SIPA and the Hertie School
Columbia University’s SIPA and the Hertie School have joined together to offer a dual degree program that allows students to study at each institution for one year and receive Master's degrees from both schools in the same time it takes to obtain a single degree.
The program is open to:
- Students enrolled in their first year of SIPA's two year MIA or MPA programs.
OR - Students in their first year at the Hertie School
Students should contact the relevant administrators at their home school if they have questions regarding the program. The language of instruction, within this program at both schools is English.
SIPA Students - Second Year at the Hertie School
Columbia University’s SIPA offers the opportunity to study in Berlin at the Hertie School and earn degrees from both SIPA and the Hertie School in the same amount of time it takes to earn one degree. Both MIA and MPA first year SIPA students may apply to the dual degree program. Upon completion of the program, students will obtain a Masters of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the Hertie School as well as a Masters Degree from SIPA.
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Eligibility Criteria
SIPA students interested in completing their second year at a partner school must meet the eligibility criteria listed below.
- Be a first-year student in the traditional two year MIA or MPA programs
- Have maintained full-time enrollment in all semesters
- Preferred matriculation in the Fall semester (Note: Students who matriculate in the Spring semester may participate in the program but may need to complete an additional semester at SIPA before matriculating at the partner school)
- Be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 by the end of the Spring semester of your first year
- Have completed all core requirements, except the capstone and internship by the end of the Spring semester. Note: Internship must be registered or waived prior to the second year but students can complete the internship at any time prior to completion of the degree.
- Have completed a full academic year (Fall and Spring semesters)
- Have completed a minimum of 30 credits at SIPA by the end of the Spring semester
Note: Students completing their second year abroad are not required to complete a concentration.
Curricular Requirements
In addition to completing the SIPA requirements listed above, SIPA students must complete all partner school curricular requirements in the second year.
Hertie Curriculum
Please visit the Hertie website for information on their curriculum.
Degrees from both institutions are awarded only upon completion of all requirements at both schools. -
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
Students pay tuition at the institution where they are in residence.
Students in their second year at the Hertie School will pay tuition and fees to Hertie. Tuition and financial aid related inquiries should be directed to the school's administration. Information regarding tuition and fees is also available on the Hertie Tuition & Fees webpage
Note: Students attending the partner school in their second year will be charged the semesterly Health and Related Services Fee & International Student Fee
Hertie School Students - Second Year at SIPA
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Core Equivalencies & Second Year Curricular Requirements
Dual degree students completing their second year at SIPA must meet the following graduation requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 30 credits in residence
- Complete all core requirements
- Complete concentration requirements
- Attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Complete all first year curricular requirements from the partner school.
Degrees from both institutions are awarded only upon completion of all requirements at both schools.
Note: Select courses completed at the partner school may fulfill specific SIPA core requirements. Approved core equivalencies are listed in the table below. Students may also apply one course from their first year toward their SIPA concentration requirements subject to approval from the relevant concentration office. Direct any concentration related questions to the appropriate concentration office.
Due to the implementation of a new curriculum all course equivalencies are currently under review. The equivalency table below applies only to rising second year dual degree students matriculating at SIPA in Fall 2025. Students should have also confirmed which curriculum they will be pursuing in this coming year.
Students beginning their first year at the partner school in Fall 2025 must complete the new curriculum. There may also be changes to the current equivalency chart. However some course equivalencies approved below under the prior curriculum are expected to remain unchanged.
An updated equivalency chart for newly admitted dual degree students will be available during the Fall 2025 semester.
Current Curriculum & Current Concentrations and Specializations
OR
New Curriculum (Effective Fall 2025)SIPA Core Core Requirements- Current Curriculum Core Requirements- NEW Curriculum MPA Hertie Microeconomics SIPA 6300 or 6400 (6 credits) Only 6400 (Upper Level) GRAD-C8‐101 Public Sector Economics GRAD‐C7 Economics I - Introduction to Economics GRAD- C7adv: Advanced Economics: Concepts and Policy Applications Macroeconomics SIPA 6301 or 6401 (6 Credits) Only 6401 (upper level) GRAD-C7adv Economic and Financial Market Policy (Advanced) GRAD-C7med Economics: Basic Concepts and Policy Applications (Intermediate) GRAD-C8-109: Economics II: Inflation and Monetary Policy Challenges OR (A combination of at least TWO courses from the listing below) GRAD-C7 Applied Economic Analysis GRAD-C8‐101 Public Sector Economics GRAD-C8-102 Economics II: Economic Growth and Climate Change GRAD-C8-103 Economics II: International Economics GRAD-C8-104: Economics II: Economic and Financial Market Policy GRAD-C8-106 Economics II: Economic Crises GRAD-C8-107 Economics II: Sustainability Quantitative Analysis I U6500 Quantitative Analysis No change C5 Statistics I Quantitative Analysis II Not Required 3 credit required course GRAD-C6-2001 Statistics II: Statistical Modeling and Causal Inference with R
Politics of Policymaking PUAF U6100 Politics of Policymaking: Issues in Comparative Politics Politics I & II, Policy Skills I & II (6 credits) Module 1: Foundations of Public Policy, Policy Process Course OR PUAF U6110 Politics of Policymaking: American Institutions OR PUAF U6120 Politics of Policymaking: Comparative Perspectives Management List of SIPA courses which satisfy Management (singular 3 credit course) Leadership & Management I & II (2) 1.5 credit courses GRAD-C3 Public Management GRAD-E1245: Strategic Management in the Public Sector Financial Management List of SIPA courses which satisfy Financial Management (singular 3 credit course) Financial Management I & II (2) 1.5 credit courses GRAD-E1330: The Political Economy of Global Financial Regulation Ethics for Policymakers (1.5 credits) Not Required Ethics for Policymakers (1.5 credits) Must be completed at SIPA Capstone Capstone Workshop including Capstone Prepatory course No change Must be completed at SIPA Professional Development TBD if students will be required to register Requirement remains but this course is no longer registered Must be completed at SIPA Internship 0, 1.5 or 3 credits 0 credits Can be completed in either the 1st or 2nd year or in the summer between -
Core Equivalencies & Second Year Curricular Requirements
Dual degree students completing their second year at SIPA must meet the following graduation requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 30 credits in residence
- Complete all core requirements
- Complete concentration requirements
- Attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Complete all first year curricular requirements from the partner school.
Degrees from both institutions are awarded only upon completion of all requirements at both schools.
Note: Select courses completed at the partner school may fulfill specific SIPA core requirements. Approved core equivalencies are listed in the table below. Students may also apply one course from their first year toward their SIPA concentration requirements subject to approval from the relevant concentration office. Direct any concentration related questions to the appropriate concentration office.
Due to the implementation of a new curriculum all course equivalencies are currently under review. The equivalency table below applies only to rising second year dual degree students matriculating at SIPA in Fall 2025. Students should have also confirmed which curriculum they will be pursuing in this coming year.
Students beginning their first year at the partner school in Fall 2025 must complete the new curriculum. There may also be changes to the current equivalency chart. However some course equivalencies approved below under the prior curriculum are expected to remain unchanged.
An updated equivalency chart for newly admitted dual degree students will be available during the Fall 2025 semester.
Current Curriculum & Current Concentrations and Specializations
OR
New Curriculum (Effective Fall 2025)SIPA Core Core Requirements- Current Curriculum Core Requirements- NEW Curriculum - MIA Track I Core Requirements- NEW Curriculum - MIA Track II MIA Hertie Microeconomics U4200 Economics OR U6400 (The U4200/01 Economics sequence will be replaced by the singular Economics Fundamentals course in Fall 2025) Economics Fundamentals (3credits) - Includes both Micro and Macro requirements Only 6400 (upper level) For students in MIA Track I ONLY - The courses listed meet the Econ Fundamentals requirement. For MIA Track II the courses below meet macroeconomics only. GRAD-C8‐101 Public Sector Economics GRAD‐C7 Economics I - Introduction to Economics GRAD- C7adv: Advanced Economics: Concepts and Policy Applications Macroeconomics U4201 Economics OR U6401 Economic Analysis See Above Only 6401 (upper level) GRAD-C7adv Economic and Financial Market Policy (Advanced) GRAD-C7med Economics: Basic Concepts and Policy Applications (Intermediate) GRAD-C8-109: Economics II: Inflation and Monetary Policy Challenges OR (A combination of at least TWO courses from the listing below) GRAD-C7 Applied Economic Analysis GRAD-C8‐101 Public Sector Economics GRAD-C8-102 Economics II: Economic Growth and Climate Change GRAD-C8-103 Economics II: International Economics GRAD-C8-104: Economics II: Economic and Financial Market Policy GRAD-C8-106 Economics II: Economic Crises GRAD-C8-107 Economics II: Sustainability Quantitative Analysis I U6500 Quantitative Analysis No change C5 Statistics I C5 Statistics I Quantitative Analysis II Not Required Not Required Quantitative Analysis II (3 credits) GRAD-C6-2001 Statistics II: Statistical Modeling and Causal Inference with R
Conceptual Foundations INAF U6800 Conceptual Foundations Politics I & II, Policy Skills I & II (6 credits) Same as track I GRAD-C1-2000 Global Politics Management or Financial Management (MIA) List of SIPA courses which satisfy Financial Management or Management requirement (singular 3 credit course) Leadership & Management I , II, & III ) - (3) 1.5 credit courses - (4.5 credits) Leadership & Management I (1.5 credits) GRAD-C3 Public Management GRAD-E1245: Strategic Management in the Public Sector GRAD-E1330: The Political Economy of Global Financial Regulation International Law Not Required International Law (1.5 credits) Same as track I GRAD-C2-1101: International Law (Fall 2025)
GRAD-C2-2001: Law and Governance (Fall 2025)
Interstate Relations (3 credits) List of courses which meet this requirement Global Requirement I & II (6 credits) Global Requirement I (3credits) GRAD-C1-1102 Global Governance: European Integration Focus GRAD-C2-1101 International Law GRAD-C3 International Organizations Capstone Capstone Workshop including Capstone Preparatory course Capstone Workshop or Thesis Same as track I Must be completed at SIPA Foreign Language Please refer to SIPA's Foreign Language Requirement Page Now falls under "Global Requirement" Now falls under "Global Requirement" Professional Development TBD if this course will be offered/required
Requirement remains but this course is no longer registered Same as track I Must be completed at SIPA Internship 0, 1.5 or 3 credits 0 credits Same as track I Can be completed in either the 1st or 2nd year or in the summer between -
Tuition and Fees
Students pay tuition at the institution where they are in residence.
Once matriculated at SIPA in the second year students will pay tuition and fees to SIPA. Additionally students must either enroll in Columbia University health insurance plan or submit proof of comparable insurance coverage.
Financial Aid
Students in the GPPN program will receive a financial aid application in February for review before their second year at SIPA.
Funding is extremely limited, and typically fewer than 10% of GPPN students are awarded support for their program of study.
Students planning to apply for U.S. federal financial aid, should contact the SIPA Office of Financial Aid to initiate the process.