Apply to Pardee RAND
Consider Pardee RAND for your next strategic move.
Diane Baldwin/RAND
At the Pardee RAND Graduate School, we welcome exceptional students who come from diverse personal and academic backgrounds. Our multidisciplinary Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) program focuses on policy analysis, while our Master of National Security Policy (MNSP) program emphasizes the tools of defense policy analysis. Additionally, our doctoral (Ph.D.) program delves deeper into policy analysis and its impact on shaping our world.
Pardee RAND is backed by the brainpower and resources of RAND, a nonprofit research institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis.
Our MNSP students take classes taught by RAND national security policy experts in an applied research setting, quickly building the knowledge they need to advance their careers.
Our M.Phil. and Ph.D. students work side-by-side with RAND experts as members of interdisciplinary research teams, creating a real impact on policy while earning their degree. They graduate with a deep analytic toolkit, knowing they are ready to tackle the hardest policy challenges—because they already have!
Why Pardee RAND?
At Pardee RAND Graduate School, we welcome exceptional students from diverse backgrounds. Our programs include:
- Master of National Security Policy (MNSP): Emphasizes defense policy analysis
- Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Policy Analysis: Focuses on policy analysis
- Doctorate (Ph.D) in Policy Analysis: Delves deeper into policy analysis and its global impact
What We Look for in Our Applicants
All applicants must:
- Be available for in-person study at our Santa Monica or Washington campuses
- Have completed a bachelor's degree (advanced degrees and/or work experience preferred for Ph.D. applicants)
- Demonstrate strong quantitative skills, especially for the Ph.D. program (all majors welcome)
Are you driven to change the world? If so, Pardee RAND might be the place for you.
Explore our Programs
Our applications launch in October. Sign up to be notified when they go live.
Sign up for admissions updatesLearn More!
- Attend admissions events and request recordings
- Receive early feedback on your candidacy: Submit a pre-application
- Take a virtual tour of our Santa Monica campus
Contact us
Visit our contact page and send us a message.
Meet Our Admissions Student Ambassadors
Receive early feedback on your candidacy
If you are interested in receiving preliminary feedback on your candidacy prior to investing your time in the 2022 admissions process, please consider submitting a pre-application.