Masters in Public Administration (MPA)
The focus of the Masters in Public Administration (MPA) is on critical issues and key developments relating to public management, such as leadership, strategy, performance management and human resource management. With the current developments in countries around the world, this is one of the most exciting times to be studying anything to do with the public sector, governance and government, and the delivery of services to meet people’s needs. The aim of all of our programmes is to provide students with the skills, knowledge and tools to make sense of the world of public policy and management, so that they can analyse situation and problems, and use this to improve its practice. The course is designed to blend both practitioner an academic perspectives on public management, and the wide range of modules draws on examples from different countries around the world.
The course is aimed at both those who want to pursue a career in the public sector and those who want to further their career in the public sector. The course focuses on critical issues and key developments relating to public management (e.g. leadership, strategy, performance management and human resource management).
Our students come from a variety of backgrounds. Some students come straight from their first degree onto the Masters without much work experience, and others currently work in a public sector organisation (NHS, local authorities, education sector, police) and take the course on a part-time basis. About half of our students are from the UK, and the other half from abroad. At the moment we have 14 or 15 different nationalities amongst our students. The variety of our student body adds a hugely beneficial and interesting dimension to the teaching through the exchange of experience of different practices and underlying assumptions on which these practices are built. The dialogue around these differences plays a substantial role in the learning environment. As admission into the University Programmes is conditional on a good level of English, the discussions are accessible and of interest to all students.
Core modules
Students must take the following core modules and a further 20 credits of elective modules chosen from those available in the School that year:
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Dissertation (60 credits)
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Public management and governance (30 credits)
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Leadership, strategy and performance in the public sector (20 credits)
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Research methods and research management (20 credits)
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Managing people (10 credits)
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Policy analysis: concepts and theories (10 credits)
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Public sector financial management (10 credits)
The dissertation is a key component of the degree. It gives students the opportunity to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice under the supervision of a leading public or social policy analyst. Students are required to submit an assessed dissertation proposal in advance of starting their dissertation. Support for producing the dissertation is provided by a research methods module, the dissertation and by one-to-one supervision.
Taught modules on the programme are normally assessed by a 3,000-5,000 word essay (depending upon the number of credits awarded). The dissertation must be 15,000-words and on a relevant topic of the student’s choice.
Applications and funding
All applications must be made online.
The course can be taken as a Masters (includes a dissertation) or as a Postgraduate Diploma (without a dissertation). It is available for full-time (12 months) or part-time (24 months) study starting in September or January. Students who register for the Postgraduate Diploma can be upgraded to the MA if they perform satisfactorily in the first semester (if full-time) or in the first academic year (if part-time).
Up-to-date information on entry requirements can be found in the Postgraduate Prospectus.
School scholarships are normally available for this course and the International Office can provide further information on funding opportunities.
Enquiries
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Pauline Jas, Lecturer in Public Policy, Programme Director of MPA/MA in Public Policy (admissions)
Tel: +44 (0) 115 9515425 Email: Pauline Jas
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Kathryn Clay, Taught Postgraduate Administrator
Tel:+44 (0)115 846 7551 Email: Kathryn Clay