Masters in Public Administration (MPA)

The Masters in Public Administration (MPA) will show how ideas about government, organisation, motivation, leadership, efficiency and performance have influenced management practice in governmental organisations and public services.

The MPA includes an international group  field trip  with visits to city, regional and central government organisations to learn about public administration in a practical, international context.

The programme will focus on the following themes:

• Current trends in public administration including different approaches to the reform of public institutions, to improving performance and accountability.
• The nature of leadership in a public administrative context, its role in effecting cultural change in public institutions.
• The purposes, methods and outcomes of public administrative reforms, including performance management and fiscal decentralisation, in an international context”
• Principles and techniques of research design and problem analysis in the context of public policy and management in an international context.

The normal admission requirement for our taught postgraduate programmes is a good first degree or an equivalent professional qualification. Work experience in the public sector is desirable, but not essential. Candidates without a first degree who have substantial work experience in public administration may be considered for admission (subject to interview and/or written statement).

The College of Social Sciences brings together over 450 academics (including 90 professors) and over 360 professional staff across a range of disciplines and interdisciplinary fields. Around 25% of our staff are international and combined with over 42,500 global alumni representing over 185 countries, our work impacts all areas of society grounded in the key disciplines of business, economics, education, government and society, and social policy.

Why study at the University of Birmingham?

• We are a global Top 100 University and are ranked top 20 in multiple UK league tables
• We have been named the most targeted university by the UK’s top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2021
• 87% of our research has a global impact (REF 2014)
• Numerous UoB alumni and staff have been involved with work recognised with Nobel prizes
• There is a wealth of employability support services available to students. The College and our Careers Network can provide you with practical advice and skills for career development. We also have excellent industrial links with global companies, such as Rolls Royce and Jaguar Land Rover, which allow opportunities for our students to gain insight and experience of the industry.
• You could receive a Commonwealth Scholarship worth £3,000 or a Global Masters Scholarship worth £10,000 if you start your studies in September 2021. Information and eligibility criteria for both awards is available on our website.