Robertson Hall, Scudder Plaza fountain

Admissions Blog

Graduate admissions updates and highlights of the School's international community of students, faculty, and alumni.
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Large tree in autumn with leaves in color on ground too
Dec 09, 2025
Application Pro Tip: Last Minute Resources 2025
We are approaching our application deadline on December 15th and would like to thank everyone who has expressed interest in our community…
Admissions Categories; Students & Alumni
Robertson Fountain
Nov 26, 2025
Application Pro Tip: Reapplication
If you are re-applying to Princeton SPIA, please be mindful that our admission committees are looking to assess what has changed over the last year…
Admissions Categories; Tips & FAQs
Robertson Spring 2024
Nov 24, 2025
Application Pro Tip: What’s the difference between the MPA/MPP statement of purpose, personal statement and supplemental essay?
Essays for graduate study cover a myriad of topics. Here at SPIA, we hope our essays help reflect and speak to our culture, our community, and our…
Campus Life & Community; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Tips & FAQs
Robertson Hall with people standing in front and sky and clouds
Nov 18, 2025
Application Pro Tip: Writing an Impactful Policy Memo
The policy memo is a required component of the MPA and MPP application. What makes a good policy memo?  In fundamental terms…
Students & Alumni; Tips & FAQs
Bryan Manoo, Pascaline Dupas with healthcare workers, India
Nov 13, 2025
Good Policy Begins with Understanding People Where They Are.
When I first received the opportunity to spend my summer in India as a visiting Research Assistant at J-PAL South Asia, I was both excited and…
Students & Alumni
Princeton across from Firestone
Nov 11, 2025
Application Pro Tip: Letters of Recommendation
The December 15 deadline to submit MPA, MPP and Ph.D. applications for Fall 2026 is quickly approaching. Here at the Graduate Admissions Office, we…
Admissions Categories; Tips & FAQs
Patrick McCabe, MPA ’26
Nov 10, 2025
Applying SPIA Courses Through a Summer Internship with Mercy Corps Colombia
Interning with Mercy Corps in Colombia this summer was a unique opportunity to work with leaders of a large-scale assistance program as they sought…
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Students & Alumni
Clio Hall in autumn
Nov 06, 2025
Application Pro Tip: Your Commitment to Public Service
With just over a month to go before our December 15th deadline, we know that many of you may be working hard on your applications but also wondering,…
Admissions Categories; Tips & FAQs
Robertson Hall
Nov 04, 2025
At Princeton SPIA we fully fund our MPA, MPP and PhD Students.
The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) supports all admitted students with full funding.One reason we invest in our students…
Campus Life & Community; Students & Alumni
Surujdai Mukhram with colleagues
Oct 16, 2025
From New York to Nepal: Lessons on Policy, People, and Perspective
“One day we will write our own stories in English,” a ninth-grade student told me as she carefully sounded out new words from a book we had just…
Admissions Categories; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Students & Alumni
Sébastien Philippe *18
Oct 14, 2025
Sébastien Philippe *18 Wins MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grant
Sébastien Philippe, a 2018 Ph.D. recipient and visiting researcher at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs’ Program on Science …
Students & Alumni
SPIA graduate students-2025 cohort
Sep 23, 2025
Our Application is now open! Apply by November 15th and SPIA will pay your application fee.
We are excited to announce that the application for our MPA, MPP and PhD programs is now open!If you are committed to public service and you’ve…
Admissions Categories; Students & Alumni
Daniel Bosa Rincón at the Japan Economic Foundation office
Sep 16, 2025
A Summer Internship in Japan
This past summer I had the opportunity to travel to Tokyo, Japan, for my internship with the Japan Economic Foundation (JEF).My work was divided…
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Students & Alumni
Welcome class
Sep 04, 2025
Welcoming a Remarkable New Cohort to Princeton SPIA
It’s been an extraordinary year – one filled with global challenges and inspiring acts of public service. At Princeton SPIA, we continue to be moved…
Campus Life & Community; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Fields & Certificates; Students & Alumni
Agostina Dasso Martorell
Aug 18, 2025
Security Studies PhD: Skills and Resources to Make a Difference
When considering PhD programs, I sought something unique—an experience that would not only train me academically but also challenge me to understand…
Campus Life & Community; Students & Alumni