Entry Requirements
A bachelors degree in a relevant subject and A GPA/GPE of 5.0.
Pathways are available for those who do not meet the entry criteria.
Duration
3 years (part-time)
Next Start Dates
- 26 February 2024 (Applications close 12 February)
- 15 July 2024 (Applications close 1 July)
Full Programme Fees
Programme Overview
The online Master of Public Policy (MPP) will provide you with a foundation of the core principles, concepts and methods of public policy research and analysis, and teach you how to develop the skills to solve real-world policy problems. The courses cover Politics, Economics, Sociology and the Quantitative Social Sciences.
The Online MPP allowed me to continue working in a job I loved at Auckland Transport while being able to upskill myself in an area that I was passionate about.
After graduating, I have moved to New York City and having the MPP on my resume has made me a strong candidate in a competitive market.
Who, What, Why
Professor Jennifer Curtin is a Professor of Politics and Director of the Public Policy Institute at the University of Auckland.
She is the Academic Director of Auckland’s Master of Public Policy Programme and teaches comparative public policy, lesson drawing and the politics of policy.
Jennifer also runs a research programme on Gender Responsive Analysis and Budgeting (GRAB-NZ) which includes working with a range of government agencies and non-profit organisations.
Watch our video to see why this programme could be ideal for you.
The online MPP programme is for those who want to further develop their knowledge of public policy. During this degree, you will learn how to connect theory with practice by studying the nature of policy, policy design and policy process through a set of courses which includes an externship designed to facilitate work-integrated learning, as well as independent research.
The MPP consists of 6 courses that total 180 points. Each course runs over a 12 week teaching period, allowing you to study two courses a year, one course at a time and complete the full programme in three years.
Course Code |
Course |
Description |
Points |
| POLICY 740 | Policy Design, Analysis and Implementation | Provides a critical overview of the policy process including problem definition, co-design as well as focusing on a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to policy analysis, including cost-benefit analysis, regulatory impact analysis and gender and diversity impact assessments. | 30 |
| POLICY 741 | Government and Policy: New Zealand Compared | An examination of the composition, functions and rules associated with New Zealand’s machinery of government at both central and local level. Analyses the relative impact of institutions, interests and ideas on public policy outcomes in New Zealand and internationally. Applies these understandings to the methods and processes associated with policy transfer and lesson drawing cross-nationally. | 30 |
| POLICY 742 | Statistics and Data Analysis for Policy | Provides an advanced introduction to statistical analysis and examines the use of different types of data used in evidence-based policy making, as well as the issues associated with the advent, use and governance of big data. Covers research design choices and quantitative methods for policy analysis. | 30 |
| POLICY 743 | Economics, Budgets and Bureaucrats | Applies key concepts and tools of economic analysis to contemporary policy problems. Focuses on the allocation of the economy’s resources, the budget process and the role of public finance agencies, rationales for government intervention in a market economy, and the impact of expenditure and taxation on the economy and citizens’ wellbeing. | 30 |
| POLICY 744 | Policy in Practice | Provides a practical opportunity for participants to work with a policy agency in an advisory capacity to develop evidence-informed recommendations addressing a complex policy problem. Engages students in a team-based exercise that applies the knowledge and skills gained from completing the core courses in a way that informs “real world” policy decisions. | 15 |
| POLICY 793 | Dissertation | Develops students’ ability to design and undertake a policy related independent academic research project under supervision and to present a dissertation of 15,000 words. | 45 |
As a graduate of the MPP programme, you will gain the following key attributes:
- Deep knowledge in a relevant discipline
- Knowledge of political and policy processes
- Acquaintance with issues in governance
- Experience using tools of policy analysis and evaluation
- Ability to apply economic and statistical analysis in policy development
- Research and project management skills
- Communication and teamwork skills
- Understanding of the historical, social, political, economic and cultural significance of tangata whenua, and the ongoing significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to contemporary New Zealand
- Recognition of the cultural, linguistic, and historical diversity and global connectedness of New Zealand as a Pacific nation.
*Our programme Advisors will provide all official programme information, including regulations about entry, enrolment, course fees, examinations and requirements for degrees, diplomas and certificates as per the University Calendar. Please note that the programme fees are indicative and estimates only. Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment into courses.
Master of Public Policy – Enquire Now
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