Public Management and Leadership MPA

About this degree

To be effective in policy implementation and leadership of organisations, managers require knowledge of management theories and skills, but, at the same time, require an understanding of the distinctive features of each of the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

The MPA programme blends these two, combining the management knowledge and skills typically taught in business schools with an understanding of public policies typically conveyed in traditional public policy degrees. It takes a problem-based approach, combining the latest scholarship and practice, to prepare students to think creatively and to innovate in an ever more complex and constantly evolving multi-actor governance environment.

The programme’s leadership emphasis across sectors allows students to work across a wide variety of governmental and non-governmental institutions in their careers and critically shapes their capacity to engage multiple actors towards a common purpose.

The MPA programme is a postgraduate degree that centres on applied, problem-based learning in the fields of public management, governance, and leadership. Through the integration of cutting-edge scholarship and practical application, the MPA equips participants with a dual proficiency in hands-on tools and academic insight crucial for effective public policy management. This comprehensive approach empowers individuals to skilfully lead organisations and implement policies, both within the domestic context and on the international stage.

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Upon completing the Master's in Public Administration programme, our alumni have embarked on diverse and impactful career paths closely aligned with the realm of public services.