Indian School of Public Policy’s approach to admissions is built upon the institution’s core intent to change the paradigm of policy education in the country. We are looking for scholars who have not just demonstrated academic excellence, but found a way to engage with community, society and issues beyond the classroom.
ISPP’s admission process strives to identify prospective scholars who possess an attitude, interest and intent, with a drive to bring about change. As an institution that celebrates diversity, we encourage applications from a wide range of candidates to build academically, demographically and geographically diverse scholar cohorts. We have admitted exemplary scholars from across the country to be part of our unique and immersive programmes. Join our next batch to join the community of change makers!
At the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP), we understand the importance of financial considerations in higher education. That's why we are proud to offer a cost-free admissions process for prospective students. From filling and submitting the application form to participating in online group discussions, personal interviews, and quantitative aptitude tests, all stages of our admissions process are conducted online without any associated costs. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants, irrespective of their financial circumstances. You can rest assured that you won't have to worry about any expenses until you are selected and enrolled in the program. Our aim is to promote accessibility and inclusivity in public policy education, allowing you to focus on your academic journey without financial burdens. Join us at ISPP, where your aspirations are prioritized, and the entire selection process is conducted seamlessly and cost-free online until you are selected and enrolled in the program.
Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy, Design and Management is ISPP's flagship programme for citizens interested in making an impact in the public policy sphere. The one-year programme trains individuals in the science of policymaking by taking them through a rigorous programme divided into seven terms of 7 weeks each.
Apply Now! Download BrochureISPP conducts admissions for its PG Programme in Public Policy, Design & Management in three admission rounds. However, the conduct of the second and third admission rounds is subject to the availability of seats.
The ISPP Admissions Office advises all applicants to submit their applications as early as possible. Scholars who enrol for the PG Programme in the early round(s) get an opportunity to be awarded merit scholarships subject to available grants, subject readings and masterclasses for advance academic preparation, and access to special guest lectures and networking opportunities held at ISPP, all of them much prior to the actual start of their programme in August.
ISPP's Postgraduate Programme in Public Policy, Design and Management is open for candidates who have successfully completed their undergraduate studies, regardless of discipline, from an Indian or International University. Applicants who are currently enrolled in the final year of their undergraduate studies are also eligible to apply; however, they must ensure that they successfully complete all requirements of their undergraduate studies before the commencement of the PG Programme at ISPP.
We prefer to admit scholars with prior work experience in relevant domains; however, the work experience requirement is not mandatory for exceptional candidates. Applicants are not expected to possess any prior specific skills, background or technical experience other than numerical literacy and language proficiency.
Our unique multidimensional selection process takes a close look at the curricular and extracurricular activities undertaken by applicants in order to evaluate their excellence and commitment. An individual's ability to work collaboratively, aptitude for leadership, communication skills, humility and adaptability are some of the key characteristics of an ideal ISPP Scholar.
ISPP PG Programme in Public Policy, Design and Management is available only to Indian nationals. ISPP reserves the right to offer and revoke admissions or scholarships for an applicant on disclosure of any concerning information or facts at any point of time.
Applicants can register online with the ISPP Admissions Portal using their basic credentials. We recommend using a personal email address at the time of registration, and not a school or office-affiliated email. All communication from ISPP will be sent only to the email address entered at the time of registration by the applicant.
Upon receipt of their unique username and password combination from ISPP over email, they need to login using these received credentials at the ISPP Admissions Portal, and subsequently fill out the Online Admissions Application Form, with necessary attachments.
The Online Application can be completed over multiple sessions, and applicants shall have the option to progressively save parts of their application as they progress.
ISPP’s Admissions Application Form requires the following information:
In addition to the above information, applicants are also required to upload the following enclosures in their Admissions Application:
A candidate cannot apply more than once in an entire admissions cycle. Duplicate applications are not considered and might lead to termination of an applicant’s candidature. Please contact the ISPP Admissions Office at [email protected] if you require to make any corrections in your application
Decisions of the ISPP Admissions Office are final and non-negotiable, and no request for re-evaluation of any application shall be considered
ISPP’s selection process is designed to select outstanding and versatile candidates who reflect the values and ethos of ISPP. Every year, ISPP identifies exemplary scholars from across the country to be a part of its unique and immersive one-year PG programme in Public Policy, Design and Management. The selection is based purely on the merit of the applicants, and no recommendations are entertained by the Admissions Office.
ISPP’s year-long programme in Public Policy, Design & Management (PDM) is open to any individual who have successfully completed their undergraduate studies, regardless of discipline, from an Indian or International University. PDM applicants should also have basic numerical proficiency and comfort in high-school mathematics.
The PDM programme has a rigorous 2-stage selection process that the shortlisted applicants need to qualify to secure admission.
Group Discussion (GD) - The shortlisted applicants are called for a round of group discussion. The group discussion is conducted on a particular policy topic that is announced at the start of the discussion. Four-five applicants participate in each group discussion and the session lasts for an hour. The group analyzes and discusses the given policy topic. The GD participants are judged on the following parameters:
Quantitative Aptitude Test - The PDM programme includes courses that require quantitative aptitude. To establish their fitness for the programme, the shortlisted applicants are required to undertake a quantitative aptitude test on the ISPP Admissions Portal. They have to attempt the test after their GD (preferably on the same day). The test consists of 10 questions that the applicants must solve in 30 mins. The tests are not proctored. The test will have questions on the following topics: slopes, coordinate geometry, mensuration, linear equations with two variables and set theory. Applicants who secure more than 50 percent will be eligible for the next stage of PDM selection process provided they clear the GD round. In case they clear the GD round but are not able to attempt the quant test or are not able to secure qualifying marks, they will be given a chance to attempt the quant test after the interview provided they clear the interview round.
Personal Interview (PI) - The applicants who clear the first stage of the PDM selection process will be called for a round of personal interviews. The interview panelists would hold individual interactions with the applicants to evaluate their interest in public policy, future plans and fitness for the PDM programme. Unlike GD, the interview panelists will give their recommendations for admission rather than scoring them on different parameters. Only those applicants who are recommended for admission will be offered admission to the PDM programme. Those candidates who have cleared the interview round but have not attempted or scored qualifying marks in the quant test will be given a conditional offer of admission. Only once they clear the quant test will they be eligible for the final admission offer.
The selection process is depicted in the flowchart below:
ISPP admission offer shall be made to successful candidates who have qualified all stages of the Selection Process. The offer communication shall be made to such successful candidates within 7 days of the last selection exercise in the round. For each offer holder, their respective programme fee details (and applicable taxes) with payment timeline, including admissions fee, security deposit and tuition fee Installments shall be shared as a part of the offer.
At the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP), we understand the importance of financial considerations in higher education. That's why we are proud to offer a cost-free admissions process for prospective students. From filling and submitting the application form to participating in online group discussions, personal interviews, and quantitative aptitude tests, all stages of our admissions process are conducted online without any associated costs. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants, irrespective of their financial circumstances. You can rest assured that you won't have to worry about any expenses until you are selected and enrolled in the program. Our aim is to promote accessibility and inclusivity in public policy education, allowing you to focus on your academic journey without financial burdens. Join us at ISPP, where your aspirations are prioritized, and the entire selection process is conducted seamlessly and cost-free online until you are selected and enrolled in the program.
ISPP’s Postgraduate Programme in Public Policy, Design and Management has a Total Programme Fee of ₹8,00,000 (+18% GST) for the 2023-24 Academic Year.
The detailed fee structure is as under:
Programme Tuition Fee is payable in instalments, details of which are shared with the Admissions Offer.
Fee Refunds, as per the policy shared with the Admissions Offer, will only be made till 15 days after the commencement of the academic year at ISPP. No requests for fee refunds will be entertained should a scholar choose to withdraw their enrolment 15 days after the commencement of the academic year at ISPP.
Two options will be available for offer holders for the fee payment:
They have to make the payment within the prescribed time as mentioned in the fee payment schedule sent to them in the offer letter.
| Fee Payment Schedule | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Fee | within 10 days from receiving the offer letter | ||
| Security Deposit | within 10 days from receiving the offer letter | ||
| First Installment | 2 months from receiving the offer letter | 1th June | 15th July |
| Second Installment | 15th July | 15th July | |
ISPP strives to be an inclusive institution and supports deserving applicants by enabling them to participate in its programme. ISPP offers merit-cum-means financial aid to applicants based on a combination of academic merit and financial need.
ISPP Financial Aid Form requires applicants to self-report their financial situation and upload supporting documents. Please note that the Financial Aid Application has to be submitted along with the Admissions Application, before the respective round deadline.
Financial Aid Application Form is available on the ISPP Admissions Portal after the submission of an Admissions Application, and is to be filed voluntarily if an applicant wishes to apply for Financial Aid
The Financial Aid Office may connect with the applicant to understand the submitted information and enclosures. In addition, applicants are required to furnish any additional information or documents that the ISPP Financial Aid Office may request during the review of their aid application.
Financial Aid Applicants receive their Financial Aid Result along with their Admission Result. In case the financial documents submitted by an applicant are still under review by the Financial Aid Office, their Financial Aid decision may be withheld until such review is completed.
All decisions of the ISPP Admissions Office with respect to a Financial Aid Application are non-negotiable. ISPP reserves the right to conduct background verification checks for any applicant at any time during the admissions process or during the academic year, and the right to withdraw or modify the financial-aid with a change in financial circumstances of the applicant.
ISPP Admissions Office provides assistance to applicants in securing Education Loans to fund their education at ISPP. If you wish to apply for an Education Loan to fund your studies for ISPP's PG Programme, you can connect with us at [email protected] or call any representative of the ISPP Admissions Office.
Most nationalized banks and lending institutions offer an Education Loan to ISPP Scholars. Our Admissions Office is committed to support you in the process of your Loan Application with any documents or information that your Loan Facility may require from time-to-time.
In addition, the IDFC First Bank offers Education Loan to ISPP Scholars. If you want the IDFC First Team to directly get in touch with you, please send us an email authorization to share your contact details and particulars with them. The details of the IDFC First Education Loan can be accessed below.
We are pleased to announce that the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) will now be hosting weekly "Open Hours for Campus" events at our campus in New Delhi. These events will provide you with an opportunity to explore our institution, meet our faculty and staff, and learn more about our programs and admissions process.
Our weekly open hours will be held every Friday from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, starting from 31 March. During this time, you can take a guided tour of our campus, attend information sessions, and meet with our admissions staff and current students to get a better sense of what it's like to be a student at ISPP.
At ISPP, we offer a one-year postgraduate program in Public Policy, Design & Management (PDM), which is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to be effective policy practitioners. Our program is taught by renowned faculty members and industry experts who bring real-world experience to the classroom.
We understand that choosing a postgraduate program is an important decision, and we want to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed choice. Our weekly open hours are an excellent way to explore our institution and learn more about the unique features of our program.
To register for the open hours event, please fill out the registration form. We look forward to welcoming you to our campus and helping you discover the exciting opportunities available at ISPP.
ISPP’s Postgraduate Programme integrates diverse dimensions of Public Policy Education with an up-to-date curriculum and training in line with the best policy programmes offered across the globe.
Capacity, flexibility and innovativeness are the three key factors in the design of our PG programme. We ensure you attend the right courses, clubbed with the ever-evolving practical knowledge sessions.
Offered as the finest combination of compulsory courses, workshops, labs and collaborative certificates, ISPP brings forth the best resource persons, policy veterans and field experts to deliver one of the most innovative curriculums to its scholars. Throughout your time at ISPP, we will work to align your skills and make you industry-ready from an employer’s perspective.
ISPP is a growing institution working to provide premier policy education to all interested applicants. However, we are restricted by resources and are able to accommodate only a limited number of interested applicants.
ISPP’s Class Size for its previous batch 2021-22 was 30 Scholars. Our current Class Size for batch 2022-23 is 60 Scholars. Moving forward, the incoming cohort of 2023-24 shall offer policy education to 75 Scholars.
One-year duration of our Postgraduate Programme is what gives the ISPP education an edge over the traditional master's degrees. In this one year of intensive training at ISPP, we cover all key aspects of policy education, including design thinking and management.
Compared to a conventional two-year master’s programme, ISPP scholars spend less time studying, enter their choice of career earlier, and spend higher time solving real world challenges. With that being said, it is important to note that the programme is rigorous, demanding and intensive for its scholars.
No, the ISPP Postgraduate Programme is a non-residential programme. ISPP does not provide any residential facilities on its campus.
Since most ISPP scholars are outstation candidates, the ISPP Admissions Team assists them in finding accommodation by sharing recommendations, experiences from past scholars etc. However, ISPP does take any responsibility for the price, contract or quality of services provided by the residential facility that the scholars may choose. Each scholar shall sign an individual and independent contract with their agreed residential facility.
In case more than 10-15 scholars choose to stay in one residential facility or neighborhood, ISPP also provides a shuttle service to campus and back on nominal charges.
ISPP’s ‘3-Es towards Employment’ help scholars leverage their varied skill-sets and domain expertise, enabling them to pursue careers of their choice. In the last three cohorts, our scholars have been placed at E&Y India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, SBI Foundation, The Economist Intelligence Unit, and LAMP Fellowship, among others. Some of our scholars, who wished to pursue their studies further, are now at the best global universities such as Oxford University, Georgia Tech, and University of Amsterdam, with the support, guidance and recommendations from ISPP’s prominent faculty members.
Any candidates who have successfully completed their undergraduate studies, regardless of discipline, from an Indian or International University are eligible to apply to the ISPP Postgraduate Programme. Applicants currently enrolled in the final year of their undergraduate studies are also eligible; however, they must successfully complete all requirements of their undergraduate studies before the commencement of the programme at ISPP. Detailed eligibility criteria can be found on this page above, under the ‘Eligibility for Admission’ section.
Yes, irrespective of the medium of instruction in your matriculation, intermediate or graduation, you are eligible to apply for ISPP’s Postgraduate Programme. However, we expect a certain level of proficiency of English language in our scholars so that they are able to converse, read and write in English, given that the medium of instruction for the ISPP Postgraduate Programme is English.
Additionally, we also have a Policy Writing and Communications Lab at ISPP which works closely with our scholars to help them improve their writing and communication skills.
Admissions for ISPP’s Postgraduate Programme in Public Policy, Design and Management are conducted in three rounds. You can find exact dates and deadlines for application submission, financial aid application, admission decision, offer acceptance and commencement of classes on this page above, under the ‘Admissions Timeline’ section.
No, ISPP does not charge any fee to submit an admission application to any of its programmes.
As a democratic institution, we understand that our applicants come from diverse financial backgrounds. We provide access to a free admissions application to encourage every interested candidate to study at ISPP.
We strongly advise that you complete all sections of your Admissions Application in English language with correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. You must upload all necessary documents as clear scanned copies, the text and information on which is readable by the Selection Committee.
While writing the statement of purpose, please focus on: what public policy means to you, how are your academic and professional experiences built into your public policy interests, your career plan in public policy and your motivation to apply to ISPP.
You can find elaborate details on submitting an admissions application to ISPP under the section ‘Application Process’ on this page above.
You will need access to the following documents to complete your Admissions Application to ISPP Postgraduate Programme in Public Policy, Design and Management:
Please upload readable scans of all above documents, since they will be referred to by the ISPP Selection Committee during the Admission Process.
No, you can complete the Online Admissions Application over multiple sessions and have the option to save parts of the application as you proceed.
However, the Online Aptitude Test must be completed in one sitting.
In case you have submitted any incorrect information or documents by error, please contact the ISPP Admissions Office immediately at [email protected] for necessary corrections. Do not submit another application, as it may lead to the termination of your candidature.
You will receive an automated email from ISPP Admissions Portal, once your application is submitted. In case you have submitted your application but have not received the confirmation email, please get in touch with immediately at [email protected] to resolve your concern.
ISPP admits scholars to its Postgraduate Programme in Public Policy, Design and Management through a 2-Part Selection Process, which includes an ‘Online Aptitude Test’ followed by a ‘Policy Immersion Session’ in a GD-PI Format. Only shortlisted applicants, based on the information furnished in the Admissions Application are invited to the Selection Process. You can find detailed information on the Selection Process above, under the ‘Selection Process’ section.
The application and selection process to ISPP is completely online: starting with an online application submitted using the ISPP Admissions Portal listed on ISPP Website, followed by an Online Aptitude Test attempted on the same ISPP Admissions Portal, to the Policy Immersion Sessions conducted on Zoom Virtual Platform.
In case if government regulations permit, ISPP at its discretion may offer applicants the option to attempt the Policy Immersion Session from a physical venue.
In case you have been successful in the selection process at ISPP, you shall receive an Admission Offer within 7 days of the last selection exercise of the respective round, as an email communication listing:
Yes, you can re-apply but not within the same academic year.
You will have to submit a fresh application in the following year.
For the upcoming academic year, ISPP’s Postgraduate Programme in Public Policy, Design and Management is offered at a total programme fee of ₹8,00,000 (+18% GST). More details about the various components of the programme fee can be found above under the ‘Fee Structure’ section.
When compared with Indian and global public policy programmes of similar repute, ISPP’s Postgraduate Programme Fee is on the lower end of the spectrum. In addition to this, ISPP assists its incoming scholars in securing Financial Loans and offers Financial Aid to outstanding candidates who need support to fund their studies.
Most nationalized banks and lending institutions offer an Education Loan to ISPP Scholars. In addition, the IDFC First Bank offers Education Loan to ISPP Scholars.
You can find detailed information about Financing Options for the ISPP Postgraduate Programme in the ‘Education Loan’ section above.
Fees can be paid using any account-to-account transfer method convenient to the offer holders: Wire Transfer (IMPS, NEFT or RTGS), Cheque or Demand Draft.
Any additional transaction charges incurred by the bank to process the fee payments are to be borne by the applicants, over and above the fee being paid to ISPP.
The applicants should note that the payment must be received in ISPP’s Bank Account, latest by office hours of the payment deadline.
No fee payments shall be accepted by cash, under any circumstances.
Our student ambassadors are our alumni and current students who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in public policy and are here to answer any questions you may have. Whether you want to know more about our programs, admissions process, campus facilities, or student life, our student ambassadors are here to help.
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