As a member school of the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN), SIPA offers a International Dual-Degree Program to our MPA/MIA students. Students in this program have the opportunity to spend one of the two years of their MPA/MIA program to study at a foreign partner school. This program gives students the chance to study public policy from an international perspective with exposure to different academic, cultural, and professional environment. Here are some things you need to know about the International Dual-Degree Program.

Which schools offer international dual degrees with SIPA?
SIPA has a partnership with six policy schools around the world, including Sciences Po Paris, the London School of Economics and Political Science, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, the FGV-EAESP in São Paulo, the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) at the University of Tokyo, and the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.

When do I begin my study aboard if I am in this program?
Students in the international dual-degree program would spend one year at SIPA and another year at a partner school. For each program — except for the one with Sciences Po Paris — students are free to choose whether to  spend the first year at SIPA or at a partner school. The program with Sciences Po Paris is a fixed-track one, in which all students must spend their first year in Paris and the second year at SIPA.

If I want to start from SIPA, how do I apply?
If you plan to spend the first year at SIPA, you need to go through the regular SIPA admissions process. All the requirements are the same as the regular two-year MPA/MIA application, including the materials you need to submit and the deadlines. When you are matriculated at SIPA, you need to talk to your academic adviser about dual-degree program and apply to a partner school accordingly.

If I want to start from a partner school, how do I apply?
If you plan to spend the first year at a partner school, you need to apply through their website. The following programs has various application requirements and deadlines, so please follow the school’s instructions and contact their respective admissions offices if you have questions or need further information. More information for each program is below:

• London: the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) MPA
• Paris: SIPA MIA with the Paris School of International Affairs – Sciences Po
• Paris: SIPA MPA with the School of Public Affairs at Sciences Po
• Singapore: the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) at the National University of Singapore MPP (Master of Public Policy)
• Berlin: the Hertie School of GovernanceMPP or MIA
• São Paulo: Fundação Getulio Vargas Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (FGV-EAESP) (Master in International Management or Master in International Management and Public Policy)
• Tokyo: University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) – MPP

Do I get two degrees from both schools?
Yes, you could get a MIA or MPA degree from SIPA and also a relevant degree from the partner school. See the links above to confirm which degrees qualify for the program at each institution.

How do I pay tuition?
Students will pay SIPA tuition when they are studying in residence at SIPA, and the partner school tuition for the other year. For the SIPA side, you can find the estimated tuition, fees and cost here. For the partner school side, you will need to review the links referred above to find about their tuition and cost.

What is the language of instruction?
English is the language of instruction for all programs with the exception of the FGV-EAESP’s Master in Management and Public Policy in São Paulo, where the language of instruction is Portuguese (The language of instruction for the Master in International Management is English).  Therefore applicants to this program should know Portuguese, as well as English.

What courses should I choose when studying in a partner school?
If you study at a partner school during the first year, you are encouraged to satisfy as many SIPA core requirements as possible by taking approved equivalent courses. During the second year at SIPA, you will need to complete any remaining core requirements in addition to your concentration and specialization requirements. If you start at SIPA, you are required to complete all core courses  in the first year, with the exception of capstone workshop. The second year curriculum is determined by the partner school. You can consult with your academic adviser and the dual-degree coordinator to figure out which courses can be used to satisfy SIPA requirements, as well as the partner school’s requirements.

Who do I contact to find out more?
Please contact Alleyne Waysome, assistant dean of Office of Student Affairs for more info on the International Dual-Degree Programs at [email protected].

I’m still confused.
Don’t worry. Just look at the chart below.