Course specification and structure
Undergraduate Course Structures Postgraduate Course Structures

PMPUBADN - MA Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Master of Public Administration Level Masters
Possible interim awards Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, Advanced Diploma in Professional Development
Total credits for course 180
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University, HSE Moscow
School School of Social Professions
Subject Area Health, Social Care and Early Childhood
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 1 YEARS  
Part-time 2 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

The overall aim of the course is to develop high quality practitioners in the field of administration. Policy and management of public services and non for profit sector who will play a critical role as ‘change-agents’ in their home country environments.

This will be achieved through an interdisciplinary programme of study which is intellectually rigorous and professionally relevant to the student’s local context and organisation. The course proposes a unique blend of theoretical and practical skills development, benefitting from first hand interaction with practitioners, the possibility of undertaking a placement and the possibility of focussed development in a policy area (health and social care) or in advanced strategic planning and policy design.

The course will be delivered through a blended learning approach incorporating a variety of teaching and learning strategies appropriate to Postgraduate level study. These include practical workshops with practitioners, role plays and simulations, e-learning, group and individual directed research.

The course will develop a variety of academic capacities and transferable skills related to public administration: analytical skills, report writing skills, strategic and policy analysis, user centred design etc.

The course will encourage flexibility of thought and attitudes and a commitment to lifelong learning and reflective practice.

Course aims

The specific aims of the course are to:

provide a critical perspective on the concepts of public administration and public management reform in theory and practice;
equip students with the multi-disciplinary knowledge base and the transferable skills to act as effective agents of change in a range of administrative, policy and managerial environments;
provide students with an understanding of the broader national and international context within which debates and practices of public service transformation are located;
enable students to apply academic course content into their own working context;
to help students develop research and evaluative skills to support an evidence based approach and to enable them to engage in critical reflective practice.

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Apply methods and techniques appropriate to their own research or advanced scholarship in Public Administration, Management and Policy.

2. Apply knowledge with originality, based on a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in Public Administration, management and Policy.

3. Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in Public Administration.

4. Evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.

5. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

6. Exercise self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level.

7. Advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level of proficiency.

8. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations.

9. Learn independently for the purposes of continuing professional development.

Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference

SH7061
GI7031
GI7004
GI7032
GI7P06
GI7085
GI7003
GI7005
GI7034
GI7035
SH7007
GI7033

Course Learning Outcomes cover LO1-9

Assessment strategy

The course draws on a variety of teaching and learning styles, and they are in turn reflected in the variety of assessment tools employed throughout the course. Within the general principle of mixed mode formative and summative assessment, we use a diversity of assessment instruments: these include a range of written assignments (essays, reports, portfolios and the dissertation) and individual presentations.

Transferable skills have been embedded in the learning outcomes of the modules within the MPA. This includes formative assessments so that students can test and assess their own performance before submitting of presenting summative work. The MPA includes a 60 credit dissertation based on a topic within the students’ own area of interest.

Detailed verbal and written feedback is given on all assessments, and significant tutorial support is given during the dissertation.

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

The Public Service Placement module offers students the chance to experience directly the work of a relevant area of public service in an organisation over a substantial period of time. Through a sustained period of work-based experiential learning, and through exposure to and engagement with current professional practice in public administration, students will have the opportunity to become familiar with current practices and recent developments in public administration methods and processes, within a specific organisational context and policy area; to develop and strengthen their practical knowledge and theoretical understanding of public service systems and mechanisms; and to acquire a range of appropriate professional competencies and more general transferable skills in public administration work, which can support them in future practitioner roles as change agents in their own societies and future work roles.

Modules required for interim awards

Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration: students must complete one of SH7061, GI7030 or GI7031, one further core or option, and one option, equalling 60 credits.

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration: students must complete 3 cores (SH7061, GI7004 and GI7031), plus three options equalling 120 credits.

Masters in Public Administration (MPA): see para 22.

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

In induction week, students are asked to complete a personal development plan, in which they offer an evaluation of their current academic / professional strengths and weaknesses, and identify the skills / capabilities they wish to develop. This is used as the basis for developing an action plan, which is monitored through periodic tutorials with the course leader through the year.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

QAA Quality Code

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

Former students report increased employment and promotion prospects as a result of studying the MPA. Many return to their home country and gain promotion within their own public bodies as a result of the skills and knowledge gained on the MPA. Other students obtain jobs within the UK public and voluntary sectors, often as a result of a successful work placement.

Career opportunities

Our recent graduates have gone on to find roles in the central governments of Romania, Poland, Bangladesh and more. They can also be found in executive agencies and local government branches of the British government, as well as in a wide range of voluntary sector organisations in the UK and abroad.

You’ll be able to apply for a host of public administration job opportunities on graduation. Our course is also ideal if you’re currently employed in the sector and want to update your skills or progress on to further study.

Remember - your work placement will be an excellent opportunity for you to forge long lasting professional relationships within the sector. Our recent students have praised the work placement, highlighting it as the key link between the employability skills they developed and improvements in their career.

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

  • a good honours degree in a relevant subject discipline

If you have lower qualifications but appropriate and substantial professional work or voluntary experience in a relevant area, your application may still be considered.

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 01 Sep 2013 Last validation date 11 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes L231 (Public Administration): 100%
Route code PUBADN

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 07 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
GI7004 Researching Public Services Core 20        
GI7031 Introduction to Contemporary Public Administrat... Core 20        
GI7P06 International Public Administration Project Core 60        
SH7061 Understanding the Policy Process Core 20 NORTH AUT TUE PM
GI7003 Strategic Planning and Change Management Alt Core 20        
GI7032 Public Management and Public Finance Alt Core 20        
GI7005 Public Service Placement Option 20        
GI7033 Project Management Option 20        
GI7034 Public Service Design and Innovation Option 20 NORTH SUM WK  
GI7035 Managing Teams Option 20        
GI7085 International Administration and Development Option 20        
SH7007 Interprofessional Practice Option 20 NORTH AUT TUE AM
EL0000 Elective Option 30 NORTH SPR NA  
          NORTH AUT NA  
          NORTH SUM NA  

Stage 1 Level 07 January start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
GI7004 Researching Public Services Core 20        
GI7031 Introduction to Contemporary Public Administrat... Core 20        
GI7P06 International Public Administration Project Core 60        
SH7061 Understanding the Policy Process Core 20        
GI7003 Strategic Planning and Change Management Alt Core 20        
GI7032 Public Management and Public Finance Alt Core 20        
GI7005 Public Service Placement Option 20        
GI7033 Project Management Option 20        
GI7034 Public Service Design and Innovation Option 20 NORTH SUM WK  
GI7035 Managing Teams Option 20        
GI7085 International Administration and Development Option 20        
SH7007 Interprofessional Practice Option 20        
EL0000 Elective Option 30 NORTH SPR NA  
          NORTH SUM NA