There isn’t a society in the world that doesn’t want its government to work better. Our mission is to inspire and support better government and public policy around the world.
Our vision is of a world better led, a world better served and a world better governed. We are a global school committed to improving the quality of government and public policymaking worldwide, through three routes:
- Teaching current and future leaders: our education combines deep expertise with practical skills, equipping individuals to tackle this century’s most pressing policy challenges.
- Research with impact: our independent, evidence-based research addresses the most pressing policy needs, from improving education to reducing corruption.
- Engagement with governments and practitioners: we use our convening power to bring people together across disciplines and sectors to share knowledge, exchange ideas and create solutions.
The School was founded in 2010 and our founding dean is Professor Ngaire Woods. We admitted the first 38 Master of Public Policy (MPP) students in 2012 and we currently accept around 120 MPP students and five doctoral students a year.
The Blavatnik School of Government is one of the University of Oxford’s newest and most vibrant departments. We combine the academic rigour of the top-ranked university in the world* with an applied, real-world focus.
We draw on the full range of Oxford University expertise, from science, computing and medicine to humanities and social science.
Since 1096 Oxford has been educating leaders from other parts of the globe. Over its history, it has educated nearly 60 heads of state and government. The Blavatnik School of Government reimagines Oxford’s leadership education for the 21st century.
We are home to world-class academics and practitioners, as well as a team of up-and-coming postdoctoral fellows, who provide the backbone of research support for the School.
Our students represent 50-70 different nations in any one year and range from the brightest emerging talent to senior practitioners. Our team of administrative staff is as committed to the School's vision as the faculty and students they support.
Our alumni are lifetime School members and support one another across borders and sectors.
Our Master of Public Policy (MPP) takes a distinctively global view of how public policy is made and implemented at local, regional, national and multinational levels.
Our Doctorate (DPhil) in Public Policy allows students to pursue rigorous research on a specific public policy issue.
We also deliver executive education for senior policymakers working on some of today’s toughest challenges.
Our research is proudly independent, academically rigorous and relevant to public policy.
We work with governments and practitioners to identify pressing issues and develop practical solutions.
Through our academic programmes, courses and workshops, we bring the latest research right into the classroom, and through our outreach activities, we provide pathways to smart policy solutions for governments and decision-makers in business and civil society.
Our alumni are exceptional achievers and change-makers who share a commitment to improving public service.
After your studies, you will be part of a lifelong community in which alumni can turn to each other, and to our faculty, to find trusted sources of advice and research. These connections also serve as powerful reminders for all of us of our shared commitment to public service and our desire to make a real difference in the world.
My colleagues from the Blavatnik School are my best friends and confidants. Whether it’s technical, tactical, or emotional support, I turn to my classmates continually. And to my surprise, the network gets stronger over time, as we each deepen our own areas of expertise and consequently have more and more knowledge and authority to support each other on professional and personal questions.
Partnerships with the Blavatnik School can take a range of forms and involve organisations in the public, private and non-governmental sectors.
Organisations are involved in activities like research collaborations, fellowships, executive education courses and workshops, as well as working directly with our students by helping them enhance their professional skills, or hosting summer project placements.
Around 85% of our students receive some financial assistance, allowing us to educate individuals from all backgrounds and from all over the world. We continue to fundraise towards our vision of ensuring that finance is no barrier to anyone offered a place on our MPP programme.
Donations, grants and other forms of support also allow us to undertake applied research into the most pressing challenges facing governments and societies, and to pursue other initiatives core to our mission.
Designed to support the School’s mission of inspiring and promoting better government around the world, the Blavatnik School of Government's award-winning building provides a purpose-built home for a vibrant academic community.
The building was designed by internationally renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron.
At the school
We seek the highest calibre academic, research and professional staff who share our values and commitment to a world better led, better served and better governed.
