Public Management and Leadership MPA

London, Bloomsbury

The MPA programme is a postgraduate degree that centres on applied, problem-based learning in the fields of public management, governance, and leadership. Through the integration of cutting-edge scholarship and practical application, the MPA equips participants with a dual proficiency in hands-on tools and academic insight crucial for effective public policy management. This comprehensive approach empowers individuals to skilfully lead organisations and implement policies, both within the domestic context and on the international stage.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£25,900
£12,950
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
£17,200
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

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

To be effective in policy implementation and leadership of organisations, managers require knowledge of management theories and skills, but, at the same time, require an understanding of the distinctive features of each of the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

The MPA programme blends these two, combining the management knowledge and skills typically taught in business schools with an understanding of public policies typically conveyed in traditional public policy degrees. It takes a problem-based approach, combining the latest scholarship and practice, to prepare students to think creatively and to innovate in an ever more complex and constantly evolving multi-actor governance environment.

The programme’s leadership emphasis across sectors allows students to work across a wide variety of governmental and non-governmental institutions in their careers and critically shapes their capacity to engage multiple actors towards a common purpose.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for graduates with an interest in public management and Leadership who wish to use the MPA for developing their careers either in public, private or non-profit organisations.

What this course will give you

The programme targets current and future leaders, who require leadership and management skills and theories to succeed but need to adapt to and consider the specificities of the public, private, and non-profit sectors in their roles.

This MPA will deliver the essential knowledge and skills managers require to deliver results and innovate in an ever more complex and constantly evolving multi-stakeholder and multi-level governance environment.

Testament to the MPA programme’s strengths, MPA graduates have excellent placement records – including senior roles in civil services around the world, leading NGOs, international organizations (such as the World Bank and OECD) and top private sector consultancies.

The foundation of your career

Upon completing the Master's in Public Administration programme, our alumni have embarked on diverse and impactful career paths closely aligned with the realm of public services.

The programme equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and networks to excel in a wide range of sectors, making them highly sought-after professionals in their fields. Our MPA graduates have found their footing in a multitude of organisations, ranging from internationally renowned institutions to local government bodies, as well as esteemed private consulting firms, NGOs, and prominent think tanks. Their career destinations encompass a broad spectrum of fields and sectors, reflecting the programme's adaptability and the calibre of our alumni.

International Organisations: Many of our alumni have chosen to make their mark on the global stage, serving in leading international organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, and the United Nations. These roles allow them to influence international policies and address pressing global challenges.

National and Local Governments: A substantial portion of our graduates have taken up senior positions in government departments and agencies, contributing their expertise to the development and execution of public policies at the national and local levels. Their work is instrumental in shaping the future of public administration.

Private Sector Organisations: Some graduates join the private sector, taking on roles in consultancy organisations (such as PricewaterhouseCoopers) or multinational firms (e.g. Meta, Virgin).

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs): Many of our alumni have chosen to work with NGOs, dedicating themselves to social causes and advocating for change. Organisations like the Red Cross benefit from the passion and expertise of our graduates in addressing humanitarian issues.

Entrepreneurship: In some cases, our alumni have established their own organisations, start-ups, or social enterprises, to address specific public service challenges in innovative and impactful ways.

Academic Pursuits: Several of our former students have pursued research careers, joined think tanks (such as Nesta) or pursued PhDs.

The MPA programme has consistently produced graduates who excel in their respective fields, making meaningful contributions to public services and governance worldwide. Our alumni's diverse career destinations serve as a testament to the programme's capacity to empower individuals to shape the future of public administration and contribute positively to society.

Employability

On completion of the MPA, you will be able to develop your careers further within public, private, or non-profit leading organisations. You will be equipped with the knowledge and the capabilities to take positions of responsibility, administrating, and implementing different aspects of public policies.


The MPA will enable you to develop key management skills in administering and implementing public policies. You will acquire critical abilities to analyse public policies; you will also develop your leadership capacity and gain understanding of how different institutional arrangements can be used to deliver public services. You will also be exposed to cases to advance your strategic decision-making skills.

Networking

Our Master's in Public Administration programme provides abundant networking opportunities, fostering connections with key players in the field of public administration.

Join our 'Policy & Practice' seminar series, where you'll gain insights from scholarly research and hear from high-profile policy makers, practitioners, and academics. These public events take place every Thursday evening during Terms 1 and 2 of the academic year, offering a platform for dialogue and collaboration.

We regularly invite policymakers and public managers to share their views and experiences, providing you with direct access to those at the forefront of public administration and allows you to engage in discussions that shape policy and practice.

Additionally, the UCL Policy Lab organises regular events with academics and policymakers, tackling urgent societal issues, further enhancing your networking opportunities and exposure to real-world challenges.

Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with other UCL students throughout their studies, interacting with a diverse community of aspiring professionals, fostering valuable connections that extend beyond the classroom.

Teaching and learning

Subject-Specific Knowledge:

Lectures and seminars, grounding in empirical, normative dimensions of public administration.


Intellectual, Academic and Research Skills:


Confronting theories in public administration, public policy, Economics, and political science. Assessing premises and empirical validity of hypotheses.


Practical and Transferrable Skills:

Presentations, simulations, discussions, writing project reports, essays, and your dissertation.

You will be assessed by a variety of methods including: project reports, class presentations, ‘unseen’ examinations, essays and a final written dissertation.

150 hours is allocated to each 15 credit module. This includes 20 contact hours and 130 study hours.

Modules


In term 1, you will study two compulsory modules covering core public management issues: Governance and Public Management, and Data Analysis for Policy. Both modules are designed to equip you with the requisite foundational academic knowledge for public sector management careers. In addition, we recommend you choose one elective module offered in term 1 in accordance with your career aspirations. In term 2, you will undertake a third compulsory module, Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, which will allow you to discover how to lead organisations to achieve societal impact.

In terms 1 and/or 2, you will additionally choose two modules from several options to personalize the programme to your specific interests, which typically include: Policy Implementation, Public Finance and Budgeting, Strategy and Organisational Change, and Policy Advice. In addition, you can choose a further one elective module from all subjects offered by UCL, conditional on those being of relevance to your degree. You will also start preparing your final master project in term 2.

In term 3, you will fully develop your final master project, which can be a dissertation, a case study, or a literature review. The final project will give you the opportunity to apply some of the concepts and skills developed through the programme under academic supervision.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. We do encourage our part-time students to distribute their study evenly between the two years of study. Many part-time students opt for one of the following patterns:

75 credits in year one and 105 credits in year two;
Or

90 credits in year one and 90 credits in year two.


Upon completion you will have undertaken modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising three compulsory modules (Governance and Public Management, Data Analysis for Policy, Leadership and Organizational Behaviour) and a final Master project. You will have further attended elective module(s) to personalise your programme of study to your own academic or professional interests.

There is currently no modular/flexible structure available.

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 Public Management and Leadership.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £25,900 £12,950
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400 £17,200

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

There are no programme-specific additional costs to students.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (equivalent to 1yr full-time) (1yr)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

GREAT Scholarship

Deadline: 14 May 2024
Value: £10,000 towards tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Public Management and Leadership at graduate level
  • why you want to study Public Management and Leadership at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging programme
  • 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 programme match what the programme will deliver.

When it is necessary to calculate a final average mark, the department will calculate all years of undergraduate study.

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.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions? Get in touch

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