The Sanford Master of Public Policy provides emerging leaders in the field the freedom to customize their education to serve their aspirations. From education reform and environmental initiatives to economic practices, our approach analyzes policy at every level
from every angle.
About the program
First-class career services. Dual-degree offerings. A 2-year path to the top of Capitol Hill.
Policy Concentrations
Choose from seven policy concentrations to earn on parallel paths with the MPP.
Career Services
From career workshops to individual appointments, our team works with each student to carve their individual career path.
Financial aid packages and scholarship opportunities available.
*additional fees may apply.
Application requirements
We welcome applicants with 2-6 years of full-time work experience from a variety of professional backgrounds.
Requirements:
Statement of purpose
Resume/CV
Transcripts from previous academic careers
Three letters of recommendation
Proof of English language proficiency if English is not your first language
Video introduction
$80 application fee
Optional:
GRE scores
Curated video essay
Timeline:
Applications are due January 5 for the following August start term.
"Sanford has given me a space to fully step into my voice and be able to articulate and stand up for things that I believe in, or even challenge things that I maybe once believed in."
"The Master of Public Policy program at Duke does a really great job of teaching you how to look at the problem, look at the opportunities, and be able to connect those issues into problem solving."
August Mao, MPP'16, Lead Project Manager, Campus Operations Portfolio, The White House
"I’ve built connections with professors and staff here who help me stay true to my “why” and figure out what I need to do to move forward."
Jordan Wilson, MPP'24, Policy Advisor, San Francisco Office of the Mayor
MPP students do not have to concentrate in a specific area of policy. Rather than concentrate in a specific policy area, about half of our MPP students choose to focus on non-subject-specific skills-based courses, or explore the intersectionality of different policy areas.
Our seven MPP concentrations are an indicator of the range of topics and subjects covered at Sanford.
Sanford offers some merit-based financial aid to every admitted MPP student who is not already receiving full external funding.
The amount of merit-based funding that the program offers is based upon the strength of each application. We are committed to providing generous funding to admitted students, however it is important to note that full tuition coverage is rare.
We offer many fellowship opportunities, and third-party fellowships from Sanford and Duke partners. For both domestic and international students, student loan options are also available.
The faculty of the Sanford School of Public Policy lead or collaborate with a wide variety of on-campus interdisciplinary research centers that are exploring vital policy questions and bringing provocative and timely speakers to campus. These research hubs can offer students opportunities to work with faculty on ground-breaking research, and to engage with leaders in many fields.
In recent years, MPP students have pursued internship opportunities with the following employers:
State & Local Government:
North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management
City of Chicago
Montgomery County Council
City of Durham
National Governors Association
Federal Government
While portions of our MPP curriculum incorporate data analysis, microeconomics, and statistics, our MPP program is not STEM designated. As such, Sanford’s MPP program does not qualify for the 24-month extension for optional practical training (OPT).
Please visit our main MPP page to learn more about the MPP curriculum. You will also find information on our concentrations and our dual-degree programs.
We do not offer part-time or online options for the MPP degree. Sanford’s MPP program is an in-person, full-time program.
Core courses are scheduled Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM on average; electives are scheduled Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM.
The in-person, full-time model is necessitated by the rigorous academic and professional expectations of the program, paired with our community’s emphasis on in-person collaboration.
Strong applications will have a clear narrative. The combination of your personal statement, your resume, your academic transcripts, and your letters of recommendation should demonstrate intellectual curiosity, academic acumen, professional experience, and a commitment to public service.
The program looks for students with two or more years of post-undergraduate work experience, but also admits a limited number of outstanding students directly from undergraduate programs.
"The Master of Public Policy program at Duke does a really great job of teaching you how to look at the problem, look at the opportunities, and be able to connect those issues into problem solving."
August Mao, MPP'16, Lead Project Manager, Campus Operations Portfolio, The White House
"The Master of Public Policy program at Duke does
