| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-25 | - |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
The University of Exeter's MPA program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of public sector challenges and best practices through a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical engagement. The program prepares graduates for diverse public sector careers, enhancing their knowledge, skills, and professional networks. Led by research-active faculty, the program offers a blend of core and elective modules that provide a thorough grounding in public administration and governance.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The MPA program at the University of Exeter is designed to equip students with the skills and understanding necessary to operate effectively in the public sector, both domestically and internationally. The program focuses on the challenges facing the public sector, including effective leadership, performance management, governance, and decision-making.
Key Objectives:
- Engage with big questions: The program encourages students to grapple with the complexities of how government should respond to public pressure and address key issues facing the public sector.
- Develop international perspective: The program adopts an international perspective, equipping students with the skills and knowledge to navigate a globalized and constantly changing environment.
- Learn from experts: Students benefit from instruction by research-active academics, who bring real-world case studies to the classroom, ensuring learning is relevant and informed by best practice.
- Gain a recognized qualification: The MPA is a globally recognized qualification, valued by prospective employers and organizations seeking skilled managers.
Outline:
Program Content:
The MPA program covers a range of modules that introduce students to general ideas about the design and operation of government, the policy-making process, and specific policy issues and tools. Students will engage with the challenges of responding to public pressure, understanding and solving policy problems, and exploring cutting-edge ideas related to:
- Behavioral public policy
- Sustainable development
- Diversity in government
- Systems thinking
Program Structure:
The program is delivered through a mix of intensive teaching blocks and weekly sessions, depending on the specific modules selected.
- Intensive modules: These modules consist of a preparation period, three to four days of intensive seminars, lectures, and workshops spread over up to three weeks, and a post-teaching period for reflection, task completion, and preparation of assessed work.
- Non-intensive modules: These modules meet once a week throughout the term.
Teaching Methods:
The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Traditional methods: Lectures, seminars, and workshops
- Task-oriented work: Case-study work, reflective journals, presentations from visiting speakers with public sector experience
- Field trips: Visits to local or regional public bodies
- Online learning resources: Lecture notes, articles, and presentations
Modules:
The program offers a range of modules, including:
- Core modules: These modules provide a strong foundation in the study of government and policy.
- Elective modules: These modules allow students to explore specific areas of interest.
Teaching:
Faculty:
The program is led by a team of experienced and research-active academics, including:
- Professor Oliver James: Programme Director, specializing in the politics of public services, citizen-provider relationships, public sector organization and reform, executive politics, and regulation of publicly owned and/or funded bodies and services.
- Professor Duncan Russel: Professor in Environmental Policy, with research and teaching interests in UK and European climate, climate and public policy, policy appraisal and coordination, evidence and policy interactions, and budgetary politics.
- Dr Stephen Greasley: Senior Lecturer, specializing in public policy and administration, with a particular interest in arm’s length governance and its influence by the political system.
Unique Approaches:
- Small group teaching: Provides opportunities for students to network with practitioners working in a variety of roles and organizations from the UK and overseas.
- Mid-career professionals with government sponsorship: Can take the extended MPA with Applied Studies, which provides the opportunity to research and seek solutions to issues and challenges faced in the workplace.
Careers:
Potential Career Paths:
The MPA program prepares students for a wide range of careers in the public sector, including:
- National, regional, and local governments
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Charities
- Companies working with government
- Consultancies
- Think tanks
- Research institutes
- Campaigning organizations
Opportunities:
The program provides students with the skills and knowledge to:
- Enhance their opportunities for career progression
- Obtain a wider perspective of the public sector environment
- Develop strategic decision-making and leadership skills
- Improve their confidence and credibility in the workplace
- Gain more knowledge about other people and organizations
- Network and share experiences with public sector colleagues
Outcomes:
Graduates of the MPA program have gone on to successful careers in regional governments, ministries, embassies, and other organizations around the world.
Other:
- Employer benefits: The program offers a range of opportunities for employers, including increased knowledge and skills relevant to management competencies, an understanding of key skills that underpin the requirements of modernizing public sector organizations, enhanced knowledge and skills in policy making and delivery, and the latest thinking on issues faced by public sector organizations in the UK and overseas.
- Careers support: The University of Exeter provides a comprehensive careers advisory service to all students, offering guidance on career planning, psychometric testing, employer presentations, skills events, practice job interviews, and CV preparation.
2024/25 entry UK fees per year: £12,000 full-time; £6,000 part-time International fees per year: £24,300 full-time; £12,150 part-time With Applied Study Prospective students enrolling in 2024/25 will pay £30,300 tuition fees in total. Year 1: £24,300, Year 2: £6,000 (9 months).