Master of Public Administration

Upon successful completion of the study, you should be able to:

1. Understand policy tools and capabilities and how they can be applied in an increasingly complex professional environment; 
2. Develop and apply new skills in ethical leadership, communication, teamwork, and self-management;
3. Develop and apply rigorous analytical skills for organisational learning, evidence-based decision-making in response to the complexities and challenges of public administration, management and governance; 
4. Engage in contemporary debates about public value, public administration, public sector management and governance in Australia and globally; 
5. Develop and apply informed perspectives on politics, economics, law, organisations and regulation in the analysis of public sector problems.

Crawford School's Master of Public Administration (MPA) is designed to equip public sector professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in an environment increasingly characterised by complexity, digital transformation, politicization; and the 'hollowing -out' of analytical capacity and historical knowledge. The MPA curriculum is built around three integrated components:

1.      Professional Core: a professional ‘core’ of knowledge broadly recognised as essential to the institutional role of public sector managers

2.      Applied Management Courses: a curated range of 3 unit courses providing access to emerging and/or specialised concepts and techniques relevant to contemporary professional practice.

3.      Professional Experience: a capstone ‘work integrated learning’ experience that allows students to select a combination of organizational internship, research and elective coursework to suit their interests and professional development needs.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, subjects in this degree can include:

• Public Administration Foundations
• Public Sector Management
• Managing Government Finances
• Public Sector Ethics
• Policy Research

Plus there’s a selection of majors, minors and electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you. 

Award requirements

The 1.5-year degree of multi-modal requires the completion of 72 credit units. 

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $58,810

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Australian National University is a world-leading university in Australia’s capital city, Canberra. With ties to the Australian Government, they have special standing as a resource for the Australian people. Their approach to education ensures graduates are in demand the world-over for their abilities to address complex contemporary challenges. Offering innovative online subjects from beginning to advanced levels through Open Universities Australia, they meet varied students’ needs and goals.

Learn more about ANU.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

4

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

4

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis.

• Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 5/7; or 
• Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or 
• Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7; or 
• Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7; or 
• 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7; or 
• Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

• Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General test, completed no more than 5 years before the time of application, with a minimum score of 155 for Verbal Reasoning, 155 for Quantitative Reasoning and 4.0 in Analytical Writing and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or
•  A minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program.

Applications must show English language proficiency by meeting ANU's English Language Requirements for admission to study this course.

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree, Bachelor degree with Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units.