Master of Public Administration
The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.
The Master of Public Administration provides a practical educational experience to enhance existing skills for senior public servants. It is a degree relevant to all senior public sector employees.
The course is designed for senior public servants of national, state, provincial and local governments and provides a practical educational experience to enhance existing skills. This degree gives public servants knowledge and skills enhancement in public administration that will allow graduates to transfer skills from one agency/ministry to another.
The core units of this degree are Policy in Practice; Public Sector Leadership; Strategic Administration; Managing Public Expenditure and, for Australian students, the Work Based Project, for international students the Internship Project.
Academic units of study are complemented by practical skills enhancement through the Work Based Project / Internship Project, Mentoring Program and Leadership Development Assessment (LDA ). Each student is matched with a mentor, who will usually be a current or former senior public administrator, politician, member of the judiciary, or leader from civil society or the private sector who provides general career and development advice. The LDA is a development tool that provides students with personal information that assists them to improve their performance and achieve development goals.
Units of study
Full units of study list
- ECON5001 - Microeconomic Theory
- ECON5002 - Macroeconomic Theory
- EDPA6016 - Organisations as Learning Communities
- ENGL6912 - Issues in Mass Communication
- ENGL6946 - Communication in Professional Contexts A
- GOVT6116 - International Organisations
- GOVT6123 - Globalisation and Governance
- GOVT6139 - Research Design
- GOVT6319 - Governance and Public Policy Making
- GOVT6331 - Public Management and Governance
- GSOG6001 - Policy in Practice: Delivering Value
- GSOG6002 - Public Sector Leadership
- GSOG6003 - Strategic Administration
- GSOG6004 - Managing Public Expenditure
- GSOG6005 - Work Based Project
- GSOG6006 - Internship Program
- GSOG6007 - Research Project
- INFO5990 - Professional Practice in IT
- INFO5991 - Services Science Management and Eng
- INFO5992 - Understanding IT Innovations
- INFO6007 - Project Management in IT
- INFO6010 - Advanced Topics in IT Project Management
- MECO6901 - Dealing with the Media
- MECO6912 - Political Public Relations
- MECO6913 - Public Opinion,Policy and Public Sphere
- SCWK6902 - Social Research
- WORK5002 - People,Work and Employment
Embedded courses
Further course information
Study plan
To be awarded the Master of Public Administration, students must successfully complete a total of eight (8) units of study (48 credit points), comprising:
(i) Four core units of study;
(ii) A Work Based Project (local students) or Internship Program (international students)
(ii) Up to three elective units of study
Progression rules
Under normal progression, a student shall undertake and successfully complete all units of study to the value of 24 credit points per semester as prescribed for the course. Candidates must maintain a credit average result or above, normally over at least the first 4 units of study, in order to qualify for admission to the dissertation units of study. Students are required to attend all lectures, tutorials and other activities prescribed for their units of study.
Course outcomes and further study
Graduate opportunities
The MPAdmin is designed for senior public servants of national, state, provincial and local governments and provides a practical educational experience to enhance existing skills
How to apply
Domestic students
How to apply
Application for this program is administered through Graduate School of Government (GSG).
Please refer to the GSG website for details: sydney.edu.au/gsg
Admission requirements
Admission to candidature for the Master of Public Administration requires:
(a) a bachelor’s degree, graduate diploma, graduate certificate or equivalent at an institution approved by the Graduate School of Government and graded at a standard acceptable to the Graduate School of Government; and
(b) at least five years experience in a senior public sector position; and
(c) satisfaction of the English language requirements, where applicable; and
(d) any other minimum standards specified by the Graduate
International students
How to apply
Overseas applicants may apply:
(i) directly to the University via the International Office. Further information on applications and English language requirements and support services for international students is available on the International Office website; or
(ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent).
Admission requirements
Admission to candidature for the Master of Public Administration requires:
(a) a bachelor’s degree, graduate diploma, graduate certificate or equivalent at an institution approved by the Graduate School of Government and graded at a standard acceptable to the Graduate School of Government; and
(b) at least five years experience in a senior public sector position; and
(c) satisfaction of the English language requirements, where applicable; and
(d) any other minimum standards specified by the Graduate
Fee disclaimer
Domestic students
*(1)Indicative Postgraduate Student Contribution Amount
*(1)Indicative Postgraduate Student Contribution Amount not available for Master of Public Administration.
Annual review
Annual review not available for Master of Public Administration.
*(2)Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee
This 2012 tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student represents the fee that is payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2012 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). If your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFSTL your fee will differ.
Annual review
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental fees
For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Student's online webpage at http://sydney.edu.au/future_students
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information in this prospectus, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.
The academic requirements that are displayed are applicable to currently available courses only, and are updated annually in October and may be changed without notice. The Faculty Handbook and the University of Sydney Calendar are the official legal source of information relating to study at the University of Sydney, and you are referred to those documents
International students
International tuition fees for postgraduate students
This 2012 tuition fee for international postgraduate students represents the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2012 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). If your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFSTL your fee will differ.
Annual review
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental fees and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Student's online webpage at http://sydney.edu.au/future_students/international_postgraduate_coursework or http://sydney.edu.au/future_students/international_postgraduate_research
In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.