MPA
Masters in Public Administration
Integrated study of the management and administration of public sector organisations
Course Overview
Why take this course?
If you want to enter or enhance a career in central, regional or local government, or in organisations in partnerships with governments, this course has been designed to meet your needs. It brings together people from a wide range of organisations to create an inter-cultural, inter-professional and inter-organisational educational environment.
While we prefer applicants to have experience of a public sector managerial role, exceptions may be made for a good relevant degree.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Examine the ways in which public policies are made and implemented and acquire specialist subject knowledge in fields relevant to your career choices
- Compare policy processes and outputs within specific policy fields including health, education, welfare, economic development, defence, policing and European integration
- Obtain a wider international perspective of public policies, management systems and administrative systems
What opportunities might it lead to?
The course delivers transferable lifelong skills that you will be able to apply to complex issues, both systematically and creatively. This will improve your capabilities and enable you to work with self-direction and originality, as well as help you contribute to public administration and society at large.
Portsmouth made me certain I would be looked after on both academic and personal levels. The support I have received has been outstanding.
Dilfuza Nabieva, MPA Masters in Public Administration student
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time, 2 years part time
- Entry
A good honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. Preferably, applicants will have experience of working in a managerial role in a public sector organisation.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 or equivalent with no component less than 6.0.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £4,500
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man part-time students: £2,250 p/a*. (A pro-rata fee will be charged in the dissertation year.)
International full-time students: £10,500
International part-time students: £5,250 p/a*. (A pro-rata fee will be charged in the dissertation year.) 2 years
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8299 - Department
- School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies
Structure & Teaching
We will introduce you to different ways of delivering public services and how to access their efficiency and effectiveness. As a result, you will gain knowledge and develop an understanding of the following areas:
The impact of contextual forces on public organisations including:
- the legal system
- ethical, economic, environmental, social and technological change issues
- international developments
- corporate governance
- the role of public sector organisations in economic development and regeneration
- the marketisation of service delivery
- citizenship issues in public organisations
- the concepts, processes and institutions in the management of resources and operations
- financing the public sector (sources, financial management, accountability and financial reporting)
- management and development of people within organisations, human resource management, human resource development and change management
- the uses and limitations of quantitative and qualitative research methods for providing information and evaluating options in an uncertain organisational environment
- the development, management and exploitation of information systems and their impact on organisations
- the use of relevant communication and information technologies and applications in public sector management within a global knowledge-based economy
You will study:
- Dissertation/Major Project
- Comparative Public Policy and Administration
- Public Management
- Public Sector Strategic Management and Leading Effective Change
One option from:
- Practice Based Knowledge in British Public Administration
- Work Related Learning/Independent Learning
- Europe and the World
- Contemporary Security In International Relations: Providers and Challenges
- Policies and Networks; the Governance Of The EU
- Nation and Identity in Europe
- Management of Resources, Finance And Information Systems
Please note that units may be subject to change.
For part-time students a number of distance learning management units are available in addition to a work-based learning unit, which allows you to achieve credit for study or a project undertaken in the workplace.
Credit for prior learning may be awarded, provided that the course studied relates to the Portsmouth MPA curriculum.
Teaching and Assessment
You will be taught using a variety of lectures, seminars, tutorials, student presentations, visiting speakers and structured visits to public sector organisations. International students will have a full portfolio of activities that will include English language classes, visits to public organisations and structured advice on how to develop their academic performance.
All students receive an induction to our library and how to use our electronic sources of information. Each student will have a personal tutor, as well as the support of an extensive system of student services.
How are you assessed?
These include work-related assignments, extended essays, examinations, assessed presentations, reports, completion of logs and a dissertation or extended piece of work-related research culminating in a management report.
Facilities & Features
The Study Centre
A suite of rooms with group working spaces, printers, Mac workstations and more
Flexible Learning
Benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services
Support
Tutors are available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including thousands of online ejournals
The Study Centre
A suite of rooms with a comfy seating area, desks where you can work, printers, Mac workstations and access to the wireless network so you can log in using your own laptop. There are also several study rooms where you can work on group projects.
Flexible Learning
You will benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services. Our student website, LookUP, will be your one-stop shop for all news, information and links to other services, and 24/7 online access to the University Library’s vast electronic book, journal and database collections will help you find the right resources for your studies.
Support
We aim to provide you with as much support as possible. There are tutors available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing. You will also be assigned a personal tutor who will offer support and guidance throughout your studies.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
The course delivers transferable lifelong skills that you will be able to apply to complex issues, both systematically and creatively. This will improve your capabilities and enable you to work with self-direction and originality, as well as help you contribute to public administration and society at large.
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.