Master of Regulation and Governance
Postgraduate
ANU-RGO-MAS 2025Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Become a leader in regulatory policy, governance and compliance
Bolster your governance skills and grow your global regulatory network. You’ll delve into special topics and complete a research project. Navigate complex social problems, manage risk, anticipate catastrophe. Take the next step in career progression.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 12
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Regulation and Governance
About this degree
- Apply advanced concepts and theoretical debates to practical challenges in regulation and governance in Australia, Asia and the Pacific, and globally
- Critically interrogate political and social processes of evaluating risk and designing regulatory responses to everyday safety, complex scenarios or catastrophic events
- Map the actors, processes and politics of agenda-setting, rule-formation and standard-setting, norm-diffusion and enforcement by governance institutions in Australia, Asia and the Pacific and globally
- Identify, diagnose, and address emerging regulation and governance issues using a range of interdisciplinary social research methods and principles
- Effectively communicate complex issues in regulation and governance to diverse audiences and stakeholders, orally and in writing, using data and evidence
The Master of Regulation and Governance (MREGG) is a unique degree that equips students and their organisations to navigate environments where complexity, catastrophic risk, and transformative technologies are reshaping the ways in which we govern and regulate. Graduates from this program will be working in - or will join - government or private sector organisations charged with designing and applying regulatory policy solutions to pressing social problems, often in partnership with diverse stakeholders. Core courses provide students with a solid foundation in the concepts, processes, institutions and practice of regulation and governance. Elective courses provide case-studies, simulations and clinics in which to examine domains such as climate, crime, environment, health, Indigenous Australia, justice, safety, technology and urban design. All the courses are interactive and ask how regulation and governance is created and by whom - and for what purpose, with an emphasis on how to better anticipate catastrophe, manage risk and provide equitable social outcomes. It draws on the evidence-based research and the ‘big ideas’ in regulation and governance for which the ANU's RegNet academics are world famous. MREGG students join an education program at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) that emphasizes interdisciplinary skills-building, our place in Asia and the Pacific, a stimulating curriculum, master classes with distinguished practitioners, global networks and multiple career pathways.
Recommended study pattern
The 1.5 year degree of multi-modal delivery, requires the completion of 72 units.
The Masters of Regulation and Governance requires completion of 72 units which must consist of:
A minimum of 12 units from completion of the following theory courses:
- REGN8002 Governance and Social Theory
- REGN8005 Restorative Justice in the World
- REGN8052 Regulation and Governance
A minimum of 6 units from completion of the following research skills courses:
- REGN8001 Methods in Interdisciplinary Research
- REGN8009 Regulation and Governance Research Project
- REGN8012 Special Topics in Regulation and Governance
- REGN8057 Regulation and Governance Research and Practice Clinic
A minimum of 18 units from completion of applied master classes from the following list:
- REGN8014 Contemporary Issues in Technology Governance (6 units)
- REGN8018 Consumptagenic Systems (3 units)
- REGN8019 Biyam-burru-wa-la-nha: Indigenous Peoples and Self-Governing Systems (3 units)
- REGN8021 Fundamentals of Quantitative Analysis for Regulators (3 units)
- REGN8022 Governance in a Complex and Uncertain World (6 units)
- REGN8023 Governing Global Migration (6 units)
- REGN8024 Regulating Nuclear Capabilities (6 units)
- REGN8049 Regulating Disruptive Technologies (3 units)
- REGN8051 Regulatory Complexity in Asia (3 units)
- REGN8054 Corporations, Power, Regulation (3 units)
- REGN8055 Compliance and Defiance (3 units)
A maximum of 36 units from completion of applied courses from the following list:
Governance in Asia
- ASIA8011 Rethinking Northeast Asia: Region, Culture and Society
- ASIA6030 History of the State System in Southeast Asia
- IDEC8021 The Chinese Economy
- INTR8045 Global Governance
- INTR8060 China's Global Engagement
- INTR8074 Chinese Thinking on International Relations
- INTR8082 Regionalism and Southeast Asia
Regulation, Law and Economy
- CRWF8000 Government, Markets and Global Change
- REGN8013 Crime, Governance and Security
- LAWS8254 Business, Human Rights and Corporate Responsibility
- LAWS8264 International Law of the Environment
- LAWS8403 #Metoo and the Law
- LAWS8407 Digital Economies and the Law
- LAWS8586 Law and Legal Institutions
Conflict, Development and Governance
- ASIA8048 Disasters and Epidemics in Asia and the Pacific
- EMDV8124 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
- IDEC8007 Aid and Development Policy
- LAWS8001 Introduction to Law, Governance and Development
- POGO8072 Development Theories and Themes
National and Regional Security
- INTR8022 International Relations in the Asia-Pacific
- NSPO8006 National Security Policymaking
- NSPO8012 Leadership, Risk and National Security Crisis Management
- NSPO8032 Geoeconomics and National Security
- NSPO8043 Pandemics, Infectious Diseases and National Security
- NSPO8044 Energy Security
Data Analysis and Methods
- SOCR8001 Statistics for Social Scientists
- SOCR8002 Survey Data Analysis
- SOCR8006 Online Research Methods
- SOCR8008 Qualitative data collection
- SOCR8009 Quantitative data collection
Negotiation and Communication Skills
- DIPL8001 Transnational Diplomacy
- DIPL8044 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- LING6021 Cross Cultural Communication
Public Policy
- INDG8001 Indigenous Peoples and Development in Australia: principles and practices for Indigenous-led change
- INDG8003 Understanding Indigenous Wellbeing: Demographic and Socioeconomic Change
- POGO8021 Public Sector Ethics
- POGO8044 Global Social Policy
- POGO8076 Corruption and Anti-corruption
- POGO8083 Policy Advocacy
- POGO8137 Public Administration Foundations
- POGO8232 Persuasion for Policymakers
- POGO8233 Policy Tools and Mixes
- POGO8240 Evidence Based Thinking (EBT): Decision Making and Policy Development
- POGO8403 Cases in Contemporary Public Policy
- REGN8050 The Policy and Practice of Regulation
Environmental Policy and Governance
- EMDV8009 Asia Pacific Environmental Conflicts: Causes and Solutions
- EMDV8104 Environmental Governance
- ENVS6307 Climate Change: Science, Society and Policy
- ENVS6033 International Environmental Policy
- ENVS6315 Essentials of Environmental Law
- POGO8212 Energy Politics and Governance
A maximum of 24 units from completion of a research thesis:
- REGN8008 Thesis
- REGN8025 Thesis - Part-Time (12-units)
A maximum of 6 units from completion of Experiential courses:
- ANIP6503 Australian National Internships Program Internship A (Graduate)
- VCPG6001 Unravelling Complexity
- VCPG6003 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World
- VCPG6004 Creating Impact
Award requirements
The 1.5 year degree of multi-modal delivery, requires the completion of 72 units.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$31,667
Indicative total fee $47,500
The amounts shown here are 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.
Explore ANU courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 4
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 4
How to apply
Australian National University manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
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Entry requirements
Applicants must present one of the following:
- a Bachelor or international equivalent with GPA 5/7
- a Bachelor 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
- a Bachelor or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7
- a Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7
- a 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7
- a 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
The GPA for a Bachelor program will be calculated from: (i) a completed Bachelor degree using all grades and/or (ii) a completed Bachelor degree using all grades other than those from the last semester (or equivalent study period) of the Bachelor degree. The higher of the two calculations will be used as the basis for admission.
Diversity factors: As Australia’s national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.
Assessment of qualifications: Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.
Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au.
Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.
ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications.
- a 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 or 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
- a minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program
Ranking and English language proficiency: 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. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry. 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. Applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes. If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of:
a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or
demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency
Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.
Application for course credit: Applicants who have completed a degree in a cognate discipline from a recognised university may be eligible to receive coursework credit towards this degree, in line with the ANU Recognition of prior and external learning policy
Cognate Disciplines
Anthropology, Asian studies, criminology, development studies, international relations, law, pacific studies, political science, policy studies, psychology, security studies, sociology
Career opportunities
The program is designed to lead into – or enhance – careers in regulatory policy and governance and compliance system design, whether locally, nationally and within Asia and the
Pacific. Relevant employers include (but are not limited to):
• Commonwealth and State Departments dealing with justice, environment, families, housing, Indigenous Australians
• Australian Federal Police
• Federal and State-level regulatory policy units (e.g. Behavioural Insight and Better Regulation)
• Policy units in government
• Policing and corrections institutions
• Multilateral organisations
• NGOs and advocacy organisations
• International development programs delivering governance reform projects
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
---|---|---|
Legislators | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
^ There is no data available