harvard public policy phd acceptance rate

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Harvard Public Policy PhD: Eligibility, Tuition Fees, and Acceptance Rate

• Updated on  
• Feb 6, 2024

Harvard University’s Harvard Kennedy School offers a PhD in Public Policy (PPOL) program. This course provides the advanced graduate training required to launch yourself into a research or related post in government, academia, the private sector, or a nongovernmental organisation. 

Keep reading this blog if you want to learn about the pursuit of a Harvard Public Policy PhD. We will discuss the various aspects of this degree. You will learn about the Harvard Public Policy PhD acceptance rate, eligibility, fees, and more. So, let’s talk about this world-class program without any further ado. 

This Blog Includes:

Prepared for the real world, acquire high-in-demand skills and knowledge, amazing placement scene, tuition fees and duration , harvard public policy phd acceptance rate, eligibility , application process, why pursue harvard public policy phd.

Studying at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School positions you for a bright career. Here are the major reasons why you should pursue a Harvard Public Policy PhD:

The graduates of PPOL enter the workplace equipped with skills to teach, conduct research, and make a profound impact in academia, multinational organisations, NGOs, etc. After completing this program, you are fully prepared to thrive as a professional. 

The Harvard Kennedy School provides you with the opportunity to immerse yourself in the study of administration, public policy, and leadership via its courses. The knowledge and skills offered here allow graduates to have productive careers in multinational organisations, think tanks, academia, NGOs, or the private sector. 

Harvard Kennedy School’s Class of 2022 saw 91% of graduates getting employed and 6% running for office, launching new ventures, or continuing their studies by the end of October 2022. 

Also Read: University of Cambridge Admission Requirements: Eligibility Criteria and Application Process

The average annual tuition fee for the Harvard Public Policy PhD is $10,799, and the duration of this course is 5 years. This is lower in comparison to the average annual fee of the whole of Harvard University, which is $57,261. 

The acceptance rate of Harvard Kennedy School is 20%, making it a competitive school to get into. However, this should not discourage you from applying for admission to this prestigious institute. You can get into Harvard Kennedy School with the right qualifications and determination. 

Also Read: Harvard University PhD in Physics: Application, Stipend, Acceptance Rate, Requirements and Deadline

Now that you know the Harvard Public Policy PhD acceptance rate, let’s look at its eligibility criteria. So, here are the requirements you need to meet to be deemed eligible to pursue this program: 

• You need to have a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree is not necessary. 
• Moreover, you must score a minimum of 80 on TOEFL IBT.
• You also have to submit the following documents:
• Three letters of recommendation,
• The Harvard Griffin GSAS online application and application fee,
• Official transcripts for all colleges or universities attended,
• Internet-based TOEFL or IELTS scores (for those for whom English is not their first language),
• Valid GRE general test scores,
• A valid passport,
• A student visa,
• Writing sample of no more than 20 pages, which must be single-authored and written in English, and 
• Statement of purpose. 

The application process for the Harvard Public Policy PhD can become confusing. Fortunately, Leverage Edu can assist you in your application and make it easier. 

Here is how we can aid you in your admission process: 

• Our AI Course Finder can help you in selecting the program.
• Then, our experts will begin the application process on your behalf for your opted institute. 
• Your application has to include IELTS, SOPs, TOEFL, LORs, essays, and some other necessary documentation. 
• So, please ensure that you gather and prepare all the needed documents for the application beforehand. 
• After this, the Leverage Edu team will commence your application for housing, scholarships, and student loans after you are done with all the necessary paperwork and application. 
• Then, just wait for your offer letter, which you typically get within 4-6 weeks.

Relevant Reads:

Ans: You can apply to the PPOL PhD program if you have a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree is not required.

Ans: Harvard University is a private institute, founded in 1636. 

Ans: The acceptance rate of Harvard Kennedy School is 20%, making it a difficult institute to get into. However, it is not impossible to gain admission here with the right qualifications and determination. 

So, this was all about pursuing the Harvard Public Policy PhD. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad .

Abhishek Kumar Jha

Abhishek Kumar Jha is a professional content writer and marketer, having extensive experience in delivering content in journalism and marketing. He has written news content related to education for prominent media outlets, garnering expansive knowledge of the Indian education landscape throughout his experience. Moreover, he is a skilled content marketer, with experience in writing SEO-friendly blogs. His educational background includes a Postgraduate Diploma in English Journalism from the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal. By receiving an education from a top journalism school and working in the corporate world with complete devotion, he has honed the essential skills needed to excel in content writing.

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Public Policy

The Master in Public Policy (MPP) is a two-year program that prepares students to understand complex public policy problems and craft concrete solutions. Through coursework, exercises, and fieldwork, students master concepts and skills that draw on the social sciences but are adapted for action. MPP graduates are versatile—they lead change in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Many distinguish themselves in more than one of these sectors during the course of their careers.

The Ph.D. in Public Policy Program provides exceptional scholars with advanced graduate training to prepare them for positions in academia, government, and at research organizations. Candidates are trained to conduct policy analytic research, help shape and execute public policy, and teach the next generation of educators, researchers, and practitioners. The program encourages scholarly research that empowers public policy practitioners to make informed decisions. Coursework reflects this approach by combining core requirements—in theory (economics, politics and management, and normative theory) and methods (advanced methodology, analytical, and quantitative empirical)—with primary and secondary concentrations.

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The Department of Government. Calling all researchers, leaders, and changemakers.  

When you join Harvard University’s Department of Government, you become part of a highly-recognized intellectual community of scholars, researchers, visionaries, leaders, and changemakers. Our strength in teaching and research in all fields of political science is reflected in both our faculty and our curriculum. 

Harvard University’s Department of Government is a world leader in the study and scholarship in political science. Our programs of study include:

• American Government
• Comparative Politics
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• Political Methodology/Formal Theory
• Political Philosophy and Its History

Our innovative curriculum reflects a diverse range of fields and methodologies. The vibrant graduate student body receives hands-on training by conducting supervised dissertation research and working with our faculty in research projects and undergraduate teaching. 

Here, scholars have access to unparalleled resources.  They have the opportunity to define and formulate their own research questions and to apply a variety of research methodologies. 

• Graduate students research is greatly facilitated by the exceptional resources offered by the Department of Government and the University.
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Scholars can also take advantage of Harvard’s generous financial aid program.  In addition, there is just no match to the energy and excitement that accompanies student life in the Cambridge/Boston area.  

Harvard University does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry or any other protected classificiation.

PhD Requirements

Candidates for the PhD in Government are expected to complete the required coursework during their first two years of graduate study and take the General Examination at the end of the second year. A typical schedule consists of these two years, followed by three or four years of work on a dissertation, combined with supervised teaching.

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The graduate program of the Department of Government is designed to train students for careers in university teaching and advanced research in political science. The department does not offer an independent master’s program, the master of arts in political science being reserved for PhD candidates on the way to their final degrees.  Click here  to visit the Graduate School of Arts and Science’s page on admission to the Government Department to learn more about the application process. 

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The application for admissions is available at  http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/apply .

The application fee is $105. Applicants can determine eligibility for a fee waiver by completing a series of questions in the Application Fee section of the application. Once these questions have been answered, the application system will provide an immediate response regarding fee waiver eligibility.

Application information and instructions are available at  www.gsas.harvard.edu . Applicants with admissions questions should call 617-496-6100 from 2-5pm EST or email  [email protected] .  Applicants with financial aid questions should call 617-495-5396 or email  [email protected] .

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Financial aid is administered under the direction of the  Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) .  The department intends that all graduate students should have support adequate to enable them to complete their studies while enrolled full-time. Prospective students apply for financial aid at the same time they apply for admission and are also required to submit a Statement of Financial Resources.  The financial aid package for government students typically includes tuition and fees plus a stipend and a summer research grant for the first two years; tuition and fees plus guaranteed teaching fellowships and a summer research grant for years three and four; tuition and fees in year five; and tuition and fees plus a stipend for the completion year.

In addition to  funding from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences , graduate students are encouraged to apply for outside fellowships and grants. Please visit the  website of the GSAS Fellowships Office  for more information.  

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Admissions stats for public policy PhD programs?

I've been trying to gauge exactly how competitive some of the PhD programs in public policy are and I've noticed that many programs don't publish (or I can't find) the acceptance rates for these programs. Schools like HKS, Harris, Woodrow Wilson, LBJ at Texas, etc. Has anyone else had any luck finding info like this? Why aren't these stats posted like Econ programs do?

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Judgment and Decision Making Track

In this section.

• Degree Requirements
• What We Look For

The Judgment and Decision Making track in the PhD program in Public Policy provides a curriculum for doctoral students seeking rigorous interdisciplinary training in psychological science, behavioral economics, and decision science, with a focus on understanding and improving public policy.  A typical program of study includes emphasis on descriptive and normative approaches as well as on prescriptive interventions.

Graduates will be prepared for academic teaching and research positions in public policy schools, interdisciplinary programs (e.g., management, decision science), and traditional behavioral science departments (e.g., psychology), as well as for analytic positions in industry, think tanks, government, and international institutions.  

HKS has a strong core of faculty specializing in judgment and decision-making research as well as faculty specializing in applied policy domains where students may wish to focus.  Intrinsic to the program are teaching and research opportunities with leading scholars at HKS and elsewhere at Harvard. 

Simple intervention helps build emotional resilience during COVID-19

PPOL PhD student Ke Wang led a study to determine whether interventions to mitigate negative emotions and increase positive emotions could improve psychological resilience and help people respond better to adversity. Professor of Public Policy, Decision Science, and Management Jennifer Lerner , who is Wang’s advisor, was also an author in the study.

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The Department of Government at Harvard is a world leader in the study of political science, and the department’s faculty covers a wide range of fields and methodologies. The department’s breadth and depth allows you to pursue groundbreaking research on a variety of topics. The doctoral program’s diversity and flexibility enables scholars from all backgrounds and interests to thrive.

In the Department of Government, you will study and do research with the faculty of the department and leading scholars in other Harvard departments and schools, including Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. You have access to unparalleled resources, ranging from the largest university library in the world to the Harvard research computing cluster to a wide array of centers and institutes associated with the department.

Graduates of the department write dissertations on topics ranging from ancient political theory to the politics of cybersecurity. They go on to jobs at leading academic institutions, companies, government agencies, and nonprofits.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Government and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Areas of Study

American Government | Comparative Politics | International Relations | Political Thought and Its History | Quantitative Methods/Formal Theory

Admissions Requirements

Please review the admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Government .

Writing Sample

A writing sample is required as part of the application and should be a recent scholarly or critical paper, 15 to 25 pages in length.

For the coordinated JD/PhD  in law and political science, applicants must apply separately to each program and indicate in the application to the PhD program that a concurrent application has been submitted to the Harvard Law School.

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GRE General: Required Writing Sample: Required (15-25 pages) iBT TOEFL preferred minimum score: 105 IELTS preferred minimum score: 7.5

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Theses & Dissertations for Government

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PhD in Biological Sciences in Public Health

Prepare for a high-impact academic or research career at the forefront of the biological sciences in public health..

As a student in the PhD in biological sciences in public health program, you will gain expertise in the prevention and treatment of diseases that affect thousands—even millions—of people. Working with leading public health scientists, you will learn both mechanistic and quantitative approaches to biomedical research, while specializing in one of four areas of investigation:

• The metabolic basis of health and disease
• Immunology and infectious diseases
• Gene-environment interactions
• Inflammation and stress responses

Each area of investigation emphasizes biochemical, cell biological, and genetic approaches to understanding disease. In your research, whether basic or translational, you will apply cutting-edge tools and techniques to advance the understanding, treatment, and prevention of human diseases that significantly impact global populations today. Current research within our laboratories includes these and other diseases and risk factors:

• Atherosclerosis
• Chagas’ disease
• Environmental exposure to toxins
• Inflammatory diseases
• Kidney disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Tuberculosis

As a graduate of the program, you will be prepared for a career as a faculty member in a college, university, medical school, research institute, or school of public health. You may also choose to pursue a career in research at a government agency, or in the private sector at a consulting, biotech, or pharmaceutical firm.

The program provides broad interdisciplinary knowledge of both mechanistic and quantitative approaches to biomedical research and prepares graduate students for research careers with courses in the following areas:

• Biochemistry, Genetics
• Biostatistics
• Cell biology
• Epidemiology
• Immunology/Infectious diseases
• Molecular biology
• Toxicology/Cancer cell biology

All students admitted to the PhD in biological sciences in public health program, including international students, are guaranteed full funding, which includes a stipend, tuition, and health insurance for five years, provided they maintain satisfactory progress.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

To qualify for admission, applicants must demonstrate strong enthusiasm and ability for the vigorous pursuit of scientific knowledge. Minimum requirements include a bachelor’s degree and undergraduate preparation in the sciences.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Like all PhD (doctor of philosophy) programs at the School, the PhD in biological sciences in public health is offered under the aegis of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). Applications are processed through the Harvard Griffin GSAS online application system . The program is located within the Division of Biological Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

OUR COMMUNITY: COMMITTED, ACCOMPLISHED, COLLABORATIVE

As a PhD candidate in the biological sciences in public health program, you will be part of a diverse and accomplished group of students with a broad range of research and other interests. The opportunity to learn from each other and share ideas outside of the classroom will be one of the most rewarding and productive parts of the program. The School fosters those relationships by sponsoring an “informal curriculum” of seminars, journal clubs, retreats, and other opportunities that will broaden your knowledge, hone your presentation skills, and teach you how to critically evaluate scientific literature while providing a supportive, collaborative community within which to pursue your degree. Our location in the heart of Boston’s Longwood Medical Area—home to Harvard Medical School, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and many world-class hospitals—makes collaboration with eminent laboratory and clinical researchers a natural part of the educational experience. And when you graduate, you will benefit from Harvard’s unparalleled global network of alumni leaders.

LEARN MORE Visit our website at www.hsph.harvard.edu/biological-sciences for more information or contact [email protected]

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