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Masters in Public Administration (MPA)

Start date
September
Duration
UK students can choose between full time (12 months) and part-time (24 months) study
Course Type
Postgraduate, Continuing professional development, Taught
Fees

For 2023-2024
£10,980 FT (UK)
£5,490 PT (UK)
£22,950 FT (International)
More Fees and funding details.

Our Masters in Public Administration (MPA) programme will enable public managers, and those involved in public sector policies and services, to acquire a clear foundation of knowledge about the nature, role and development of the public sector and current trends in its evolution.

The Masters in Public Administration (MPA) will show how ideas about government, organisation, motivation, leadership, efficiency and performance have influenced management practice in governmental organisations and public services.

The MPA includes an international group field trip with visits to city, regional and central government organisations to learn about public administration in a practical, international context.

The programme will focus on the following themes:

  • Current trends in public administration including different approaches to the reform of public institutions, to improving performance and accountability.
  • The nature of leadership in a public administrative context, its role in effecting cultural change in public institutions.
  • The purposes, methods and outcomes of public administrative reforms, including performance management and fiscal decentralisation, in an international context”
  • Principles and techniques of research design and problem analysis in the context of public policy and management in an international context.

The normal admission requirement for our taught postgraduate programmes is a good first degree or an equivalent professional qualification. Work experience in the public sector is desirable, but not essential. Candidates without a first degree who have substantial work experience in public administration may be considered for admission (subject to interview and/or written statement).

Who is the programme for?

The MPA is an international masters programme, aimed at those who aspire to a career in public management or policy-making in government, public agencies or non-governmental organisations working with government, whether at local, regional, national or international levels, worldwide. Since the programme was founded in 2009 it has attracted students from Azerbaijan, Brunei, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Georgia, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, South Africa, South Sudan, St Kitts, St Lucia, Tajikistan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam.

Unable to commit to campus?

We also offer this programme 100% online. Find out more about our Online MPA.

 

Modules

Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2023.

Compusory modules

  • Public Sector Reform (20 credits)
  • Public Management and Leadership (20 credits)
  • Research for Public Policy and Management (20 credits)
  • Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional modules

Choose 60 credits from those M-Level modules available within the School of Government or from within the College of Social Sciences subject to the agreement of the Programme Director.

optional modules


Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees for 2023 - 2024

  • UK full-time: £10,980
  • UK part-time: £5,490
  • International full-time: £22,950

Please check with the Department for the latest fees information.
Learn more about fees and funding.

Scholarships and studentships

IDD offers up to four bursaries up to the value of 50% of students' fees (UK). Please contact the Department directly for more information (tel: +44 (0)121 414 5034; email: idd@bham.ac.uk). Scholarships may also be available. 

International students can often gain funding through charitable foundations, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

For further information contact the School directly or visit studenthelp.bham.ac.uk 

How To Apply

Please note that for applications from China, we will be operating a staged admissions process for this course.

Our staged admissions process

A staged admissions process is in place for this programme. This means that when you apply, your application will be considered with all others that have been submitted before the deadline. Therefore you might not hear from us with a decision on your application until a few weeks after the deadline has been reached. This enables us to ensure that all applications are considered fairly and equally. When you apply please ensure that you submit all of your supporting documents including an English language proficiency certificate (if English is not your first language) if you have one.

Further information and application deadlines

1 July 2023 is the application deadline for international students applying through the student route who wish to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2023 made after this date. The deadline for Home students is 31 August 2023.

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply online

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

The normal admission requirement for our taught postgraduate programmes is a good first degree or an equivalent professional qualification. Subject to interview and a written statement, candidates without a first degree who have work experience relevant to the study of local policy and politics, may be admitted.

Learn more about entry requirements.

International Requirements



International Students

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:


  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

An interactive approach is used, with an emphasis on group work discussion and presentations, reinforced by lectures and seminars. Problem-based case studies from practice are used extensively. The programme's modules are assessed by a combination of written assignments and examinations (or time-limited assignments), plus a dissertation in which the student prepares a longer piece of research-based work, with guidance and support from an academic supervisor.

 

Careers

The MPA is ideal for candidates wishing to pursue careers in public policy, the strategic management in government organisations or public agencies, at local, regional, national or international levels. It may also enable public managers to broaden their careers either through moving to a different area of the public or voluntary sectors or through moving into consultancy.

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