Programme Specification for the 2023/4 academic year
MPA Master of Public Administration
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MPA Master of Public Administration | Programme code | PTP1HPSHPS01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Modular |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
The Masters in Public Administration at Exeter is designed to help you meet the challenge of shaping and delivering effective public services in a climate of continuous change. The Exeter MPA takes an international perspective to equip you with the skills and understanding you need to operate effectively in an increasingly global environment.
You will have the opportunity to benefit from the latest ideas on public policy, administration, regulation and leadership while learning alongside practitioners working in a variety of roles and organisations from the UK and overseas.
The MPA is relevant whether you are working in local, regional, or central government, or for a charity or public-private partnership. It addresses some of the key issues facing the public sector such as effective leadership, anticipating and responding to change, performance management, governance and ethical practice and sustainability,
The MPA is run by the Department of Politics and draws on the work of academics who have an impressive reputation for research and whose ideas are published around the world. We have a long history of working with ministries and national governments, and members of our team have been involved with organisations such as the United Nations, World Bank, European Commission, Competition Commission, the Department of Work and Pensions, the OECD and the Treasury.
Our flexible modular programme, teaching and excellent resources are designed to meet the needs of both those studying full-time and busy professionals aiming to manage part-time study with full-time employment.
While equipping you with core skills, the MPA will provide you with the opportunity to research and seek solutions to issues and challenges you face in the workplace. You will also have the option to choose from topics such as such as leadership, change management, regulation, public policy, sustainability or project management. The involvement of leading practitioners from the public and private sector, together with real-life case studies, will make sure learning is relevant and informed by best practice.
On completion of the programme you will have an understanding of strategies for delivering public services effectively, efficiently and ethically and have gained an understanding of the comparative social, historical and financial context of public administration and public sector organisations. You will know how public policies are developed, implemented and evaluated in different systems and countries around the world.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
1. To provide students with a sophisticated understanding of the theories and practice of public administration and comparative public policy in different policy sectors, in the UK, other OECD and developing countries.
2. To develop students' knowledge and skills relevant to management competencies such as strategic thinking, effective communication, leadership, negotiation and influencing, working with others, planning and organising
3. To develop skills that underpin the requirements of modernising public sector organisations, including policy analysis, evaluation, use of evidence, problem solving, communication and the management of change
4. To develop critical thinking about the relationship between the theory of public policy and administration and how it is practised in real life situations
5. To produce graduates who have learned to think and act systemically and who have developed a critical approach and commitment to continuous learning and self-development
6. To develop students' ability to apply originality and analytical skills alongside theory and practice to a specific research topic.
4. Programme Structure
The Exeter MPA consists of a mixture of one core module which provides core theories and evidence; and optional modules enabling you to specialise in areas of interest; and a compulsory dissertation. During the dissertation you will work with an academic supervisor, and you will produce an original piece of academic research relating to a subject of your choice. This will be presented in the form of a 15,000-word dissertation. The topic can be related to any aspect of the topics covered in the MPA and your interests and can be an academic and/or policy related piece of work. As one way of doing the dissertation it can address a particular issue or problem that you or your organisation has identified in your place of work. In this way, you will be able to research and write about any new or difficult public sector management issue related to your work environment and produce a dissertation that will include recommendations of practical use to your employer or potential employer.
Please note it is possible for modules to change to reflect new ideas or to meet student demand, so check our website for the latest details.
In addition to registration for the full MPA (180 credits) it is possible to register on this programme on a modular basis. If a student passes the core module plus 30 credits of the directed modules (60 credits total), the award of Postgraduate Certificate of Public Administration may be awarded. If a student passes the core module plus sufficient credit from the directed modules (120 credits total), a Postgraduate Diploma of Public Administration may be awarded.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
You may take Option Modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Options listed below are a thematic cluster for the MPA and is not a formal pathway. The cluster is there to better inform your choice of optional modules, depending on your own individual preferences, in particular the academic and professional skills you would like to acquire from studying the MPA at Exeter. Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the College web site.
Stage 1
90 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLM220M | Management and Governance: Comparing Public Administration around the World | 30 | No |
| POLM013M | MPA Dissertation | 60 | No |
Optional Modules
90 Credits from the listed MPA thematic cluster optional modules or 60 credits from below and up to 30 credits from other modules in the College of Social Science and International Studies.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLM025 | Managing Performance in Public Organisations | 30 | No |
| POLM222M | The Politics, Policy and Practice of Sustainable Development | 30 | No |
| POLM237M | Collaborative and Participatory Governance | 30 | No |
| POLM887 | Public Policy Process | 30 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories and practice of public administration and how these theories relate and often present conflicting policy choices. | ILOs 1-4 are developed through lectures, seminar discussion, group work and assignments in the core module, and applied in the dissertation.
|
ILOs 1-4 are assessed through online preparatory exercises, seminar and workshop participation, coursework assignments, and in particular through the dissertation. Depending on the module, further assessment may also depend on:
|
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
5. Synthesise and comment critically on a body of academic writing, and on the presentation of academic and practitioner insights during the intensive teaching period. | The Induction week will develop students' understanding of all of the core academic skills needed for the programme (ILOs 5-8).
| ILOs 5-8 are assessed through online preparatory exercises, seminar and workshop participation, coursework assignments, and in particular through the dissertation. Depending on the module, further assessment may also depend on: - Task-oriented work including case-study work |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
9. Think independently at an advanced level. | The reflective learning log incorporated into each module listed in this programme specification will require students to reflect on their learning in terms of each module, the overall programme, and the relation of the module and programme to each student's career, thus providing an integral longitudinal formative element to the programme. ILOs 9-15 are requirements of modules listed in this programme specification, in the preparatory, teaching and post-teaching task-completion phases, and are developed through the induction week and the ongoing reflective learning log. |
Assessment for ILOs 9-15 will be spread across the three phases of each module (preparatory, intensive teaching period, and post-teaching task-completion phase), with certain skills brought to the fore during each phase: Preparatory week: ILOs 9,10,13,14 & 15 Teaching block: ILOs 9,10,12,13,14 & 15 Post-teaching task-completion: ILOs 9,10,12 & 13 Reflective learning log: ILO11 Dissertation: ILOs 9,10,12,13 & 15
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7. Programme Regulations
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
Personal and Academic tutoring: It is University policy that all Colleges should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.
As a postgraduate taught student in the College of Social Sciences and International Studies you will be allocated a Personal Tutor at the commencement of your studies. In normal circumstances your Personal Tutor will remain your tutor throughout your study programme. You should make contact with your Personal Tutor three or four times a year and these meetings may typically commence soon after registration. These meetings will take place once or twice per-year to discuss your progress and to perhaps consider Personal Development Planning (ePDP) and once to discuss your overall performance. The ePDP is a particularly useful developmental tool which you are encouraged to utilise and which is accessible though the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE). Each student will in addition receive formative feedback from various discussion forums and exercises (administered by teaching staff) throughout the delivery of modules and therefore receive essentially continuous feedback during the taught component of the programme. Your dissertation supervisor will provide academic and tutorial support once students move on to the research component of the course. Student progess will be monitored and students can receive up-to-date records of the assessment, achievements and progress at any stage.
You should feel that you are able to approach your Personal Tutor for advice, pastoral support or academic support in a wider sense.
Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students and staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision. For those learning in distance mode, nominations to the PGT SSLC will be undertaken democratically online. Where appropriate SSLCs will make use of telephone conferencing facilities to ensure those on the distance learning programme are included.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MPA Master of Public Administration
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 01/10/2009 |
Date of last revision | 02/11/2022 |
|---|
