Master of Public Administration (737AA.5)

Enhance your leadership career in the public service

If you are an existing public servant, or aspire to be one, then the Master of Public Administration (MPA) can help you achieve your goal. This course is equally desirable for those wishing to work in either the community sector or for international organisations, as it provides strong competency-based learning and development in policy, finance, project management, delivery and communications. Delivered by the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA) and co-designed by leading academics and senior administrators, this course will help you gather an impressive list of core professional skills in the areas of public management, policy analysis and leadership.

The flexible weekday evening program allows you to boost your ethical research proficiencies by undertaking a dissertation in an area related to your interests or past employment experience. You can also choose elective units from within IGPA, or from across UC’s other faculties if they are approved by the MPA course convenor, which allow you to study issues of relevance to your future career. Upon graduation, you will be well-placed to enhance your career opportunities at both the national and sub-national levels of the public services sector.

Study a Master of Public Administration at UC and you will:

• gain a broad view of public management, service delivery and policy analysis across the spectrum of public sector activities
• understand how the international political environment affects organisational objectives
• understand the different modes of governance available to deliver specific public goods and services
• accurately use, interpret and draw inference from information gathered as evidence to support routine and strategic decision making
• gain a critical understanding of the central concepts relating to public administration, public management and public policy.

Work Integrated Learning

A key component of IGPA’s MPA is to undertake a specialised research project of your choosing, which will enhance your employability and ensure you are armed with the right mix of skills and knowledge to take a confident leap into your future career in the public sector. You will be encouraged to apply your existing professional knowledge and undertake new research to identify and explore real-world problems and solutions, reflecting on practical experiences and using your own employment context, if applicable.

The course is taught by a mix of academics, public servants, former politicians and journalists, and guest speakers from industry are regularly invited to deliver sessions on key strategic issues.

Career opportunities

• Chief administration officer
• Human services director
• Public works director
• Policy officer
• Communications officer
• Public administration consultant
• General operations manager
• Labour relations manager
• Financial manager
• Program analyst
• Program director
• Director of development
• Grant administrator
• Fundraising manager

Course specific information

Students must have a degree or equivalent and no less than two years of relevant work experience OR an honours degree or equivalent, as approved by the University's Admissions Committee.

Essential knowledge for this course includes: a good working knowledge of the public sector; commitment and the ability to contribute to class learning, to learn from others and to share learning in the workplace; strong commitment to career development and to a career in the public or third sectors; and capacity to complete a rigorous master's program.

Desirable but not essential knowledge would include some familiarity with fundamental theories and concepts underpinning effective performance in public sector management and policy development, a good feel for the difficulties of delivering results in government and experience of applying theory and analysing data to solve real-world management and policy problems.

Students who have completed a Graduate Certificate at IGPA can top up their qualification to earn the MPA.

Students can exit the MPA after completing 12 credit points and will gain a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration.