The Master of Public Administration (Policy) is a 58.5-unit advanced entry program that is part of the Graduate Program in Public Administration offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. This program is offered only in conjunction with the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).

It requires two years of part-time study.

Admission requirements

Applications must be made through the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

Admission criteria

Applicants must be currently employed in an appropriate public service position in Australia or New Zealand.

In addition, applicants normally must:

    a. (i) hold a Bachelor’s degree; or
        (ii) produce evidence of equivalent qualification for entry to the degree through extensive
              practical, professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind;

    b. have at least five years’ relevant work experience

However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature

Course aims

The Executive Master of Public Administration (Policy) aims to provide a detailed investigation of issues in public administration, policy and management for public sector leaders.

Learning outcomes 

Graduates with an Executive Master of Public Administration will be able to:

  • understand contemporary trends and developments in public policy and the process of public policy making
  • understand contemporary trends and developments in public management and the practice of public management
  • understand contemporary trends and developments in the field of public policy and appreciate the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in assessing and analysing policy outcomes
  • understand contemporary trends and developments in the field of public management and appreciate the importance of an evidence based approach to public management
  • demonstrate skills in policy analysis and engage in informed debates on policy issues and their impacts
  • understand relevant research methodology and reflect this in research projects

Program of study

To qualify for the Executive Master of Public Administration a student must complete 58.5 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

Core topics

49.5 units comprising:

POAD8137 Ethics and Public Administration (4.5 units)
POAD9507 Decision-Making Under Uncertainty (4.5 units)*
POAD9508 Delivering Public Value (4.5 units)*
POAD9509 Designing Public Policies and Programs (4.5 units)*
POAD9511 Governing in a Market Economy (4.5 units)*
POAD9512 Leading Public Sector Change (4.5 units)*
POAD9513 Work-Based Research Project (9 units)*
POAD9514 Managing Public Sector Organisations (9 units)*
POAD9037 Financial Management (4.5 units)

plus 9 units of option topics selected from the following:

Option topics

EDUC9605 Leading Knowledge Management for Organisational Learning (4.5 units)
POAD8138 Governance and Public Policy (4.5 units)
POAD8139 Organisational Politics, Culture and Management (4.5 units)
POAD9005 Contemporary Cases in Public Policy (4.5 units)
POAD9028 Evaluation Methods (4.5 units)
POAD9034 Risk Management - Principles and Practice (4.5 units)
POAD9118 Managing Human Resources in the Public Sector (4.5 units)
POAD9119 Regionalism, Decentralisation and Governance (4.5 units)
POAD8130 Toolkit for Public Management (4.5 units)
POAD9131 Development Administration (4.5 units)
POAD9135 Project Management (4.5 units)

*Topics taught by ANZSOG