Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA
London, Bloomsbury
This is the programme information for 2025 entry
The Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA teaches the competencies, capabilities and leadership skills needed for purpose-driven organisations. Confront the grand challenges of the 21st century across public, private and civil sectors by studying core modules in economics, politics, public administration, and innovative design, and either completing a thesis or an industry placement with partner organisations.
Study mode
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Duration
Programme starts
Applications accepted
Applications open
Applications open
Entry requirements
UK Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate Arts and Humanities, Social Science and Economics, and Engineering subjects awarded with an Upper Second-class Honours (2:1), or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
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The English language level for this programme is: Level 4
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
Equivalent qualifications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.
About this degree
Tackling the grand challenges of the 21st century — transitioning to a greener, more sustainable economy, decreasing inequality or offering better and inclusive public services — requires new ways of thinking and new organisational capabilities. There is no equivalent postgraduate degree that combines our alternative approach to policymaking and a focus on structural change and innovation. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose teaches the dynamic skills required for purpose-driven organisations in public, private, and civil sectors.
Pathways
The course offers three pathways, each tailored towards the needs of our students to ensure you get the most out of your studies:
- Public Administration pathway: Offers you an opportunity to specialise in the ways in which governments can increase public sector capabilities to tackle the main challenges faced by societies;
- Economic Policy and Political Economy pathway: Explores the relationship between states and markets, and the economic challenges facing modern capitalist economies;
- Digital Transformation pathway: Will develop your critical digital era skills in the public sector.
All pathways build on the same core modules in Terms 1 and 2, and then offer specialisation via elective modules in Term 2 and via the thesis or placement work in Term 3.
This course is multidisciplinary in its approach to teaching and learning. As an MPA student, we will guide you through six compulsory modules which represent the four disciplinary pillars of the course: economics, politics, public administration, and design. Uniting these distinct modules is a focus on challenging economic orthodoxies and exploring the new thinking, institutions, and skills governments need to drive transformative change.
In an entire academic year, you will be introduced to the economics and political economy of innovation and technical change and be actively encouraged to understand the political and power dynamics between actors and institutions within systems. As a student, you will consider alternative models for public policy, governance and administration from those focused on ‘market fixing’ to new ones that can be expressed as ‘market making’, and you will develop new frameworks to show public organisations can harness digital design to shape markets, create new growth opportunities and ultimately contribute to systems change. Rounding off your class-based teaching, you will learn qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches to policy analysis and evaluation to make decisions. Elective modules can be taken from across UCL, allowing you to pursue your personal interests.
To conclude your studies, you will apply the new ideas you learn in the classroom to real world organisations that are tackling 21st century challenges through a choice of completing a research-based thesis or industry placement with one of the Institute’s partner organisations. Upon successful completion of your studies, you will be awarded an MPA in Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value.
As a graduate of the Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA, you will be equipped with the skills and confidence to help organisations become more innovative, mission-led, and driven by public purpose. You will understand the explorative and risk-taking processes that innovation requires, and you will be able to challenge and provide alternatives to current policy orthodoxies. By studying with us, you will build a network of like-minded peers and become part of an Institute that is at the forefront of public sector innovation policy and research.
Who this course is for
As our Master of Public Administration provides a means of furthering our students’ knowledge and helping you to deepen your work on challenges you care about, this course is well-suited to professionals with two or more years of work experience in a relevant field, including in public policy, private and third sectors.
What this course will give you
UCL has been ranked ninth best university in the world for the second year in a row, marking UCL’s 13th year among the top 10 universities worldwide (QS World University Rankings 2025). Across the university, UCL’s students and faculty are tackling grand challenges, ranging from climate change to healthcare for ageing populations. Tap into a world-leading faculty, including Founder and Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose Mariana Mazzucato and Deputy Directors Rainer Kattel and David Eaves, all situated within the heart of London, the best student city in the world (QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2025).
By studying on this course, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the economics of innovation, technological, social and institutional innovations, and cutting-edge thinking around public administration and governance, strategic design and digital transformation. A cross-cutting theme throughout the MPA is new economic thinking and systems approaches needed for tackling key 21st century challenges.
Not only will you be studying course content that matters both to your future career and to tackling the grand challenges of the 21st century, but you will also gain access to an active and growing alumni network, exchanging knowledge and skills with like-minded individuals from across the globe who are experienced in the realms of public policy, organisational and institutional innovation, and strategic design and digital transformation of public services.
The foundation of your career
100% of UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose graduates were in highly skilled work 15 months after graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-21).
Top industry sectors for UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose graduates are scientific research, development and analysis (50% of graduates); consultancy (17%); and policy and government (17%) (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-21).
Example jobs:
- Economist
- Statistician
- Social and humanities scientist
- Business and research professional
- Business manager/director
Example employers:
- Canadian Government
- Centre for Local Economic Strategies
- Chambers and Partners
- City of London Corporation
- Urban Renewal Authority
- Local and district councils
- Digital Catapult
- PPL
- Cabinet Office
- Centre for Public Impact
- Financial Times
- HM Revenue & Customs
- Department for Culture, Media and Sport
- OECD
Many public sector organisations, policy think tanks and other policy analysis organisations, NGOs and large private organisations are looking for employees who are well-versed and skilled in new ways of justifying, evaluating and implementing public policies, and the Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA is structured in a way that responds to the changing demands of these organisations.
With a unique set of skills, including analysis, leadership, public policy, organisational and institutional innovation, new models of innovation policy (mission-oriented innovation), and strategic design and digital transformation of public services, our graduates are sought after for their knowledge and new thinking on public sector innovation and innovation policy, as well as for their connection to globally recognised policy work of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.
Graduates of the Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA have gone on to exciting work at all levels of government, both in the UK and abroad, as well as important roles in international organisations. Our alumni now work everywhere from international organisations such as the OECD to in local governments such as London’s Camden and Hackney; at globally leading innovation agencies such as Vinnova in Sweden, cutting-edge digital agencies such as UK’s Central Digital and Data Office, and at leading private firms such as Public Digital.
Alumni testimonials
“IIPP's MPA brings together emerging thought leaders from around the world to collectively learn and design within 21st century complexity. For me, this was a pivotal career experience that opened up a range of opportunities, expertise and curiosity. With both the high-quality teaching from both professors and practitioners and a passionate, experienced cohort, the MPA is a truly unique programme that opens doors and questions critical concepts for policy and strategy practitioners working on wicked problems.” - Wallis Greenslade, Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA graduate
“Studying at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose opened doors to incredible opportunities where I can directly apply and deepen the theories and frameworks I learned to foster social change in communities across the United Kingdom. For example, I’m currently working at Collaborate, a purpose-driven social consultancy and think tank that supports system change by working in partnership with the public sector and civil society.” - Gwendolyn Casazza, Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA graduate
“The Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA helped me to develop a more critical perspective on key features of my professional career, including sustainability, economic growth, and technology. It was great to have contact with world-leading researchers on these subjects.” - Juan David Garcia Gonzalez, Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA graduate
Employability
The world is facing pressing challenges — social, technological and economic. What is the future of the welfare state? How can digital platforms be governed in democratic and inclusive ways? What new forms of investment, regulation and collaboration can best tackle global warming?
The answers to these questions require public and private organisations to collaborate in new ways and become more purpose driven. In this context, governments require different tools and capabilities to co-create and co-shape markets, not just fix market failures. The Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA teaches the competencies, capabilities and leadership skills needed for purpose-driven organisations in all sectors and cultivates leaders who co-design growth that is innovation-led, sustainable and inclusive.
Core modules have been designed so that you will be encouraged to take a wide view of the threats to systems change, and the role of a broad range of policy actors, organisations and institutions. You will also be encouraged to understand innovation dynamics in different country contexts, according to context-specific challenges and opportunities for innovation. To complement this, our curriculum will also develop your stakeholder management skills, teaching you about negotiation theory and how to creatively influence organisations to become more flexible, adaptable and willing to experiment.
As the transformation of policy and systems has a significant practice component, core learning on the MPA also offers practice-based seminars allowing you to apply the tools and thinking introduced in lectures. Taking the application of theory to practice one step further, we offer you the opportunity to undertake a research-based policy analysis thesis, or to undertake a placement where you can apply new ways of thinking from your studies to real-world challenges in the UK and around the globe.
In addition to the core UCL Careers provision, as a student affiliated with The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment you will have access to a mix of faculty-wide and department-specific support and activities to bolster your career development. Open across the Faculty, this includes a programme of lively industry panel discussions and interactive workshops, spotlighting the key sectors graduates typically venture into such as construction, consultancy, commercial property and urban planning and development.
Additionally, The Bartlett’s Building a Better Future Consultancy Project will give you a unique opportunity to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team to tackle a real world challenge the built environment is grappling with, equipping you with the in-demand skills sought after by employers. Featured organisations in this programme include global consultancies such as BuroHappold, Hoare Lea, AtkinsRealis to burgeoning start-ups and SMEs as well as local councils and not-for-profit organisations such as C40 Cities, Greater London Authority and London authorities.
On a departmental level, students will receive a bespoke provision of practical workshops led by experienced Career Consultants that cover crucial topics of your career planning such as developing your networking skills and how to successfully navigate the job search.
Ultimately, our students graduate from the Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA understanding the theories that shape current practice and with the tools to re-imagine the role of the state.
Networking
Gain exclusive opportunities to network with a wide range of organisations within the United Kingdom and around the globe. Many of your peers will already be working in the public sector, while the Institute’s academics regularly advise local, national and international governments and organisations. We collaborate with governments globally, from the highest political levels to service delivery organisations, helping them to rethink the way they work to tackle the challenges they face. You will have the chance to get involved in our applied research and learning projects, embed in a policy organisation during the flagship placement programme in Term 3, and access a vibrant alumni network.
Each year we also host alumni sessions in London where you can meet with alumni and build on the growing network of policy makers around the globe educated at the UCL Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose.
Discover the past cohorts of the Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA
Teaching and learning
The Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA is delivered both inside and outside of the classroom. On campus, the course will be taught through a series of lectures and small group seminars. To apply policy tools in action, you will take part in research and policy projects at the Institute, making important contributions to high-level work with governments and NGOs around the world and working in partnership with faculty members.
With the support of the Institute, you will also stretch and test your classroom work, gaining new experiences and insights, through participation in conferences and competitions, and organise trips and panels with scholars and practitioners to benefit their peers. Our past students have arranged conferences hosted at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose in collaboration with organisations such as INET’s Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), entered competitions such as Map the System, and have presented their work at the Institute’s annual conference.
The course is assessed through personal and group presentations, and written reports and papers. The mix of assessment methodologies will help develop both your writing and presentation skills and will provide you with teamwork experience.
Over Terms 1 and 2, full-time students will typically have 12 hours of contact time per week on average, consisting of both lectures and seminars. Our optional enrichment lectures are an additional hour per session.
In Term 3, you will either choose the thesis or placement modules, whilst keeping regular contact with your supervisor throughout the term and summer period.
In addition to scheduled core learning, we encourage you to structure your self-directed study time with good judgement, in line with the UCL-recommended hours for full-time, part-time and flexible study.
Modules
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The Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA is delivered over three terms when taken in one academic year, with six compulsory and two elective taught modules plus a final project.
All students will take six compulsory modules, which represent the four disciplinary pillars of the course: economics, politics, public administration, and design. Uniting these distinct modules is a focus on challenging economic orthodoxies and exploring the new thinking, institutions, and skills governments need to drive transformative change.
Compulsory modules
- 'New Economic Thinking and Public Value' considers the alternative models for public policy, governance and administration from those focused on ‘market fixing’ to new ones that can be expressed as ‘market making’.
- 'Economics of Innovation and Public Purpose' will introduce you to the economics of innovation and technical change, with a focus on theoretical contributions in evolutionary and structural economics.
- 'Politics, Power and Systems Change' focuses on understanding systems, actors in the systems, and institutions.
- 'Making Decisions: Evidence and Evaluation' provides an introduction to policy analysis and evaluation methods, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches, particularly for those of you who will be participating in, or seeking to influence the decision-making process.
- 'Creative Bureaucracies' looks at governance frameworks geared to developing dynamic capabilities within organisations, enabling them to become more flexible, adaptable and willing to experiment.
- 'Transformation by Design' will help you develop strategic design skills and techniques for creating policy innovation cultures, processes, environments and organisations, particularly addressing the dynamics of digital transformation.
For the Economic Policy and Political Economy pathway, you will study the additional module ‘Rethinking Capitalism’ which provides a critical perspective on these challenges by examining the underlying economic and political theories that helped to create them and introducing you to alternative theoretical frameworks and policy approaches.
For the Digital Transformation pathway, you will study the additional module ‘Digital Transformation’, which covers the rise of digital services, and traces their journey through public institutions.
Elective modules
You will also choose a total of up to 30 credits worth of elective, or optional, modules, including:
For the Public Administration pathway, example elective modules include:
- Digital Transformation
- Rethinking Capitalism
- Contemporary Political Philosophy II: Social Justice and Equality
- Urban Innovation and Policy
- Development, Technology and Innovation Policy
- Smart Cities: Context, Policy & Government
- Social Diversity, Inequality and Poverty
For the Economic Policy and Political Economy pathway, example elective modules include:
- The Economics of Property Rights
- Energy, Technology and Innovation
- Energy, Environment and Resources in Developing Countries
- International Political Economy
- Governing Global Business
- The Political Economy of Development
- Topics in Economic History
- Latin American Economics
- Systems Thinking and System Dynamics
- Environmental Economics: Principles and Policy
- Environmental and Development in Latin America: Revisiting the Open Veins
- International Development: Theory, Policy and Practice
- Social Justice and Alternatives to Capitalism
- Social Diversity, Inequality and Poverty
- Prosperity from Below: The Informal, the Illicit and the Popular
- Political Economy of Science
For the Digital Transformation pathway, example elective modules include:
- Digital Sociology
- Global Digital Humanities
- History and Theory of Digital Design
- Mining Social and Geographic Datasets
- Digital Rights
- Digital Health
- Emerging Dilemmas in Digital Technology Policy
- Digital Strategy and Transformation
- Anthropology of Technics and Technology
- Gender, Social Movements, and Digital Activism
- Information Governance
- Digitalisation in Infrastructure
- Informatic Cultures: The Anthropology of Data, Algorithms and Computation
Please note that the list of elective modules given here is indicative rather than exhaustive. This information is published in advance of enrolment and availability is subject to change.
Policy Analysis Thesis
In Term 3, should you choose to undertake the policy analysis thesis, you will be given the opportunity to work independently and carry out empirical research on a specific policy problem or organisational and institutional challenge in the public sector, with the support of a supervisor from the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. You will also conduct high-level interviews with policy actors and conduct sophisticated quantitative analysis. The final output will be a substantial written analysis based on thorough academic understanding of the challenge and its context, and you will be challenged to develop viable alternatives. Successful theses have taken on topics ranging from digitalisation in Indonesia to the role of creative industries in the United Kingdom’s national innovation system. In many cases, these theses are shared with the organisations under examination upon completion.
Placement
As an alternative to the policy analysis thesis in Term 3, you can opt into the placement which involves working with an organisation on a live project, giving you the opportunity to apply new ways of thinking from your studies to real-world challenges in the United Kingdom and around the globe. Read more in the ‘Placement’ section below.
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The Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA can also be completed on a part-time basis, As a part-time student, you will study the same six compulsory modules, two elective modules and a final project (a Policy Analysis Thesis or Placement) as full-time students, however this will be completed over the duration of two years.
Year 1 Term 1 is focused on modules ‘New Economic Thinking and Public Value’ and ‘Economics of Innovation and Public Purpose’ that delve into the different approaches to understanding the creation and measurement of public value and different framings for purpose led organisations.
Term 2 is focused on the module ‘Creative Bureaucracies’ looking at governance frameworks geared to developing dynamic capabilities within organisations that need to be flexible, adaptable and willing to experiment. You will also take an elective module according to the pathway you choose.
Year 2 Term 1 is focused on modules ‘Politics, Power and Systems Change’ and ‘Making Decisions: Evidence and Evaluation’ that consider how the approaches learned in Year 1 can be applied to understanding structural change in the economy (from innovation challenges to those in fiscal and financial frameworks.
Term 2 is focused on the module ‘Transformation by Design’, developing practical policy design and implementation skills with special attention to the emerging sphere of digital and AI tools. You will also take an elective module according to the pathway you choose.
For the Public Administration pathway, example elective modules include:
- Digital Transformation (15 credits)
- Rethinking Capitalism: (15 Credits)
- Contemporary Political Philosophy II: Social Justice and Equality (15 credits)
- Democracy and Accountability: Holding Power to Account (15 credits)
- Urban Innovation and Policy (15 credits)
- Development, Technology and Innovation Policy (15 credits)
- Smart Cities: Context, Policy & Government (15 credits)
- Social Diversity, Inequality and Poverty (30 credits)
For the Economic Policy and Political Economy pathway, example elective modules include:
- The Economics of Property Rights (15 credits)
- Energy, Technology and Innovation (15 credits)
- Energy, Environment and Resources in Developing Countries (15 credits)
- International Political Economy (15 credits)
- Governing Global Business (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Development (15 credits)
- Topics in Economic History (15 credits)
- Latin American Economics (15 credits)
- Systems Thinking and System Dynamics (15 credits)
- Environmental Economics: Principles and Policy (15 credits)
- Environmental and Development in Latin America: Revisiting the Open Veins (15 credits)
- International Development: Theory, Policy and Practice (15 credits)
- Social Justice and Alternatives to Capitalism (15 credits)
- Social Diversity, Inequality and Poverty (15 credits)
- Prosperity from Below: The Informal, the Illicit and the Popular (15 credits)
- Political Economy of Science (15 credits)
For the Digital Transformation pathway, example elective modules include:
- Digital Sociology (15 credits)
- Global Digital Humanities (15 credits)
- History and Theory of Digital Design (15 credits)
- Mining Social and Geographic Datasets (15 credits)
- Digital Rights (15 credits)
- Digital Health (15 credits)
- Emerging Dilemmas in Digital Technology Policy (15 credits)
- Digital Strategy and Transformation (15 credits)
- Anthropolgy of Technics and Technology (15 credits)
- Gender, Social Movements, and Digital Activism (15 credits)
- Information Governance (15 credits)
- Digitalisation in Infrastructure (15 credits)
- Informatic Cultures: The Anthropology of Data, Algorithms and Computation (15 credits)
Please note that the list of elective modules given here is indicative rather than exhaustive. This information is published in advance of enrolment and availability is subject to change.
In Term 3 you will either complete the Policy Analysis Thesis or the Placement. Both are intensive modules, and part-time students generally have two options for undertaking this work. For the Thesis option, you can start your research during Term 3 of your first year and then complete in Term 3 and the summer of your second year. For the Placement option, you can negotiate with your employer or arrange other commitments so that you can dedicate yourself to working on the project full-time through Term 3 and the summer of your final year. If you choose to study the Placement option, you will have no commitments in Term 3 and the summer of your first year.
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The Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value MPA can also be completed on a flexible basis, over the duration of up to five years. You will select a combination of both core and elective modules: the same six compulsory modules as the full-time pathway, plus two optional taught modules and a final project comprising of a Policy Analysis Thesis or Placement.
For the Public Administration pathway, example elective modules include:
- Digital Transformation
- Rethinking Capitalism
- Contemporary Political Philosophy II: Social Justice and Equality
- Democracy and Accountability: Holding Power to Account
- Urban Innovation and Policy
- Development, Technology and Innovation Policy
- Smart Cities: Context, Policy & Government
- Social Diversity, Inequality and Poverty
For the Economic Policy and Political Economy pathway, example elective modules include:
- The Economics of Property Rights
- Energy, Technology and Innovation
- Energy, Environment and Resources in Developing Countries
- International Political Economy
- Governing Global Business
- The Political Economy of Development
- Topics in Economic History
- Latin American Economics
- Systems Thinking and System Dynamics
- Environmental Economics: Principles and Policy
- Environmental and Development in Latin America: Revisiting the Open Veins
- International Development: Theory, Policy and Practice
- Social Justice and Alternatives to Capitalism
- Social Diversity, Inequality and Poverty
- Prosperity from Below: The Informal, the Illicit and the Popular
- Political Economy of Science
For the Digital Transformation pathway, example elective modules include:
- Digital Sociology
- Global Digital Humanities
- History and Theory of Digital Design
- Mining Social and Geographic Datasets
- Digital Rights
- Digital Health
- Emerging Dilemmas in Digital Technology Policy
- Digital Strategy and Transformation
- Anthropolgy of Technics and Technology
- Gender, Social Movements, and Digital Activism
- Information Governance
- Digitalisation in Infrastructure
- Informatic Cultures: The Anthropology of Data, Algorithms and Computation
Please note that the list of elective modules given here is indicative rather than exhaustive. This information is published in advance of enrolment and availability is subject to change. As a flexible student, the number of modules per term will be dependent on the number you choose to enrol onto in any given year.
As with part-time students, we recommend that flexible students plan to undertake one of two study patterns for completing the intensive module of the final project. For the Thesis option, you can start your research during Term 3 of your first year and then complete in Term 3 and the summer of your second year. For the Placement option, you can negotiate with your employer or arrange other commitments so that you can dedicate yourself to working on the project full-time through Term 3 and the summer of your final year. If you choose to study the Placement option, you will have no commitments in Term 3 and the summer of your first year.
Compulsory modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MPA in Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value.
Placement
During Term 3 of the Innovation, Public Purpose and Public Value MPA, you will have a choice either of undertaking a placement with one of the partner organisations of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose or writing a thesis. During the placement, you will work closely in a group on a policy problem with your placement organisation. The aim is to apply the new ways of thinking that you will acquire in the first two terms of the MPA in live contexts.
Placements take place with a wide range of organisations within the UK and around the globe and the Institute matches students and organisations based on both students’ interests and their professional and academic backgrounds and skills. Many placement organisations are members of our Mission-Oriented Innovation Network (MOIN). MOIN brings together over 100 public organisations around the world, including state investment banks, innovation agencies, strategic design units in cities, and other public organisations with that are engaged in cutting-edge policymaking.
The projects that students in the past have undertaken are varied; from analysing government challenge programmes to supporting government strategy formation and are grounded in research and a shared benefit between students, faculty, and partners.
To date, we have placed student teams in up to twelve organisations annually, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the European Investment Bank (EIB), Challenge Works (Nesta Challenges), the Danish Design Centre, the Design Council, EIT Climate KIC, the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, Government Digital Service (UK), the Scottish Government, Hackney Council, Camden Council, New Zealand Ministry for the Environment, the Greater London Authority and the KTN and Satellite Applications Catapult with support from the UK Space Agency.
The groups that evolve through the placement process are highly valued for their understanding of emergent concepts such as mission-oriented innovation, as well as their ability to harness design, systems thinking, and other analytical tools. Ultimately, the placement culminates with a group presentation and individual written reports.
“We had the pleasure of hosting a group of outstanding students for a two-month placement at our organisation, focusing on the issue of policy coherence. Throughout their time with us, the students demonstrated a profound understanding of the complexities involved in aligning diverse policy areas. Their work, which included extensive research and direct engagement with policymakers, provided invaluable insights into both the strengths and weaknesses of existing tools for improving policy coherence. The students presented their findings with great professionalism, engaging the audience through their ability to communicate complex ideas in an appealing and accessible manner. We are grateful for their hard work and dedication, and we look forward to seeing their continued success in the field of public policy.” - FAO (Rome) 2024
“It was a real pleasure hosting the students and their work has added considerably to our understanding of a complex and nebulous topic. Their unique perspectives challenged conventional views in a constructive way that has presented a number of new opportunities we are now poised to act on. I would highly recommend hosting a student placement to any prospective hosts and would happily welcome another team of students back to Innovate UK again.” - Innovate UK, 2024
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £36,500 | £18,250 |
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £36,500 | £18,250 |
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
Additional costs
For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.
For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.
Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.
Core costs related to the Placement, should you choose this option, will be covered by the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. This includes partner and facilitation expenses, travel-related costs where travel is necessary (e.g. transportation, visas, travel insurance) and accommodation costs where required. Personal expenses (e.g. food, mobile data, non-essential leisure activities) must, as normal, be covered by the student regardless of whether placements occur in person or remotely.
UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.
Funding your studies
Additionally,
In our faculty, The Bartlett Promise Scholarship aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in the built environment to pursue master's studies. Please see the UK Master's scholarship and Sub-Saharan Africa Master's scholarship pages for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs.
Any additional funding available from the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and the Built Environment Faculty Office are advertised on the respective websites.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
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Bartlett Promise UK Master's Scholarship
Deadline: 31 May 2025Value: Tuition fees plus £15,864 maintenance/yr (Duration of programme)Criteria Based on financial needEligibility: UKIIPP Policy Studio MPA Scholarship
Deadline: 01 July 2025Value: Full tuition fees (1 year)Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial needEligibility: UK, EU, Overseas
Next steps
There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.
When we assess your application, we would like to learn:
- Why you want to study Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value at graduate level
- Why you want to study Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value at UCL
- What particularly attracts you to the MPA
- How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course
- Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.
Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.
Choose your programme
Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.
Got questions? Get in touch
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