Name: Wen Qi Loh
Programme and year: MPA Double Degree (SciencesPo) Class of 2025
Nationality: Singaporean
Can you tell us about your background and why you chose to study the MPA double degree programme at SPP?
I finished my undergrad at a liberal arts college in 2023 and have a few years of volunteer experience in non-profits and internship experience primarily in public service. I was looking for a Master’s programme that would be as interdisciplinary as my undergrad and provide in-depth training in quantitative skills for public policy. I found that the MPA double degree between LSE and Sciences Po could provide exactly that, with classes ranging from the legal frameworks and political economy of international trade policy to building machine learning models. There were also different aspects of each school that appealed to me, such as the Digital and New Technologies policy specialisation at Sciences Po and the Capstone project at LSE.
What do you think are the main benefits of studying a double degree with SciencesPo?
Both institutions have strong public policy programmes and alumni networks. Classes, especially electives, develop valuable qualitative and quantitative skills that, in my opinion, are universally applicable no matter which career path a student chooses after their studies. As a foreigner in both France and the UK, I’ve also benefitted from learning about policymaking in largely European contexts, which I can then compare with policymaking in Singapore and Southeast Asia to discover ways in which we can learn from each other. However, this does not mean that in-class case studies are restricted to Europe. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much I’ve been able to learn about public policy in Latin America and Africa, due to the specific classes I’ve been taking and the demographic make-up of both cohorts.
What are the highlights from Welcome and your first few weeks?
Getting to know everyone and their diverse backgrounds. Many SPP students have had at least a few years of work, internship, or volunteer experience, and we’re all from many different countries and sectors, so there’s so much to learn just by talking with each other!
What has been a key learning for you so far?
The importance of clear, evidence-based policy communication. So many brilliant policy ideas become muddled in a mix of technical jargon and incomprehensible charts. The policy memos and data visualisations I’ve created in my classes have served as helpful training in this regard.
What are you most looking forward to?
Finishing my policy paper and Capstone! I’m really enjoying the freedom of researching topics of interest and the practical applicability of what I am working on to real-world policy issues. I can’t wait to see what comes out of this process, both for myself and for my classmates who are working on a wide array of genuinely fascinating topics.
What are your main objectives whilst you are at LSE SPP?
Attending as many guest lectures as I can and finding synergies among those and my classes. It’s always exciting to find areas of overlap and uncover new ways of thinking by combining several seemingly disparate topics.
Can you describe your SPP experience so far in 3 words?
Fulfilling, enriching and challenging (in a fulfilling and enriching way!).
Wen Qi is happy to connect on LinkedIn.