Further your career in public sector management, guided by leading academics and practitioners.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Ulster is the ideal programme for anyone working in a managerial or governance role in the public, voluntary or community sectors, who is keen to reach the next step in their career.
Designed to improve quality across the public services, this innovative course will enhance your leadership skills and effectiveness, ensuring you stand out in a competitive labour market.
Internationally-recognised, high quality research shapes our teaching. Throughout the programme, you will benefit from the extensive expertise of the academic team, as well as significant input from leading practitioners from across the civil service and public services.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
In this section
Whether you want to further your learning or advance your career, the MPA is a flexible programme designed to work with your life.
Normally completed over two years, the course comprises eight modules (one of which is double), delivered on a block-release basis. You also have the option to exit after four or six modules with a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Public Administration.
Students come from a variety of roles and organisations across the public, voluntary and community sectors. This diversity adds to the learning experience. You will study alongside like-minded professionals and gain an invaluable insight into different organisations, while also developing your network.
There is also an opportunity to study at one of our partner universities in the European Master of Public Administration Network.
Modules cover a broad range of topics relevant to public sector management and governance, and will help you hone your leadership and management skills.
You will develop a critical awareness and understanding of policy, management and organisations and explore the impact of various forces on organisations including political uncertainty, economic constraints, demands for greater efficiency and effectiveness and an increasing focus on outcome
You will also learn how to analyse and evaluate key public policies that impact on your organisation.
Career opportunities are excellent and graduates of the MPA currently work across a wide range of organisations in health, housing, education, local government, government agencies, civil services departments, police, non-departmental public bodies and many voluntary and community sector organisations.
Structure
Year 1
Semester 1
Module Title:Public Administration and Governance (PUP709)
Compulsory, 20 credits
Module description: This module is designed to examine the activities of public servants and structures of government within a changing administrative landscape which has witnessed the decline in the traditional forms of bureaucracy and seen the emergence of a differentiated polity influenced by developments in the private sector. The relevance of traditional principles of public administration - public accountability, equity and legality, are being challenged by the adoption of management tools and techniques described broadly as New Public Management.
Module Title: Strategic Leadership(PUP816)
Compulsory, 20 credits
Module description: This module examines the major issue of strategically managing and leading the organization in a changing environment. It develops generic issues in strategic management and provides the opportunity for critical appraisal of a range of theories on strategic management and leadership and to apply these theories to real life organizations in the public sector. Assessment is through a number of pieces of course work.
Semester 2
Module Title: Policy Analysis(PUP802)
Compulsory, 20 credits
Module description: Policy analysis is concerned with how issues and problems come to be defined and constructed and how they are placed on the political and policy agenda of governments. But it is also the study of how, why and to what effect governments pursue particular courses of action and inaction or “what governments do, why they do it, and what difference it makes”. It is an approach to public policy that aims to integrate and contexualise models and research from various disciplines.
Module Title: Applied Government(PUP892)
Compulsory, 20 credits
Module description: The module will demonstrate, through real-world case studies, how to achieve good government in ‘messy’ situations where authority is shared across individuals and organisations and where the context, mandate or original policy aims of an issue change over time. It will describe large-scale challenges from the perspective of Ministers, public servants and other stakeholders. It will demonstrate how ‘coalitions of the willing’ are established in these situations and how various tools of government can be brought to bear at different points to achieve real progress and deliver results on the ground.
Year 2
Semester 1
Module Title: Policy Evaluation and Policy Co-design (PUP801)
Compulsory, 20 credits
Module description: The purpose of this module is to enhance students' understanding of the design and evaluation of public policy. This module introduces students to the principles and elements of policy design in contemporary governance. It does so through the study of the policy instruments used by governments in carrying out their tasks in adapting to and altering their environments, as well as by presenting the processes in government which lead to instruments selection and implementation. This includes an understanding of the role of different institutional actors in policy co-design. These instruments form the basic foundation or structures upon which all public policies and programmes rest. This module logically continues by introducing students to the concept of policy evaluation and to the concept of research-based evidence.
Module Title: Comparative Public Administration(PUP712)
Compulsory, 20 credits
Module description: This module focuses on the study of how public administration deals with linguistic diversity, and it examines the resulting public policies. By presenting and discussing different cases from the United Kingdom (in particular, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), the Republic of Ireland, and other multilingual countries such as Canada, Switzerland, and Belgium, the module adopts a comparative perspective. Given the composition of the student body (public sector officials), the module offers an opportunity for them to link theory and practice, and an opportunity for a discussion of contemporary issues facing the public sector in the UK and beyond.
Module Title: Contemporary Issues in Public Policy and Administration (Health and Social Care)(PUP827)
Compulsory (only for students progressing from the PgDip in HSC Leadership & Management), 20 credits
Module description: This module explores how public policy is made, analysing the policy making cycle. It considers the nature of contemporary public administration including an analysis of the size, scope and priorities of the public sector, as well as the challenges of how it is financed. The changing nature of the state is explored, including alternative perspectives on the principles of public sector organisation, and the infusion of innovative ideas from the private sector. While a brief assessment of UK is made, the emphasis is on public administration in Northern Ireland, considering the specific political, economic and social context within which it operates. The growth of the extended state (quangos) and regulation (the latter partly in response to earlier privatisation initiatives) is assessed as is the impact of devolution and regionalisation, together with the changing role of local government. The module enables students to share their experience as practitioners or observers of public sector changes in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Year 2
Semester 2
Module Title: Research Methods (PUP711)
Compulsory (only for students progressing from year 1 of the MPA), 20 credits
Module description: The Research Methods module has a direct link to the students' preparation for their Master's research project. The module considers the key research strategies and designs in the field of public administration and then examines various quantitative and qualitative research methods. Central to the module is practical skills acquisition using data analysis software packages to interrogate primary data sets in public administration. The module concludes with an examination of ethical issues which must be considered in advance of embarking on primary research in the project.
Module Title: Developing Collaborative Policy Solutions: Problem Based Learning (PUP713)
Compulsory (all groups of students), 40 credits
Module description: This module comes at the end of the student's learning journey and it enables them to apply their learning from this and other modules to real life issues through teh completion of a research project. Specifically, students learn more about the theoretical basis for collaborative policy making and the potential it provides for better policy making and implementation. Through class based discussions and group work students have the opportunity to reflect on their own working context and experience (both current and/or previous) in the public service and evaluate the extent to which any changes therein have been informed by ideas about collaboration in policy making and how effective this has been. The module will provide students with a critical understanding of network governance by engaging with contemporary issues and theories in the field. The module will also introduce students to current research and organisational case studies from Northern Ireland and the UK as well as providing an international perspective. The module will describe the main challenges facing senior civil servants on a daily basis through three overarching themes: relationships, activities, and management. Through the module students will develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the role senior civil service play in modern-day service delivery.
Modules are taught over four day blocks spread over the academic year.
Teaching is in presence. Assessment is normally based on coursework and projects.
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
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We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
Normally a UK second class honours degree, or better, in any discipline or the equivalent of this for international students. Additionally, applicants should normally have gained at least 3 years’ relevant work experience in a supervisory or managerial position in the UK or Irish civil service.
English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.
Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
Students who have successfully completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Health & Social Care Management may be exempted for up to 120 credit points.
Students on the NICS Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration who are successful may progress to complete the MPA having already collected 60 credits.
In this section
Our graduates are already employed but this qualification should enhance the prospects of further progression.
Postgraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2025/26 fees will be announced in due course.
See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2024/25 entry.
Students completing the course with an average of 70 per cent or higher may be awarded the MPA with Distinction, those with an average of over 60 per cent (but below 70 per cent) with Commendation.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
“Effective policy making has made and continues to make a real difference to the people of Northern Ireland. The collaboration between Northern Ireland Civil Service and Ulster University in delivering The Postgraduate Certificate has been very successful. Specifically it provides current and future policy makers with the necessary skills to fulfil their role, inspiring them to get involved in seeking out new, innovative approaches to support positive future outcomes.”
Course Participant, DAERA
“The combination of academic theory and practical skills, along with the ability to take some time away from the office, provides a unique opportunity to take a step back in order to test theories and inform practice. The interactive nature of the course and the chance to hear from senior civil servants provides a valuable insight into the realities and challenges of policy development. The course is challenging but the benefits reach far beyond the classroom.”
Course Participant, DoJ
“…the content provided by lecturers and external speakers, as well as the in-class discussions, helped me develop a better understanding of the machinations of government and the policy-making process. The assignments also encouraged us to consider a variety of theoretical models and procedures, and it was interesting to learn how this knowledge could be applied in future.”
Course Participant, DfC
“Participating in the Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration provided a unique opportunity to put a structured framework around policy and test practice against theory. The theory, whilst heavy going at times, was brought to life through robust and lively class discussions and the assignments gave us a chance to explore the dynamics of policy-making in a way you would not have the opportunity to do in work. Fitting in the reading and meeting deadlines was tough but having access to experts in the field, both academic and practitioner, made it more than worthwhile. I thoroughly enjoyed all four modules and would recommend this course to anyone interested in policy-making.”
Course Participant, DoJ
“Whilst the PGC is, at times, daunting, it is a wholly enjoyable experience. The course requires time and dedication, but the quality of teaching and the wide range of guest speakers and their applied learning ensures that you are engaged throughout. I would highly recommend the PGC course, particularly for those involved in policy design and implementation.”
Course Participant, DfC
“….I found the course extremely interesting and worthwhile. The mixture of lectures grounded in academic theory and supplemented by the experiences of senior officials brings a very interesting and insightful dimension to the course. Whilst I found keeping on top of the reading challenging at times, I have gained a comprehensive knowledge of academic policy theories along with a greater general awareness of how government works and the challenges faced in policy making, all of which will benefit my day-to-day work.”
Course Participant, DfI (NISRA)
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
