The course is designed to meet the needs of middle and senior managers working in the public sector including the health service. An MPA is an internationally recognised qualification seen as the public sector equivalent to the MBA. Our course is one of the first of its kind in London and the south-east and builds on years of experience in delivering successful masters degrees in both Public Service and Health Service Management. The programme is supported by an established research- base in public health and not-for-profit management, and academics with vast experience of teaching and consulting in these areas.   

Content is designed to reflect the changes in styles of public management theory and practice, and manager’s requirements for the skills to manage cross-sectorally as well as inter-sectorally and to enhance the necessary skills, academic knowledge and confidence needed in order to manage in such a rapidly changing sector.  

The International Summer School is an integral part of the course run in partnership with prestigious European Universities offering comparable MPAs. It enables debate with internationally renowned academics and practitioners on public service management and governance and a good opportunity to network with colleagues across Europe.  

A variety of teaching and learning methods are used to reflect different learning styles and needs of busy, mature, part-time students and the diversity of public sector managers.  Emphasis is placed on reflective learning and sharing of experiences, and the integration and transposition of workplace practices and academic theory. There are no formal exams. Course assessment is by written assignments, presentation work and case studies.  

There are four pathways to choose from: MPA, MPA Health Service Management (HSM), MPA Social Work Management (SWM) and MPA. For students starting in year one, the programme offers course participants the opportunity to study five core management units over the first three semesters, and then to opt either for the MPA route or the MPA-HSM route. Course participants taking the MPA SWM route will already have completed the specialist social work units in the Faculty of Health and Social Care in Year One, and will take four MPA units in their second year.  

Students enrolling for the MPA may choose to graduate with a PG Cert at the end of Year One, or PG Dip at the end of Year Two. Students can return to complete their MPA at a later date.  

Career Opportunities

Graduates progress to more senior positions within their public and not-for-profit organisations. Recent successes include appointment to Directorate Level and Heads of Service.

Professional Contacts / Industry Links

European Partner Institutions: Bocconi Milan, Erasmus, Rotterdam, Esade Barcelona, Copenhagen Business School, Potsdam University, Limerick University and Hint and Hist University, Norway. Partners in the International Summer School. 

Chartered Management Institute

Course participants become associate members of the CMI and are entitled to CMI services and publications. On successful completion of the MPA course participants may be eligible to become Members of the CMI. Part of the assessment of the MPA course also contributes to professional recognition and Chartered Manager status which course participants can continue after completion of the MPA.

Course units

Year 1 

Semester 1
– Public Management and Governance
– Public Policy and the Managerial Environment
– Weekend Residential in November
Semester 2
– Research Methods for Managers
– Contemporary Issues for Public Sector Managers
– International Summer School for a week in June/July
 

Year 2

Semester 1
– Human Resource Management in the Public Sector Pathway Specific
– Integrative Management and Change (MPA) or Law and Ethics Relating to Health (MPA-HSM)
Semester 2
Plus 2 options from:
Management units:
– Managing within a Regulatory Framework
– Strategic Management in the Public and Not-for-Profit Sector
– Equality and Diversity in the Workforce
– Public Sector Entrepreneurship
– The Practice of Management Consulting in the Public Sector
Health units:
– Leadership in Health Services
– Current Quality Issues in Health Care
– Commissioning for Health and Social Care
Students choose at least one pathway specific unit
 

Year 3
Dissertation (pathway specific)

There are also specialist pathways for students who come to the MPA with units gained via the following courses in the Faculty of Health and Social Care – PG Cert Leadership & Management (Social Work) and MSc Leadership and Service Improvement in Health Care.