ObjectivesThe School takes an interdisciplinary approach to issues facing public management. You will study policy and management modules designed for the public sector. The course has a strong international comparative element, providing a broad knowledge of public management issues. You will develop your skills to critically analyse complex managerial issues and contribute effectively to the future direction of your current or prospective employing organisations.
Entry requirementsIt is suitable for new graduates and those with managerial and/or public sector work experience.
Academic titlePGDip Public Administration
Course descriptionPublic Administration (PGDip)
Duration: 9 months full-time or 2 years part-time
Course Content
This course requires you to take the following core modules:
Leadership, Strategy and Performance in the Public Sector
Public Management and Governance
Research Methods and the Dissertation
Constitutional and Public Law
Making Public Policy
Managing People
Public Sector Financial Management
You will also be able to take 20 credits’ of elective modules from the following list:
Comparing Public Policy
Developments in UK Health and Social Care Policy
Developments in UK Public Policy
Globalisation, Europeanisation and Public Policy
Information Age Management in Government
International Social Policy
Management of Change
Policy Analysis and Evaluation
Public Administration in Developing and Transitional Countries
Public Sector Economics
Please note that modules may be subject to change.
Course Structure
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration can be taken on a full-time basis over 9 months or part-time over 2 years.
You must take 120 credits of modules, split across three 20-credit core modules, four 10-credit core modules, and either two 10-credit elective modules or one 20-credit elective module.
Teaching on this programme is cutting edge, research-informed, multidisciplinary, and internationally-focused. Modules are normally taught by a mix of lectures, group-work, and class discussion. Most modules are taught weekly over one semester; a few modules are taught over three consecutive days.
Nearly all modules are timetabled to take place on one or two days in the week. Part-time students need to come into the University for about 30 days per academic year.
Taught modules are normally assessed by a 3,000 to 5,000-word essay (or equivalent).
We also offer a Masters in Public Administration, which requires you to complete a dissertation.
As a student on the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration, it would be possible for you to upgrade to the Masters in Public Administration if you perform satisfactorily in the first semester if full-time or in the first academic year if part-time.
You may also be interested in the MA in Public Policy or Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy.
Key facts
This course is supported by work taking place in the International Centre for Public and Social Policy. Based in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, this is a recently established and expanding multidisciplinary centre of research and postgraduate teaching.