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MPA Public Administration - International Development

Examine the services and organisations that are helping to establish developing countries across the world.

Year of entry: 2024 (September)

Length

1 year full-time,
2 years part-time

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

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By investigating how policy is made, and identifying the challenges that lie in public organisations in developing countries, you'll be able to provide solutions that make a difference.

From leadership and strategy to performance and human resources, this course will help you build a set of highly sought-after skills that will prepare you for managerial roles in the developing world. Our graduates have gone on to work for development charities, parliament and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as many other international organisations.

You'll be taught by academics at the forefront of research across a number of political areas such as conflict, security and development, political economy, international politics, political theory and public policy.

Experts on the global stage

Our staff advise governments and international organisations on a wide range of issues, and contribute to news media and current affairs programmes around the world

Course content

The course consists of:

  • core modules 
  • option modules 
  • independent policy report

Option modules cover a wide range of topics, from the politics of security to the politics of global trade, with both policy-based and theoretical approaches. The option modules allow you to explore your personal interests to a much greater depth.

Core modules Public Finance: Principles, Politics & Contemporary Issues and Strategic Planning, will be delivered by the York Management School, giving you a fresh perspective on the topics and a more interdisciplinary outlook on international development.

Taught modules will run throughout the first half of the year, with the policy report being completed during the summer and vacation.

Dissertation

During the summer and vacation you will consolidate your interests in a 10,000-12,000-word policy report on a topic of your choice.

You'll have regular meetings with your assigned policy report advisor, who will help guide you through the process and support you in the exploration of your chosen topic. You'll also have the opportunity to present your policy report at our research seminar presentation workshops.

Previous policy report titles include:

  • The relationship between U.S. government donors and international non-profit organisations: A comparative analysis of the George W Bush and Barack Obama administrations
  • Challenges of Public Administration reform in Afghanistan on corruption and development in Afghanistan
  • Understanding China’s policy towards Africa, its impact and policy implications
  • ProÁrbol: achieving sustainable development in Mexico through the Payment for Environmental Services (PES)
  • A comparative study of health care systems in Brazil, India and China: what lessons can China learn?

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Identify and understand the critical issues that drive policy-making by looking at how policies are managed, implemented, monitored and evaluated. (Substantive knowledge)
  • Use intellectual reasoning and systematic empirical testing to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of concepts specific to public policy and apply different theoretical perspectives from international development. (Analytical skills and critical thinking)
  • Explain and demonstrate to audiences the application of public policy and international development concepts, drawing on an understanding of strategic planning and on appropriate skills and tools. (Communication and strategic skills)
  • Construct and clearly present persuasive and critical written reflections that effectively communicate sustained policy analysis to academic and policy-making audiences.
  • Undertake independent research on policy and international development related topics by: conceiving and operationalising research questions; building on specialist expertise in public policy; using relevant concepts and tools to gather and interpret policy data; and draw appropriate conclusions and policy recommendations. (Research skills)
  • Engage with shared learning across several disciplines and develop an understanding of the values of tolerance, sustainability and inclusivity. (Professional skills).
I really feel that after doing the MPA-ID I have the foundation and the confidence to be a positive influence in the field.
Rebecca, MPA Public Administration - International Development

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

Study modeUK (home)International and EU
Full-time (1 year) £10,590£23,900
Part-time (2 years)
This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.
£5,295£11,950

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

  • UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
  • International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Additional costs

You may incur some additional expenses for books, but these costs are optional as most of the texts you'll need are available in the University library. If the resources you need aren't available, you can borrow via inter-library loans and order new books to our library for free.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You'll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and one-to-one supervision. We take a personal approach to learning, with much of our teaching conducted in small groups.

Teaching location

The Department of Politics and International Relations is located in Derwent College, on Campus West. Most teaching takes place in Derwent College seminar rooms and at other locations across Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

You'll submit six essays of around 4,000 words. Your final policy report will be submitted at the beginning of September.

Careers and skills

The skills you'll acquire through the study of public administration and international development will leave you well prepared for further study or work in a wide range of sectors, from social and political research to journalism, marketing and HR.

Career opportunities

  • Diplomat
  • Head of public affairs
  • Civil Servant
  • Financial consultant
  • Policy and engagement manager within a government body
  • Business development manager

Transferable skills

  • The ability to research, source and examine information thoroughly
  • Analytical skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Excellent written and oratory skills
  • Intellectual independence and autonomy
  • Teamworking skills
  • A flexible and open-minded approach to work

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:1 or equivalent. We are willing to consider applicants with lower qualifications, particularly if you have high marks in relevant modules and/or appropriate professional experience. Additional information may be requested.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
KITE 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL 87, minimum 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

Apply for this course

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Dr. Matt Lesch

Learn more

Department of Politics and International Relations

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