MPP at Blavatnik School of Government

Hey all

Does anyone know something about the MSc Public Policy & Management at KCL?
I got an offer for this programme, but haven't seen anyone talking about its reputation or anything.
I also applied to the LSE and Oxford MPPs, and as I haven't heard anything from LSE until now, I'm thinking if maybe I should apply to a 4th course elsewhere that is more strong than the KCLs one...

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Good to meet you. I got rejected by LSE but have an offer from Cambridge. Waiting to hear from Oxford. Final decision will depend on the funding I get (if any).

Congratulations for Cambridge
Hope everything works out for you!

Don't know much about KCL. But there are some good professors in the politics department there as far as I know. Being in the centre of London also makes the place special, if that matters to you.

Did you consider the Cambridge MPP?

Hi! Being in London is a negative point for me, as I would prefer to have more life quality in this "gap year" (without full-time work). I mean, usually big cities come together with overpriced rents/food and traffic in transportation. I know that all of that comes together with more internships and jobs opportunities, though.

I didn't consider the Cambridge MPP at first because I thought it was an academic-focused course. After your suggestion, I went once again to the website and found out that it is a nice master program. The problem is that I want to focus my masters' studies in government people management, and I haven't found anything related to this on their website.
Do you know if they have some research about the people management's topic?

Edit - PS: Do you mind sharing when did you apply to LSE and when they answered you?

Hello guys, any update on when we're likely to hear back from BSG this year? Someone said it may be as soon as the first week of March. Did anyone else hear a similar date?

Hello!
I was informed by the Admission Team that - a decision should be communicated to you no later than 19th March.

Oh, I got that same communication. But I really don't want to wait so long. Lol!

"Ready for assessment in January Deadline :

Your application can be or has been considered by the relevant academic department. The Graduate Admissions website provides further information on the graduate admissions timetable and process". It has been like that from the beginning. Is yours the same?

Yes, mine has been the same since October. Do you have any idea whether scholarship decisions (if admitted) come along with the admissions outcome?

Hi. I have applied for the Oxford’s MPP programme. I am very stressed out. Can someone please evaluate my profile and say if I stand a chance or not.I have an undergrad degree in English and Political science from Hindu College, University of Delhi with 6.27 GCPA. I have two years of experience working as an HR Associate. I have faced racial discrimination during my initial months in college and therefore I have raised voice against discrimination and promoted awareness which I am very proud of. I co-founded an NGO after college which focuses on education, health, gender equality and environment. So far I have been able to make a positive impact on the lives of over 1000 people. I am heading the think tank of the NGO as well. I have worked as an analyst at a PAC for 1 year and advised political leaders on rural development. I am of the notion that Indian politicians in general lack policy skills which is the root cause of policy failures and slow rate of development. I am hoping to get the MPP degree fromOxford to make substantial impact and Oxford can provide that platform. I don’t know if I have been able to explain my profile with clarity as I am very stressed out. Please help me out guys. What are my chances?

Hello,

Don't stress mate. Whether you make it to Oxford or not, does not define who you are going to be. You can still make a substantial impact without having an MPP. Listen to this top academic explaining about getting rejected from Oxford. He himself was Rejected on 3 separate occasions before finally attaining an offer. I am sure it will calm your nerves ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIjDn2mEc0E

In regards to your application, whatever our assumptions will be on your profile. The truth is that no one will have an accurate answer for you as we are not on the admission panel. Just be patient and within a month you will know your outcome. Personally, I feel you have a strong chance and good experience under your belt. Rejection is tough for most people. A natural reaction. However, from watching endless Vlogs of Oxford, Cambridge Harvard etc, it became apparent that suitably qualified candidates had been rejected, and lesser able candidates had been offered a place. Admission is often subjective, selection is based on many factors, not always based simply on the criteria you would imagine. My advice would always be to any student who wants to study at a prestigious university to still apply and see what happens.

Regardless of the outcome, there are many other opportunities ahead. Always keep your head up and have confidence in yourself knowing that getting accepted or rejected by a University does not define who you are. In the end, many people find that their rejection from a place like Oxford was a blessing in disguise. Because for example, they would have never have had this other opportunity that came up or met this person who becomes your wife etc. Whatever is meant to happen to us, will happen, and everything happens for a reason.

So regarding scholarship decisions. Once you have received an offer from Oxford, you will receive another email from Blavatnik School to fill out a questionnaire and answer (in detail) your personal circumstances (i.e. Evidence you haven't got any money and cannot come without one), what scholarship(s) you are interested in (They want to know you have done your research here), and what differentiates you from everyone else that has an offer. They give you a week to do this. After the deadline (Week to do the questionnaire) is passed. They shortlist candidates and invite them to an interview (usually lasting an hour), and I have heard they heavily scrutinize people at this interview. After the interview, those who are successful will receive an email within a week notifying you if you have been successful in attaining a scholarship, and whether you will be fully funded or partly-funded. Those who aren't successful should not lose hope, and the University will provide possible alternative ways to attain a scholarship through other websites. Statistics demonstrate that only about 20% of students who come to the Blatvanik school had not been able to secure any scholarships, so the chances of receiving at least a partially funded one (covering 25% of your university fees) is very obtainable.

Hope that answers your question

Great answer. Thank you so much. By the way, I also read that you need to deposit a hefty sum to secure your place in the program. Anywhere between 5% to 15% of total course fees. So there's a lot of crucial decisions to make if we're handed out an offer in the next few weeks.

Yes indeed. I have already decided that I would only go on to the MPP if I meet the grade requirements (on offer letter), and attain a full scholarship, and even then I would have to think twice about it. I am not a person who is born with a silver spoon, living in a 20 bedroom mansion, with servants serving me all my meals. I do not have £45,000 to spare to pay for Tuition fees +£15,000 for the living expenses, + go on an unpaid internship for 6 weeks during the summer project and pay for more additional living costs/ probably working in London. I do not even earn £60,000-£70,000 in two full paid years. I also wouldn't want to try and get the money off anyone else (including parents) and use their hard-earned savings. They would probably give me the cash requirements, but that would just fill me with deep guilt and stress. I really need to ask myself is this master's even worth it? The answer I am currently leaning towards is -definitely not. So many great people have achieved amazing things in politics and public policy with no qualifications whatsoever, and I already hold a degree from a prestigious institution. Also, all the stuff taught on the public policy course can be found online, or just by reading the textbook, the lecturer would hand out (That can be found in a library). Also, if I manage to attain a job offer from what I would have been going for after an MPP is another reason why I do not see a reason to study it. I now understand why several people reject a masters offer from Oxford/Cambridge. It is very different from an undergrad point of a view. Last year, 95 students rejected an offer from the Oxford MPP course. That is almost an entire cohort of prospective students (120 in a full class).

So yes, a lot of decisions to be made over the next few weeks.

I am in pretty much the same boat. The most I can do (after a lot of stretching of my family's finances) is fund my living expenses. Nothing more. I am on the brink of paying off my family's huge liabilities after years of frugal living and don't want to go back into debt so easily again. Even arranging the funds for the deposit will take some effort. But at least the Oxford MPP seems like a pretty well-funded program compared the ones at Cambridge and LSE: https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/news/highest-ever-number-scholarships-awarded

So all the best to you, mate.