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Master of Public Policy

  • Masters (Coursework)

Offered by the internationally-renowned Crawford School of Public Policy, this program examines the processes, institutions and practices of public policy. It is designed for graduates interested in pursuing a career in, or currently working in, public policy within or outside of government.

Key details

Degree Type
Masters (Coursework)
Duration
2 years full-time
Course Code
MPUPP, 082349C
International Fees
$50,760 per year / $101,520 total

About this course

Offered by the internationally-renowned Crawford School of Public Policy, this program examines the processes, institutions and practices of public policy. It is designed for graduates interested in pursuing a career in, or currently working in, public policy within or outside of government. Core courses provide students with a solid foundation in policy processes, governance institutions, policy analysis and research.


The program equips students with important skills for analysing and researching public policy, and communicating persuasively on policy relevant matters. Through interactive and case-based teaching, students debate and reflect on the challenges of governing public policy in a dynamic, interconnected, global and increasingly digital world. Designed and taught by world-class public policy scholars, this program equips graduates for successful and productive careers in public policy.

Entry requirements

Applicants must present one of the following:

  • Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 5/7
  • Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program
  • Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7
  • Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7
  • 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7
  • Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program
  • Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General test, completed no more than 5 years before the time of application, with a minimum score of 155 for Verbal Reasoning, 155 for Quantitative Reasoning and 4.0 in Analytical Writing and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program
  • A minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program.

The GPA for a Bachelor program will be calculated from (i) a completed Bachelor degree using all grades and/or (ii) a completed Bachelor degree using all grades other than those from the last semester (or equivalent study period) of the Bachelor degree. The higher of the two calculations will be used as the basis for admission.

Ranking and English Proficiency: At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry.

In line with the University's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors. Applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes. If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of:

  • a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or
  • demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

Further information: English language admission requirements and post-admission support

Diversity factors: As Australia's national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.

Assessment of qualifications: Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.

Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au

ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.

Applications for course credit: Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units (one semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Bachelor degree with Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 48 units (one year) of credit.

Cognate Disciplines

Anthropology, Demography, Development Studies, Economics, Geography, International Relations, Law, Policy Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology

Indicative fees
Domestic International
Annual indicative fee for domestic students
$35,490.00

For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees

Annual indicative fee for international students
$50,760.00

For further information on International Tuition Fees see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/international-tuition-fees

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Study locations

Canberra

What you will learn

  1. Demonstrate deep understanding of public policy and its key challenges and issues, in Australia and globally

  2. Understand processes and challenges of agenda-setting, formulation, implementation, management and evaluation of public policy

  3. Reflect critically on key theoretical debates in the field of public policy including its practical application across cultural, developmental and institutional contexts

  4. Demonstrate understanding of methods for policy research and analysis and identify and apply them with appropriate tools to public policy issues

  5. Analyse, synthesise and communicate complex, political and institutional policy problems from multiple perspectives

Career pathways

ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.

We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.

Course structure

The Master of Public Policy requires the completion of 96 units, which must consist of:


Completion of the following three short courses in the pre-sessional component

CRWF7900 Graduate Academic and Research Skills for Public Policy

POGO7901 Graduate Preparatory Social, Political and Policy Analysis

CRWF7902 Graduate Preparatory Economics for Public Policy

30 units from completion of the following foundational compulsory courses

POGO8016 The Economic Way of Thinking

POGO8062 Public Sector Management

POGO8096 Policy Research

POGO8401 Foundations in Public Policy

POGO8402 The Political and Institutional Architecture of Public Policy


18 units from completion of the following advanced compulsory courses

POGO8081 Economics for Government

POGO8403 Cases in Contemporary Public Policy

POGO8500 Evidence and Analysis in Public Policy

A maximum of 12 units from completion of applied management courses (3 units each) from the following list:

POGO8230 Gender Analysis in Public Policy

POGO8231 Leading in Public Administration

POGO8232 Persuasion for Policymakers

POGO8233 Policy Tools & Mixes

POGO8234 Unpacking Policy Capacity

POGO8235 Engaging China: Working with Policy in the PRC

POGO8236 Public Strategy

POGO8237 Budgeting for Outcomes: Purposes, Programs and Performance

POGO8238 Fundamentals of Intergovernmental Management

POGO8239 Contemporary Challenges to Indigenous Policy

POGO8240 Evidence Based Thinking (EBT): Decision Making and Policy Development

POGO8242 Community Development Strategies

NSPO8041 Borders, Migration and Security

NSPO8044 Energy Security

NSPO8043 Pandemics, Infectious Diseases and National Security

NSPO8047 How Canberra Works: a guide for security policymakers

A minimum 36 units from completion of applied project courses from the following list, and from courses in any of the public policy specialisations:

ANIP6503 Australian National Internships Program A

CRWF7000 Applied Policy Project

CRWF7002 Policy Field School

CRWF8019 Public Policy and Professional Internship

POGO8035 Research Project


Contemporary Regulation specialisation

Economic Policy specialisation

Environment and Public Policy specialisation

Foreign and Defence Policy specialisation

Global Development Policy specialisation

Health Policy specialisation

Indigenous Policy and Development specialisation

Integrity and Anti-corruption specialisation

International Policy specialisation

Policy Analysis specialisation

Policy Communication specialisation

Population Change specialisation

Public Finance specialisation

Social Policy specialisation

Social Research Methods specialisation




Specialisations
  • Contemporary Regulation
  • Economic Policy
  • Environment and Public Policy
  • Foreign and Defence Policy
  • Global Development Policy
  • Integrity and Anti-Corruption
  • International Policy
  • Policy Analysis
  • Policy Communication
  • Population Change
  • Public Finance and Policy
  • Social Policy
  • Social Research Methods