The following frequently asked questions relate to the structure and admissions procedures of the MPA Programme. If you have more general questions relating to LSE please visit the Graduate Admissions Enquiries System|.

About the MPA

How long is the programme?|
Can I study part-time?|
How many applications do you receive each year? How many are accepted?|

Student Profile

What is the student profile?|
What do LSE MPA graduates do?|

Tuition and Funding

How much does the programme cost each year (for those commencing in 2010)?|
Do you offer any scholarships?|

Application Questions

What are the application deadlines?|
How do I apply to the MPA Programme?|
What am I required to submit?|
Can I submit an additional reference?
What is your GRE/GMAT policy?|
What do you look for in an applicant?|
Is a personal interview required?|
Do I need to have my foreign documents translated?|
Do you accept transfer students?
|May I take courses as a non-matriculated student?|
If I applied to another LSE programme in the prior year, can I reinstate my application this year for the MPA programme?|
What should I do after I submit my application?|
What is the reserve list?|
Can I defer my admission offer?|

MPA Dual Degrees

See Dual MPA Degrees| for detailed information including how the Dual Degree Admissions Process Works.

Other Questions

I'm interested in taking advanced level Economic option courses. Are there any pre-requisites?|
Can I apply for a PhD programme after the MPA?|
Can I visit the campus?|

How long is the programme?

The MPA programme is 21 months in duration. By default students spend the entire programme at LSE but can apply (during their first year of MPA studies) to spend the second year abroad, completing a Dual Degree.

Can I study part-time?

No, the MPA programme is for full-time, residential study only. Classes are offered during the day.

How many applications do you receive each year? How many are accepted?

LSE's MPA Programme is relatively new, and the first intake of students was in September 2003. For entry in 2012/13 it is projected we will receive between 600 and 700 applications for a total first year intake of class of 105 students spread across the five MPA streams: Public and Economic Policy|; Public Policy and Management|; International Development|; Public and Social Policy| and European Public and Economic Policy|.

What is the LSE MPA student profile?

See 2011-2012 Demographics| for more information

What do LSE MPA graduates do?

See MPA Alumni| for recent graduate destinations

How much does the MPA Programme cost each year

For students commencing the MPA in 2012/13, click here|

For students commencing the MPA in 2011/12, click here|

Visit the What it will cost| page for estimated living expenses.

Do you offer any scholarships?

Information about all LSE awards and other financial support can be found at the LSE Financial support |site.

What are the application deadlines?

LSE does not have any strict deadlines; we begin accepting applications in mid-October. There are limited places available on the MPA, and once those places are filled your application cannot be considered. To find out about current programme availability, go to the LSE Graduate Admissions| homepage and click Availability of programmes| in the General Information section. We recommend that applicants submit their applications as early as possible.

How do I apply to the LSE MPA Programme?

Applications for September 2012 entry opened in mid October 2011. For further information visit the LSE Graduate Admissions| homepage.

To apply for the LSE MPA use the following stream specific codes:

M1UN for MPA Public and Economic Policy
M1VA for MPA Public Policy and Management
L9U1 for MPA International Development
L2U0 for MPA European Public and Economic Policy
L4UN for MPA Public and Social Policy

Note: the LSE application form allows you to apply for two graduate programmes, so you may if you wish apply for two of the five MPA streams listed above. You are required to indicate which is your first choice. If you are accepted for your first choice, you will not be considered for your second choice, unless you explicitly request this.

What am I required to submit?

Applicants will need to submit the following list of items (click here| for application):

Minimum of an upper second class honours degree or equivalent
Official transcripts of all previous studies (this should include all undergraduate and graduate work)
GRE/GMAT is not required, but scores will be taken into consideration, if supplied. The LSE school code is 0972.
Application fee: see LSE Graduate Admissions homepage for details.
Current students and applicants who graduated after January 2006 should supply two academic references. References should be from a teaching member of your current (or, if you have graduated, from your most recent) university department. In addition to these, you would be most welcome to submit a professional reference.

Applicants who graduated before January 2008 may supply one professional reference and one academic reference.

Applicants who graduated before January 2006 may supply two professional references, though it is in your interests to supply an academic reference wherever possible.
If English is not the native language or if applicant did not complete undergraduate work where English was the language of instruction, LSE requires one of the following:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 107 in the internet based test with at least 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum score of 7.0 and at lest 5.5 in each section

All test scores must be less than two years old by 1st October in the year that you intend to start your programme

You should include your test scores, if available, in the relevant section of the application form. If you receive an offer of admission, it will be subject to proof of your score.

If you have not yet taken an English Language test, your application can still be considered in its absence, but any offer will be conditional on your achieving the required score by the time you are expected to register.

The LSE MPA does not require work experience, but it will significantly strengthen an application.

Can I submit an additional reference?

Yes, you can submit an additional reference. However, as the on-line application form only allows you to register two referees, the person writing the additional reference will need to send it directly to th e LSE Graduate Admissions Office either by email to graduate.references@lse.ac.uk| or by post/fax (please see Getting in touch| for details.) Please do not send references directly to the MPA.

Professional referees can simply write a letter or statement and do not need to answer the questions that academic referees are asked to respond to.

For further information on how to supply additional references, see Option 2 of the LSE Graduate Admissions web page How do I supply references?|

What is your GRE/GMAT policy?

GRE/GMAT results are never the sole basis for an admissions decision. They are useful as in indicator of academic ability. Submitting GRE/GMAT scores is helpful in that it gives applicants with average or marginal academic records a second method of demonstrating academic ability. Therefore, while many applicants are admitted without having submitted GRE/GMAT scores, we believe that it is in your best interest to submit them so that our selectors can have as much information as possible when making their decision. If you are certain that your undergraduate academic record demonstrates strengths in written and quantitative classroom work, then you may feel comfortable omitting the GRE/GMAT. If you had weak grades in course work relevant to study at LSE, or if your academic record does not show relevant courses, including economics or quantitative course work, you should submit GRE/GMAT scores. The scores are not mandatory, however, and based on the information above, you are free to decide whether or not to submit them. For complete information about the GRE, visit www.gre.org|; for GMAT information, visit www.mba.com|.

What do you look for in an applicant?

The Selectors will consider these factors:

Proven academic ability-strong grades in coursework particularly those relevant to MPA. Economics course work is particularly helpful.
Specific undergraduate major or work experience is not required, but if you are changing careers, it is recommended that you carefully outline your reasons in your Statement of Support. Depending on the type of work experience you have, it will most likely make your application more competitive.
A Statement of Support that is well written and clearly explains your career goals and why you have chosen this professionally-oriented policy program rather than another type of graduate school to pursue those goals. It is also important that your statement explains how your prior professional and volunteer experiences have shaped your career plans for the future.
If you are interested in applying to the LSE Dual MPA Degree Programmes, you are encouraged to explain your interest in the Statement of Support.
Strong academic/professional references.
A good GRE/GMAT score, if submitted.

Is a personal interview required?

Interviews do not form part of the application process

Do I need to have my foreign documents translated?

Yes, all transcripts and recommendations must be in English. Have them translated by a registered translator, your local British Council or British Embassy, lawyers or your university. Translations must bear the stamp and signature of the translator. The originals, as well as the translated documents, must be included in your application.

Do you accept transfer students?

No, LSE does not accept transfer credits for its Master's programmes.

May I take courses as a non-matriculated student?

No, unfortunately the MPA Programme is only available to admitted degree students.

If I previously applied to another LSE programme in the prior year, can I reinstate my application this year for the MPA programme?

Yes, if you applied to LSE in the last academic year, you have until November to request reinstatement. LSE will need the following, in order for an application to the MPA Programme to be reinstated:

A completed reinstatement request
A reinstatement fee
A new Statement of Purpose which will support your interest specifically in the MPA Programme
A current CV

What should I do after I submit my application?

Once you have submitted your application, the LSE Graduate Admissions Office will be in contact with you to let you know that it has been received and if any further action is required from you. Please allow at least 8 weeks for us to reach a decision and contact you. Note that an important part of reviewing applications is the comparison of one applicant to another, and for this reason, while you may request an early decision, it may not be possible to provide one. If an application is exceptional, it may be easier to give an early decision. Once you have applied you can track the status of your application by clicking here|.

What is the reserve list?

After reviewing all of the applications received, the Selectors typically put a small number of applications on an admissions reserve list each year. As admitted students respond (positively or negatively) to their admission offers in the late spring, we evaluate our enrolment needs in light of the number of places that remain available. To fill any remaining places we may begin admitting applicants from the reserve list. However, the number of places that become available varies greatly from year to year. The reserve list is not ranked, nor can there any guarantee that applicants put on the reserve list will be granted admission.

Can I defer my admission offer?

All offers made for the MPA are for entry in the next available academic session. Under exceptional circumstances only, requests for deferred admission can be made via Graduate Admissions (please click here| for further information of the process for requesting a deferral). Examples of exceptional circumstances include serious personal or family illness and being affected by the impact of a natural disaster. These are not the only circumstances that would be considered, but please be aware that lack of funds is not considered a reason for deferral (you may wish to consider reinstating| your application if a lack of funds prevents you from taking up your place).

I'm interested in taking advanced level Economic option courses. Are there any pre-requisites?

Yes, if you want to take the economics courses (indicated with ** in the MPA Approved Options| List) you will need to meet certain pre-requisites and admission to these courses is not guaranteed. Because of the very demanding standard of the LSE Economics department, certain economics courses are available only to students with very good first degrees in economics and with the permission of the MSc Economics tutor. Any student wishing to take these courses must first receive permission from the MSc Economics tutor then take the 3-week September course in Mathematics (revision), Mathematics for Microeconomics, Mathematics for Macroeconomics and Probability & Statistics and pass the course examinations. If you plan to take more than one of the Economics courses, you will also have to take one of the three listed core courses. The Economics department is very restrictive in terms of the number of students they will admit from outside their own Masters programmes. If you are admitted to the MPA programme your offer letter will point you to further information about the procedure to gain admission to the Economics courses. You will be notified of the decision as soon as possible after we receive your request for consideration. If you would like to take the non starred (no **) Economics option courses you do not require the permission of the MSc Economics tutor and there is no special admission process.

Can I apply for a PhD programme after the MPA?

Yes, the MPA provides a solid basis for progression to doctoral work in policy analysis and research. and a number of MPA graduates have gone on to PhD programmes both at LSE and elsewhere. There is no direct link between the MPA and any particular LSE PhD programme so students are free to focus on their own area of interest. MPA students who are considering applying for a PhD programme at LSE are advised to visit the web pages of the LSE academic departments for further information on available PhD programmes.

Can I visit the campus?

Yes. Although LSE does not have official campus tours, you are welcome to visit the campus and meet with the Admissions Manager or Programme Manager. Please email the MPA Programme at mpa@lse.ac.uk| to arrange this.

Click here| for directions and a map of the campus.