Public Administration (MPA)
Southampton, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
GBP 24,200 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for EU and international student | UK students: GBP 9,250
Scholarships
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Introduction
Gain the skills to analyse governance, policy-making and administration across different areas of government on our 1 year Master of Public Administration (MPA) course.
Explore public policy design and learn how organisations deal with major policy problems and the societal effects of policy choices. You’ll cover local, national and global perspectives.
Understanding the role of public administration in implementing government policy can benefit both individuals and society, on a local to global scale.
On this flexible UK master’s in public administration you’ll explore:
- Modern Policy-making and Administration
- Public Policy Design and Delivery
- Public and Non-profit Organisations and Their Approach to Major Policy Challenges
- The Effects of Policy Choices on Society
You’ll develop understanding of the:
- Core Public Administration Theoretical and Practice-related Perspectives
- Main Issues and Events Shaping Public Administration in National and Regional Settings
- Central Philosophical and Methodological Debates Related to the Study and Practice of Public Administration
- Ways in Which Governance Systems Differ
- Skills to Design and Complete a Dissertation on a Specialist Topic in the Field of Public Administration
You'll also receive training in research design and will carry out individual, original research as part of your dissertation.
Admissions
Curriculum
The master’s in Public Administration takes place over 1 year, across 2 semesters. It includes 6 modules and a dissertation.
You’ll study modules that give you a thorough grounding in the academic study of public administration. Later in your course you’ll be able to choose modules that interest you from across our social sciences subjects.
You’ll also undertake a module that prepares you for the dissertation.
Modules
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
You must study the following modules :
- Advanced Policy Analysis
- Comparative Public Administration
- MPA Capstone
- Professional Skills for the 21st Century Policy World
- Public Ethics and Public Policy
You must also choose from the following modules :
- Challenges of Governance
- China and Global Politics
- Collective Intelligence
- Development and International Relations
- Informal Politics
- International Social Policy
- Issues in Contemporary Public Administration
- MSc Dissertation in Politics & International Relations
- Population, Poverty & Policy
- The Political Psychology of Crises and Conflicts
- Theories of Leadership
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
On this Public Administration course you'll gain the skills and knowledge to pursue roles within the civil service and local government.
You'll be in the ideal position to consider a PhD in public administration or a related field. You’ll also be able to work as a manager or analyst in the public, charity and private sectors.
Program delivery
As well as lectures and student-led seminars you’ll experience a range of teaching and learning formats, including:
- Problem-solving Workshops
- Case Analysis
- Supervised Independent Research
- Independent Study
The majority of modules are taught as seminars where you can discuss the topics you’re learning about in small groups.
You'll also prepare papers and lead seminar discussions to develop your verbal and written communication skills.
Assessment
We’ll assess you using written assessment exercises including:
- Independent Research Papers
- Critical Literature Reviews
- Case Analyses
Depending on the module, we may assess you on your individual and group presentations. If you're studying the 20-month course, we’ll assess your placement through a reflective journal and a final, written report.