Transforming public policy for a better future
Shape better policies, institutions and economies with the Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA at UCL.
Study at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, led by Professor Mariana Mazzucato — home to global experts rethinking how public value is created.
Choose your direction through one of three pathways:
- Public Administration and Management
- Economic Policy and Political Economy
- Digital Transformation
Then put your learning into action through a professional placement or independent research project that connects ideas with real-world impact.
Choose from full-time, part-time, or flexible study options, giving you the freedom to shape your degree around your career and personal goals. You'll also study at UCL, recognised for its world-leading research in the Built Environment (UK Research Excellence Framework 2021), and be part of London’s vibrant academic community, ranked the #1 city for students in the UK and Europe (QS Best Student Cities 2026).
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Learn more about the MPA — from specialist pathways and professional placements to the global careers it leads to.
Turn ideas into impact
In your final term, you’ll choose how to apply your learning:
- Professional placement – work with a public, private or third-sector organisation on a live innovation or policy challenge.
- Independent research project – explore a topic that connects directly to your career goals, supported by expert academic supervision.
Whichever route you take, you’ll graduate ready to shape policy and drive change across government, international organisations, NGOs and mission-driven businesses.
The core courses were so much more than a typical MPA, bringing in systems thinking and design thinking to help us take more novel and inclusive approaches to the policy process.
