students with the data analytical tools, policy and leadership skills needed to understand and address some of the world's most pressing challenges. The MPA curriculum also features the signature Policy-in-Action project; a semester-long professional experience, where students augment and apply technical and leadership skills to develop solutions to a real-world policy challenge with a collaborating organization. Students also have the flexibility to pursue a specialization through elective coursework, tailored to their policy interests, academic curiosity, or professional goals.

Specialization Topics

• Data and Policy Analysis
• Global Security
• Inequity and Public Policy
• Public Leadership and Management
• The option to customize your own For more information, visit the curriculum page

Leadership

• Associate Director of Admissions & Recruitment: Catherine Rodarte
• Director of Graduate Study: Matthew J. Lyddon
• Faculty Director: David Blanding

Contact and Location

Watson School of International and Public Affairs

Mailing Address

Brown University

Resources

• Master of Public Affairs
• Graduate School Handbook

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