Page content

Master of Public Administration

As well as their research, members of the Centre play a leading role in teaching public administration, at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels, including bespoke short course provision.

The Ulster Master of Public Administration (MPA) programme is led by Northern Ireland's leading experts in public administration, whose work has local and global outreach. Curriculum content and programme development are driven by research, scholarship and practical experience of our academic staff. Our collaboration with senior officials from the Northern Ireland Civil Service in the year one modules brings together practitioners and academics in the delivery of teaching which combines theory and practice. Senior civil servants and other officials in the wider public sector, accompanied by others from the charitable & voluntary sector, actively contribute to the design of these modules and provide topical case studies of their work located (by academics) in a wider conceptual framework of public governance.

The Master of Public Administration 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 and public services.

Through its membership of the European Master of Public Administration Consortium (EMPA), one of the first pioneering exchange networks for master students in public administration operating across Europe since 1990, the Centre has established close links with colleagues involved in similar programmes. Being a member of this network gives our faculty and students the opportunity to participate in exchange programmes at some of Europe’s top universities (e.g. Leiden University, The Netherlands; Université de Genève, Switzerland; Universität Speyer, Germany; Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, The Netherlands; University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Edinburgh, UK; University of Limerick, Ireland).

Additionally, staff from the Centre deliver a range of modules across the School’s suit of undergraduate provision, including:

  • BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care Policy
  • BSc (Hons) Politics and International Relations
  • BSc (Hons) Social Policy
  • BSc (Hons) Sociology

All staff are Fellows or Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

For more information, please contact our course administrator, Mr Johnny McGurgan, j.mcgurgan@ulster.ac.uk

See our brochure for additional details on course structure, content and more: