Apply for the MPP 2013 programme

To apply for the Master of Public Policy programme, candidates must submit a complete application package that includes the following items:

1. Completed admissions application form
2. Application fee (waived)
3. Official transcripts and certificates
4. Standardised test scores
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score (if available)
6. Curriculum vitae/ résumé
7. Essays
8. References
9. Completed financial aid application form (if applicable)
10. Copy of passport, identity card or birth certificate

The application form must be completed in English. Supporting documents not in English must be accompanied by a notarised, English translation. Originals of submitted documents must be furnished for verification at student registration. Students found to have given inaccurate or false information will be required to withdraw from the MPP programme. Your full name, as written on page one of the application form, should appear on every document submitted. Please call our attention to any variation in your name that may appear on any material submitted.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all application materials are mailed in time to reach the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy by the relevant deadline. Late applications will not be accepted. They will instead be considered for the following year’s programme.

There are two ways you can submit your MPP application:

• Paper
• Online

For paper submissions, download the 2013 Application Booklet here:

Please make sure your application and supporting documents reach the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy by 15th February, 2013.

For paper submissions, please send a copy of the completed online application form and supporting documents to:

Admissions Committee for the 2013 Master in Public Policy Programme
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
National University of Singapore
469C Bukit Timah Road
Oei Tiong Ham Building
Singapore 259772

1. Completed Admissions Application Form
   Please visit here for the Online Application System. Please ensure that your application and supporting documents reach the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy by 15th February, 2013.
2. Application Fee
   The application fee has been waived.
3. Official Transcripts and Certificates
   Official transcripts of academic work and degrees/diplomas/certificates from each college or university you have attended must be submitted directly to the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy from your college or university registrar. Present the “TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM” to your college or university registrar. If your institution does not provide official transcripts, please provide a certified copy of your credentials and a list of courses taken and the grades/marks received. These documents should be signed by an official of the institution and mailed directly to the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in an envelope that is signed across the sealed flap. If the credentials are not in English, they must be accompanied by English translations that have been notarised.
4. Standardised Test Scores
   Test scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) must be submitted for all international applicants except those whose undergraduate or graduate degrees are from English-medium institutions in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom or the United States. While the Admissions Committee does not set minimum scores for admissibility, experience suggests that successful applicants usually achieve or exceed the following scores:
   • 580 on the TOEFL paper-based test
   • 237 on the TOEFL computer-based test
   • 85 on the TOEFL internet-based test
   • 6.5 on the IELTS test
   Scores for the TOEFL and IELTS are valid for two years.Please note that the tests are conducted only at specific times. It takes about 4 months from the date of registration for the test, for the score to be finally received by an institution. You should allow sufficient time for the School to receive the results. When registering for the TOEFL, please use institution code 3720 for the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and subject code 94 for Public Administration / Policy.There is no need for institution or subject codes for the IELTS. Official copies of the test scores must be sent directly to the School. If you know your scores, please enter them on the application form. You may also include a photocopy of your score report. However, final admissions decisions are contingent upon the receipt of the official score report by the School.For more information about the TOEFL or IELTS, and for instructions on registering, please contact: Educational Testing Service, Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ, 08541, U.S.A (for TOEFL) or visit the websites www.toefl.org (for TOEFL) and www.ielts.org (for IELTS).
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
   Applicants are encouraged to take the GRE and submit their scores.
6. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
   Please give us a curriculum vitae (CV) listing your academic, professional, and personal achievements, including significant appointments that you have held. For each appointment, indicate the organisation, the period (include month and year) during which you held the appointment, your major responsibilities, your starting- and ending-salary and the name and title of your supervisor. Please explain any gaps in your employment history. Please also tell us about your hobbies and interests.
7. Essays
   Please limit your essays to 500 words each. Type your name and the programme you are applying for in the upper right-hand corner of each page and clearly mark each essay “Essay #__”.
   • Essay 1: Describe your contribution to a project which was successful and to another which was unsuccessful. What did you learn about management, implementation problems and yourself from these experiences?
   • Essay 2: What competencies do you expect to gain from studying at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy? How do you see the MPP as contributing to your career?
   • Essay 3: If admitted, what do you expect to contribute to the classroom learning experience at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy?
8. References
   You must provide 3 references in English from individuals who know you and your work. It is important that you select referees who are able to comment on your abilities in the professional setting. Please provide a list of referees with their email addresses in the online application. Once the application has been submitted, your referees will be contacted by email with a request to fill the “REFERENCE FORM” which they may then send electronically to the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
9. Financial Aid
   If you would like to be considered for scholarships or other forms of financial aid, you must submit the “FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION FORM”.
10. Password (for online application only)
    When submitting your application online, you will be asked to enter a 6-character password. Your password is important and can be used with your application number, to access the following online facilities related to your application:
    • Online Application Status Enquiry*
    • Online Update of Contact Details
    • Online Reply to Offer of Admission
    * Note: If you have posted your supporting documents and payment (by bank draft), please allow 4 weeks for postal delivery before checking your admission and payment status.
For enquiries, please contact either

Joyce Cuff at (65) 6516 5357 or
Regine Wong at (65) 6516 4845

You can also email your queries to