The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Ulster is the ideal course for anyone working in a managerial or governance role in the public, voluntary or community sectors, which is keen to reach the next step in their career. Designed to improve quality across the public services, this innovative course will enhance your leadership skills and effectiveness, ensuring you stand out in a competitive labour market. Internationally-recognised, high quality research shapes our teaching. Throughout the programme, you will benefit from the extensive expertise of the academic team, as well as significant input from leading practitioners from across the civil service and public services. Whether you want to further your learning or advance your career, the MPA is a flexible programme designed to work with your life. Students come from a variety of roles and organisations across the public, voluntary and community sectors. This diversity adds to the learning experience. You will study alongside like-minded professionals and gain an invaluable insight into different organisations, while also developing your network. You will develop a critical awareness and understanding of policy, management and organisations and explore the impact of various forces on organisations including political uncertainty, economic constraints, demands for greater efficiency and effectiveness and an increasing focus on outcome. You will also learn how to analyse and evaluate key public policies that impact on your organisation.

Career opportunities are excellent and graduates of the MPA currently work across a wide range of organisations in health, housing, education, local government, government agencies, civil services departments, police, non-departmental public bodies and many voluntary and community sector organisations. Our graduates are already immersed in their professional lives but this qualification should enhance the prospects for further career progression.