Masters in Public Administration (MPA)
Birmingham, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request the earliest start date
TUITION FEES
GBP 26,280 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for full-time International students | for full-time UK students: £12,600 | part-time UK students: £6,300 per year
Introduction
Our Masters in Public Administration (MPA) program 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 include different approaches to the reform of public institutions, to improve performance and accountability.
- The nature of leadership in a public administrative context, and 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).
Gallery
Ideal Students
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.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
IDD offers up to four bursaries up to the value of 50% of students' fees (UK). Please contact the Department directly for more information.
International students can often gain funding through charitable foundations, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.
Curriculum
Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024.
Compulsory 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.
- Conflict, Cooperation and Security
- International Development
- Local Government Studies
- Political Science and International Relations
- Social Sciences research 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.
Teaching and assessment
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.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
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.