Course overview

Description

The Master of Public Policy is designed to give students a holistic understanding of the role of the government in economic activity, public policy decision-making and the law. You'll benefit from multidisciplinary and theoretical knowledge in the classroom, and interactive, practical cases found in real-world situations.

This course will help graduates make impact in their public policy careers by focusing on how the government interacts with the economy and society. Students can personally tailor this course to support their career goals, choosing from a range of option units in addition to foundational core classes. By the end of this qualification, you'll have a strong understanding of economic growth, stability, taxation, infrastructure provision, regulation, socio-legal issues, health, defence, education and social security. You'll be able to critique policy processes, lead policy analysis, and specialise in your chosen area of public policy. Use this postgraduate expertise to take you further in your current role, support you in moving towards a more senior position, or transition to a new career in policy-making.

Course title
Master of Public Policy (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
Award abbreviation
MPP
Course code
42580
Course type
Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
Status
Current / 2024
Administered by
UWA Business School
CRICOS code
093562G

Course details

Intake periods
Beginning of year and mid-year
Attendance type
Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Credit points required
96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration
1.5 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the School
Maximum course duration
2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
Time limit
5 years
Delivery mode
Internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type
Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Course Coordinator(s)
Professor Alison Preston (Economics Stream), Professor Erika Techera (Law Stream), Dr Paul Maginn (PAG Stream)
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Enquiries and course advice

Note

Law Stream Coordinator: Professor Erika Techera

Economics Stream Coordinator: Dr Tushar Bharati

Public Administration & Governance Coordinator: Dr Paul Maginn

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

Specialisations

SP-ECONS Economics
SP-PAGOV Public Administration and Governance
SP-PLAW Law

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026
NS
non-standard teaching period

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

All students must complete 24 points of core units (the Public Policy Program) and complete 24 points of one nominated specialisation.

Students can select the remaining 24 points:
- to undertake a second specialisation; or
- to take further units within their nominated specialisation; or
- to take a combination of units across the specialisations and from Group 1. Work Integrated Learning; or
- to complete a dissertation (only available to specialisation 2. Public Administration Governance ) taking all units in Group 2. Dissertation, upon firstly achieving 70% in SOCS4100 Social Science Research Skills.

Students may be required to complete relevant conversion units up to the value of 24 points, as advised by the University. Students may contact their allocated course advice office for guidance.

Take all units (24 points):

Core Units: Public Policy Program

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1ECON5516The Economics of Public PolicyNoneseminars: 3 hours per week
NSLAWS5260Intersections of Law, Policy and GovernmentNoneThis unit will run as an intensive on 21-22 and 24-25 October as well as an introductory session on 9 September. Attendance at all sessions is compulsory.
NSPOLS5501The Politics of Public Policy
Incompatibility
LAWS5214 Public Policy
18 hours per semester.
NSPOLS5504Public Sector Leadership in Practice
Prerequisites
For students enrolled in the Master of Public Policy prior to 2020: Completion of 24 points of the Master of Public Policy, including POLS5503 Public Administration, POLS5501 Public Policy,
and SOCS5501 Evaluation.
For students enrolled from 2020 onwards: Completion of 24 points of the Master of Public Policy, including POLS5501 Public Policy
and POLS5503 Public Administration
up to 21 hours

Take up to 6 points from this group.

Note: Enrolment in SVLG5001 McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship and SVLG5003 Wicked Problems is subject to approval by the course coordinator and is based on the suitability of the study project or problem.

Group 1. Work Integrated Learning

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2PARL5599WA Parliamentary Research Program
Prerequisites
Acceptance into the WA Parliamentary Research Program
and Successful completion of
48 points
and Enrolment in
72560 Master of Urban and Regional Planning
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 42580 Master of Public Policy
or permission from the unit coordinator
Incompatibility
PARL3399 WA Parliamentary Research Program
150 hours of study
NS, S1, S2SVLG5001McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship
Prerequisites
All of the following LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and LAWS4102 Criminal Law
and LAWS4103 Contract
and LAWS4104 Property
and LAWS4106 Torts
and LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics for Juris Doctor students only
Incompatibility
for Juris Doctor students: LAWS5174 Legal Internship
Internship experience: approximately 100 hours; McCusker Centre attendance: approximately 8 hours
N/ASVLG5003Wicked Problems
Prerequisites
any bachelor's degree.
permission/approval is required to enrol
The unit is a 6 week intensive. Attendance at the service learning location is required every day for the first week. In the remaining weeks, students will work independently in project teams, with classroom time reduced to around 15-20 hours altogether.
NS, S1, S2WILG5001Work Integrated Learning Internship Program
Prerequisites
Completion of 24 points of post graduate units and approval from the unit coordinator.
Industry experience: 100 hours Online sessions with Unit Coordinator: 1-2 hours

For students in the course by coursework and dissertation, take unit(s) to the value of 24 points from this group.

Note: These units are only available to students in the Public Administration and Governance specialisation. Students must complete All students must complete 24 points of core units (the Public Policy Program) and complete 24 points of one nominated specialisation.

Students can select the remaining 24 points:
- to undertake a second specialisation; or
- to take further units within their nominated specialisation; or
- to take a combination of units across the specialisations and from Group 1. Work Integrated Learning; or
- to complete a dissertation (only available to specialisation 2.Public Administration Governance ) taking all units in Group 2. Dissertation, upon firstly achieving 70% in SOCS4100 Social Science Research Skills in the semester preceding their dissertation and achieve 70% or above in that unit.

Group 2. Dissertation

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NSSOCS4100Social Sciences Research Skills
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
any Honours Programme
or a Masters dissertation project.
Incompatibility
COMM4101 Concepts in Communication, COMM7481 Honours Seminar 1 (Communication Studies)
seminars: 4 hours per week
S1, S2SOCS5551Master's Dissertation Part 1
Prerequisites
Students must have achieved 70 per cent
or above in SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills and approval of the course coordinator to undertake this unit
contact varies but up to 1 hour a week in a one-to-one meeting with a supervisor or in a small teaching and discussion group
S1, S2SOCS5552Master's Dissertation Part 2
Prerequisites
Students must have achieved 70 per cent
or above in SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills and approval of the course coordinator to undertake this unit
contact varies but up to 1 hour a week in a one-to-one meeting with a supervisor or in a small teaching and discussion group
S1, S2SOCS5553Master's Dissertation Part 3
Prerequisites
Students must have achieved 70 per cent
or above in SOCS4100 Social Sciences Research Skills and approval of the course coordinator to undertake this unit
contact varies but up to 1 hour a week in a one-to-one meeting with a supervisor or in a small teaching and discussion group

Economics specialisation

Take all units (12 points):

Group 1. A

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1ECON5514Economic Research and Evaluation Methods
Incompatibility
ECON2271 Introductory Econometrics
seminars: 3 hours per week
S2ECON5519Public Economics
Prerequisites
Enrolment in BH013 Bachelor of Economics (Honours)
or CM002 Bachelor of Economics and Master of Economics
or BH002 Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)
or 42620 Master of Economics
or 42670 Master of Economics
or 41680 Master of Commerce
or
Enrolment in
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
and Successful completion of
144 Points
lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week

Take units to the value of 12 points from this group.

Group 1.B

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2ECON4408Advanced Development Economics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
12 points level 4
or level 5 Unit(s)
lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
S1ECON4410Environmental and Resource Economics
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
HON-ECONS Economics
or HON-NRMGT Natural Resource Management
or HON-ECNPF Professional Economics
or 61550 Master of Professional Engineering
or 42330 Graduate Diploma in Economics
or 42620 Master of Economics
or 42580 Master of Public Policy
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 62550 Master of Professional Engineering
or 73530 Master of Agricultural Economics
or 62540 Master of Ocean Leadership
lectures: 2 hours; tutorials: 1 hour; labs: 1 hour (4 hours/week for 12 weeks)
N/AECON5515Economic Growth and InstitutionsNoneseminars: 3 hours per week
N/AECON5517Public Finance
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
the Master of Economics
or the Master of Public Policy
seminars: 3 hours per week
S1ECON5518Economics of Global Health and Policy
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
CM002 Bachelor of Economics and Master of Economics
or 42580 Master of Public Policy
or 42620 Master of Economics
or 42670 Master of Economics
or 41680 Master of Commerce
or 42230 Graduate Certificate in Economics
seminars: 3 hours per week
N/AECON5540Economic Analysis and Policy
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ECON5516 The Economics of Public Policy
or ECON5541 Economics for Business: Applications and Policy
lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week

Law specialisation

Students with a law background take all units (6 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
N/ALAWS5215Theory & Practice of Risk RegulationNone

Students without a law background take all units (6 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NSLAWS4227Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
20820 Juris Doctor
or 21190 Bachelor of Laws
This unit is delivered intensively in 'flipped mode' and is offered twice a year. 10 online modules are to be completed in advance (opening two weeks before) of two face-to-face sessions which will run 22 and 23 February 2024 and 18-19 July 2024. Students must attend the face-to-face sessions.

Take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:

Group 3.A

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
N/ALAWS4001Oceans GovernanceNone
N/ALAWS5114International Environmental Law
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation
) )
Incompatibility
Enrolment in
LAWS6114 International Environmental Law
N/ALAWS5167Comparative Legal Method
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation
) )
Enrolment in
42580 Master of Public Policy
or 42280 Graduate Certificate in Public Policy
and LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
Incompatibility
LAWS3331 Comparative Law
3 hours per week
N/ALAWS5175Heritage Governance: from Global to LocalNone
NSLAWS5223Theories for Contemporary Criminal Justice
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy
or Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students without a recognised Law degree: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions.
This unit will run . Attendance at all sessions is 5,12,19,26 August. Attendance Compulsory
NSLAWS5224Foundations of Public International Law
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy
or Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students without a recognised Law degree: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions.
Face to face teaching for this unit will be on 5 and 8 March 2024. Please refer to the timetable website for session times and venues. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory and pre reading including recorded lectures must be completed before these dates.
NSLAWS5226International Human Rights Law
Co-requisites
Enrolment in
LAWS5224 Foundations of Public International Law
Enrolment in
LAWS5165 Public International Law
This unit will run 5-9 August 2024. Students must attend every day of the intensive period.
N/ALAWS5230Aviation Law
Prerequisites
Master of Public Policy students and Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students who do not have a legal background take LAWS4227 Foundations of Law as a prerequisite so as to more fully comprehend and understand the unit.
N/ALAWS5378Government Accountability—Law and Practice
Prerequisites
for Juris Doctor (JD) students: LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and 30 points from: LAWS4102 Criminal Law, LAWS4103 Contract, LAWS4104 Property, LAWS4106 Torts, LAWS4107 Land Law, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law, LAWS5106 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics)
NSLAWS5521Climate Change Law and Emissions Trading
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy and Graduate Certificate of Public Policy, the unit LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions is recommended as a pre-requisite for students who do not have a legal background.
Students must attend every day of the intensive period 17-19 July 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information.
NSLAWS5540Environmental Protection Law
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy and Graduate Certificate in Public Policy students: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
This unit will run online with pre-reading from 29 July. Interactive classes will be held 27-29 August 2024. Attendance at these sessions is mandatory. Refer to the LMS page for further information,
NSLAWS5577Space and Satellite Law
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law LAWS4103 Contract LAWS4104 Property LAWS4106 Torts LAWS4107 Land Law LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation (
)
Enrolment in
42580 Master of Public Policy
and LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
Students must attend every day of the intensive period 22-25 January 2024.
S1, S2LAWS5694Research Paper I
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy
or Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students without a recognised Law degree: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions.
This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester.
S1, S2LAWS5695Research Paper II (12 points)
Incompatibility
LAWS5696 Research Paper III Part 1,
and LAWS5697 Research Paper III Part 2
This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester.

Public Administration and Governance specialisation

Take all units (12 points):

Group 2.A

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2POLS5503Public AdministrationNoneSeminars: delivered intensively
NSPOLS5505Regulation and GovernanceNoneseminar classes: 6 X 3 hour weekly interactive workshops

Take 12 points to complete the specialisation.

Group 2.B

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NSCOMM5604Media GovernanceNoneup to 24 hours
NSPOLS5010NGOs, Governance and DevelopmentNoneseminars: 18 hours
N/APOLS5301Democracy in Divided SocietiesNoneThis unit is delivered intensively over 2 weeks.
N/APOLS5686International Norms, Ethics and Human RightsNoneseminars: 18 hours (over the course of a semester)
NSSWSP5611Indigenous Policy and PracticeNone30 hours

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module is not required to repeat the module.

(3) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and either:

(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;

or

(c) at least two years professional experience in a relevant occupation; or

(2) completed a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy at UWA.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:

  • 42280 Graduate Certificate in Public Policy (24 points)
  • 42580 Master of Public Policy (96 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Public Policy course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which includes conversion units to a value of 24 points, course core units and specialisation units. The course comprises the following specialisations :

  • SP-ECONS Economics
  • SP-PAGOV Public Administration and Governance
  • SP-PLAW Law

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

(3) Students who have completed a bachelor's degree with a relevant major as recognised by the University are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).