Choosing an Online Masters programme

We offer three part-time online Masters courses, all of which provide professional development for people working in or with public services but which are also distinctive.

The key features of the courses:

  • The Masters in Public Policy and Management (PPM) addresses how public policy is a made, implemented and evaluated, and the key issues of managing public services. Its focus is especially on how policy processes and the delivery of services are linked. After the set modules of the Certificate year, the Diploma and Masters years offer a substantial amount of choice between a wide range of electives in both policy and management issues, in order to enable you to specialise in the areas of your choice.

  • The Masters of Public Administration (MPA) is concerned with the delivery and management of public services, within the context of the current modernising agenda. Like the PPM programme it recognises the importance of policy/delivery links, but its central focus is on the skills involved in leading and delivering services, and in innovation and change in public service environments. The programme provides a set route in the Certificate and Diploma years in order to provide a comprehensive grounding in these skills, combined with free choice in the Masters year between a wide range of electives.

  • The Masters in Public Administration in International Development (MPA ID) is designed to prepare and support managers of public agencies or government organisations in developing countries, and those currently working in the field of international development, in the public or voluntary sectors. It is a multi-disciplinary programme that combines rigorous training in relative theoretical frameworks and methods with comprehensive exploration of policy and practice. It is anticipated that the focus on public policy and management issues in an international, development context will provide students with the skills required for advancement in the fields of public service and international development. The programme provides a set route in the Certificate and Diploma years in order to provide a comprehensive grounding in these skills, combined with free choice in the Masters year between a range of electives.

The programmes are open to participants working in public sector and non-governmental organisations, and also accept applicants from private sector organisations that work with or for public services. Current participants span a wide range of organisations, sectors and countries.

Online MA Programmes in Public Management

Key: C = Compulsory module for the certificate stage. D = Compulsory module for the diploma stage. O = Option module.

  MA PPM MPA MPA ID
Public Management and Delivery  C C   
Policy Analysis and Process  C C  C 
Leading and Managing Organisational Change O C C 
 Using Evidence in Social Policy C  O  O 
 Theories and Policies of Development Governance     C 
 Strategic Planning O  D  D 
The Economics of Public Service Reform O    D 
 Social and Political Issues in Development     D 
 Understanding Governance   D   
 Public Finance O D*   
 Organisational Learning and Performance O  D/O*  O
 Comparative Social Policy O  O  O 
 Enterprise and Innovation   O   
 Globalisation and Social Policy O  O   
 Labour Markets, Work and Welfare O     
 Project Management O O  O 
 Public Policy and Management in the Information Age O  O  O 

* MPA Note: Either Public Finance or Organisational Learning and Performance must be taken at the Diploma stage. Organisational Learning and Performance is available as an elective module during the Masters stage if Public Finance is taken at Diploma stage.