Master of Public Policy

Entry Requirements

Conversion Masters (48 units): Bachelor degree or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 4.0 OR Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Public Policy OR Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Public Policy.

Extension Masters (36 units): Bachelor degree (minimum GPA 4.0) in the following FoE codes: (Political Science) or (Policy Studies) OR relevant cognate discipline: public administration, environmental policy / environmental studies, public health / health policy, economics, international relations OR Bachelor degree (minimum GPA 4.0) and 3 years relevant professional work experience. Applicants must provide a detailed Curriculum Vitae with their application. OR 6 years relevant professional work experience. Applicants must provide a detailed Curriculum Vitae with their application.

IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 and Band score of 6 in all bands; TOEFL Paper-based: total score of 577 with a minimum of 4.5 in the Test of Written English (TWE) or Internet-based: total score of 79 with a minimum of 21 in Writing, 18 in Speaking and 13 in Reading and Listening; Pearson Test of English (Academic) overall score of 58 and Skills profile of no less than 50 in all skills; and Cambridge English-Advanced (CAE): Overall score of 176 and Individual score of 169 in all skills.

Course Details

Conceive and create the frameworks of society

Public policy shapes our lives. It governs everything from how we do business, to how our health, welfare and education systems operate, and how our nation engages with the world.

Those who set and/or influence policy can create profound change by improving things like community equity, diversity, wellbeing, security and prosperity. Our Master of Public Policy prepares you to take the lead.

What will you do?

The Master’s program is studied over two years full-time, or 18 months if extending a past bachelor degree.

It provides specialist knowledge in policy processes and governance institutions; advanced skills in policy analysis and research; and the capability to design and implement sound policy in complex environments.

Highly interdisciplinary, the degree integrates knowledge from the University’s world-class experts in: politics; international relations; economics; law; environmental and social sciences; strategic communications; philosophy and more. You will gain: deep understanding of political, legal and ethical issues affecting public policy; broad awareness of public policy’s underlying economic principles; advanced skills in community engagement and its analysis; the opportunity to explore interests in specialist areas, such as international trade, human rights, environmental planning and governance, global food and agribusiness, public health, education and more; high-level research skills, through a major final-year research project.

Where could it take you?

You might pursue a career in politics or the public service. You could analyse and develop policy in a major industry body or consulting firm. Perhaps you’ll interpret policy and advise on its application for a large company, a lobbying organisation, or not-for-profit.

Potential careers

Project Manager, Project Officer, Diplomat, Diplomatic corps, Resource Management, Resource Manager, Risk Analyst, Environment Protection Officer, Environmental Compliance Officer, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Economist, Environmental Management, Environmental Manager, Environmental Project Officer, Environmental Remediation Officer, Social Worker, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Aid Worker, Sustainability Manager, Government Policy Advisor, Government or Corporate Policy Adviser, UN Human Rights Officer, ...