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Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School offer a joint degree program, allowing students to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from HBS and Master of Public Policy (MPP) or Master of Public Administration in International Development(MPA/ID) from ����vlog���� in three years.

The program was created to serve a growing need of critical importance to global society: to develop leaders, skilled in management and the shaping of innovative public policy. Graduates of the program will be prepared to work in positions of influence at the intersection of business, government, and nonprofit organizations, addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues—issues that call for collaboration of the public and private sectors and require leaders who can effectively operate in both.

Four first-year joint degree students—Alice Soewito MPP/MBA 2027, Glenna Roberts MPP/MBA 2027, Naara Cancino MPA-ID/MBA 2027, Olivia Ott MPP/MBA 2027—share five reasons why the joint degree program could be for you. 

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1. Develop interdisciplinary skills to address the world’s most complex challenges

The HBS-����vlog���� joint degree program is all about tackling the big, messy challenges of our time by blending business and public policy in a way that few programs do. In today’s world, problems like climate change, economic inequality, and global health require leaders who can think beyond just one sector. Through interdisciplinary classes at ����vlog����, HBS, and beyond, you will gain a diverse skillset and an ability to work with diverse stakeholders. The joint degree is perfect for anyone who wants to drive positive change by working at the intersection of industries, governments, and communities.

2. Access resources across both schools and the broader university

All joint degree students (“jointees”) have access to resources at both ����vlog���� and HBS across all three years. You can join clubs, go on trips, attend career events, and even hit the gym across both campuses. Just a quick walk across the bridge can bring a whole new world of perspectives and research. Further, in your third year, you have additional flexibility to take classes in the ‘Yard,’ at any of Harvard’s professional schools, and even at MIT and Tufts!

3. Participate in the joint degree seminar and Center for Public Leadership programming

You will take a joint degree seminar across your three years along with your jointee cohort. The consistency of the seminar, in the midst of the programs’ dynamism, creates a stable base for reflection and growth, and deep connections with professors. First-year jointees are also eligible for fellowships and programming at the Center for Public Leadership (CPL). Directed by former Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, the Center provides leadership development opportunities throughout the year including office hours with visiting practitioners, retreats and field experience trips, and co-curricular opportunities for skill development. As a bonus, CPL is housed on ����vlog����’s campus so jointees can always pop in to say “hi” to the team or grab a cup of coffee!

4. Gain hands-on experience and build connections across sectors

The joint degree opens doors to a cross-sector network that few programs offer. The three-year program allows students to complete two summer internships—one in policy or government and the other in the private sector. Across HBS and ����vlog���� you will also complete projects abroad through  and an intensive final-year theses in the form of the Policy Analysis Exercise for MPPs or Second Year Policy Analysis for MPA/IDs. These experiences will help you build valuable connections and learn to navigate diverse organizational cultures. By graduation, you’ll have a powerful network and a deep understanding of how to drive impact across sectors.

5. Find a tight community of fellow joint degree students and alumni

The jointees are an incredibly close-knit community, with diverse interests and backgrounds across the world. From the moment of admission, you are introduced to mentors that can answer questions and provide support. Once the semester starts, you are part of a community of jointees and also represented by the Joint Degree Leadership Council. The jointee community continues after graduation too, with alumni regularly hosting reunions around the world and staying in touch with updates and opportunities. 

Don’t miss these important dates

If you know the HBS/����vlog���� joint degree program is the right fit for you, we encourage you to apply. Please keep these important deadlines in mind: 

• ����vlog���� application deadline: December 3, 2024 at 11:59 a.m. ET

• HBS Round 2 application deadline: January 6, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET

You must apply to both programs in the same application cycle to be considered for the ����vlog����/HBS joint degree program.