Robertson Hall, Scudder Plaza fountain

Admissions Blog

Graduate admissions updates and highlights of the School's international community of students, faculty, and alumni.

Robertson Fountain

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…

Robertson Spring 2024

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…

Robertson Hall with people standing in front and sky and clouds

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…

Bryan Manoo, Pascaline Dupas with healthcare workers, India

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…

Princeton across from Firestone

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…

Patrick McCabe, MPA ’26

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…

Clio Hall in autumn

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,…

Robertson Hall

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…

Surujdai Mukhram with colleagues

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…

Sébastien Philippe *18

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 …

SPIA graduate students-2025 cohort

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…

Daniel Bosa Rincón at the Japan Economic Foundation office

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…

Welcome class

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…

Agostina Dasso Martorell

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…

Student Volunteers

Afghan Policy Lab (APL) - Nowruz Celebration at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

The Afghan Policy Lab (APL), co-founded by Princeton SPIA and the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD) is one of the many centers and…