Bloomberg Philanthropies Scholarship for Public Service

The Bloomberg Philanthropies Scholarship for Public Service supports outstanding public sector professionals who are committed to driving positive change in cities, communities, and government institutions. Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the scholarship enables experienced leaders to develop the knowledge, networks, and practical skills needed to tackle complex urban challenges through the Executive MSc in Cities programme at LSE.

For several years, Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported public sector participants on the Executive MSc in Cities programme, helping leaders from across the world strengthen their ability to deliver effective public services and create meaningful impact in their communities. Building on this longstanding commitment, and as part of the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies has generously increased the number of scholarships available to 10 awards per year. Through this investment, Bloomberg Philanthropies continues to strengthen public leadership, support innovation in government, and empower public servants to address the challenges facing cities – present and future.

The Bloomberg Philanthropies Scholarship for Public Service is open to applicants of all nationalities and geographic locations who:

• Work in the public sector at national, regional, or local government level.
• Have at least 10 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to public service and leadership.
• Require financial assistance to undertake the Executive MSc in Cities programme.

Applicants must also meet the admission requirements for the Executive MSc in Cities.

The Executive MSc in Cities is delivered in a hybrid format, combining online learning with scheduled teaching weeks. Participants may engage with the programme remotely, although they are encouraged to attend teaching weeks in person where possible.

Important: To be eligible for scholarship consideration, applicants must have submitted their application to the Executive MSc in Cities programme before submitting their scholarship application. All supporting documents required for the programme application, including references, must be received by the scholarship application deadline. References should therefore be requested well in advance to ensure they are submitted on time. Incomplete programme applications will not be considered for scholarship funding.

The scholarship provides full tuition fees for the Executive MSc in Cities programme.

Please note that the scholarship does not cover travel, accommodation, visa costs, living expenses, or any other costs associated with attending the programme's teaching weeks in-person. As the programme offers a remote participation option, applicants who are unable to travel may still be able to engage fully with the programme from their home location. Applicants should ensure they have access to sufficient funding to meet these additional expenses, should they wish to attend teaching weeks in London.

Applications for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Scholarship for Public Service for the 2027/28 academic year will:

• Open: 5 October 2026
• Close: 24 March 2027 at 23:59 GMT

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit both their programme application and scholarship application well in advance of the deadline to allow sufficient time for references and supporting documentation to be received.

All required references must be received by 24 March 2027 at 23:59 GMT for the associated programme application to be considered complete for scholarship purposes.

Please note: Scholarship applications will only be considered where the corresponding Executive MSc in Cities programme application, including all required references, has been submitted by the scholarship deadline.