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 / 2025
- 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)
- Dr Girish Bahal
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Enquiries and course advice
- Note
Law Stream Coordinator: Professor Erika Techera
Economics Stream Coordinator: Dr Girish Bahal
Public Administration & Governance Coordinator: Dr Ky Gentry
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
Example Study Plans
- 2025 Master of Public Policy - 2 yr - Economics [docx]
- 2025 Master of Public Policy - 2 yr - Law (Law background) [docx]
- 2025 Master of Public Policy - 2 yr - Law (No law background) [docx]
- 2025 Master of Public Policy - 2 yr - Public Administration and Governance [docx]
See study plans for more information.
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 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
All students must complete 18 points of core units (the Public Policy Program) and complete 24 points of one nominated specialisation.
Students can select the remaining 30 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 (18 points):
Core Units: Public Policy Program
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ECON5516 | The Economics of Public Policy | None | seminars: 3 hours per week |
| NS | LAWS5260 | Intersections of Law, Policy and Governance | The on campus session for this unit will run in the mid semester break in semester 2, with the online pre-recorded modules to be completed beforehand. | |
| NS | POLS5501 | The Politics of Public Policy |
| 18 hours per semester. |
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
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | PARL5599 | WA Parliamentary Research Program |
| 150 hours of study |
| NS, S1, S2 | SVLG5001 | McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship |
| Internship experience: approximately 100 hours; McCusker Centre attendance: approximately 8 hours |
| NS | SVLG5003 | Wicked Problems |
| 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, S2 | WILG5001 | Work Integrated Learning Internship Program |
| 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.
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
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | SOCS4100 | Social Sciences Research Skills |
| seminars: 4 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | SOCS5551 | Master's Dissertation Part 1 |
| 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, S2 | SOCS5552 | Master's Dissertation Part 2 |
| 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, S2 | SOCS5553 | Master's Dissertation Part 3 |
| 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
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ECON5514 | Economic Research and Evaluation Methods |
| seminars: 3 hours per week |
| S2 | ECON5519 | Public Economics |
| lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week |
Take units to the value of 12 points from this group.
Group 1.B
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ECON4408 | Advanced Development Economics |
| lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week |
| S1 | ECON4410 | Environmental and Resource Economics |
| lectures: 2 hours; tutorials: 1 hour; labs: 1 hour (4 hours/week for 12 weeks) |
| S2 | ECON5506 | The Economics of Financial Markets | lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week | |
| S2 | ECON5515 | Economic Growth and Institutions | None | seminars: 3 hours per week |
| S1 | ECON5518 | Economics of Global Health and Policy |
| seminars: 3 hours per week |
| S2 | ECON5521 | Economic Policy and Communication | None | seminars: 3 hours per week |
| S2 | ECON5570 | Health Analytics |
| seminars: up to 3 hours per week for 12 weeks |
| S1 | ECON5580 | Running Randomised Experiments | None | up to 3 contact hours per week |
Law specialisation
Students with a law background take all units (6 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | LAWS5215 | Risk Regulation |
| 3 hours per week |
Students without a law background take all units (6 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | LAWS4227 | Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions |
| Six intensive days |
Take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:
Group 3.A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | LAWS4001 | Oceans Governance | None | |
| NS | LAWS5114 | International Environmental Law | There will be an introductory 1-hour online seminar on Tuesday 8 April at 9.00am. Students must then attend three full-day on campus sessions on 22, 23 and 24 April plus one of the two fourth full-day sessions on 9th or 10th May. Please see timetable for more details. | |
| S1 | LAWS5167 | Comparative Legal Method |
| 3 hours per week |
| NS | LAWS5223 | Theories for Contemporary Criminal Justice |
| Students must attend all sessions on 30 July, 6, 20 and 27 August 2025. Attendance is compulsory. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| N/A | LAWS5224 | Foundations of Public International Law | 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. | |
| N/A | LAWS5226 | International Human Rights Law | None | |
| NS | LAWS5521 | Climate Change Law |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period 10-11 and 12 April 2025. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| N/A | LAWS5540 | Environmental Protection Law | None | 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, |
| S2 | LAWS5577 | Governing the Commons: Oceans, ice and outer space |
| Sessions will run from 9am - 5pm on Wednesdays for six weeks across semester 2. Refer to timetable for more details. Students must attend all sessions. |
| S1, S2 | LAWS5694 | Research Paper I |
| This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester. |
| S1, S2 | LAWS5695 | Research Paper II (12 points) | This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester. |
Public Administration and Governance specialisation
Take all units (18 points):
Group 2.A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | POLS5503 | Public Administration | None | 6 x 3 hour format to align with intensive teaching period |
| NS | POLS5504 | Public Sector Leadership in Practice |
| up to 21 hours |
| NS | POLS5505 | Regulation and Governance | None | seminar classes: 6 X 3 hour weekly interactive workshops |
Take 6 points to complete the specialisation.
Group 2.B
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | COMM5604 | Media Governance | None | up to 24 hours |
| N/A | POLS5010 | NGOs, Governance and Development | None | seminars: 18 hours |
| NS | POLS5686 | International Norms, Ethics and Human Rights | None | seminars: 18 hours (over the course of a semester) |
| NS | SWSP5611 | Indigenous Policy and Practice | None | 30 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) 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 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:
(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).