A6033 Master of Public Policy and Management

The course comprises 72 credit points structured into three parts: Part A: Principal study, Part B: Applied study and Part C: Advanced expertise.

Part A. Principal study

These studies will introduce you to public policy theory and practice at an advanced graduate level. Throughout these studies, you will gain practical knowledge and skills that will provide a solid foundation for the specialist studies units undertaken in the program.  

Part B. Applied study

The focus of these studies is professional and project work, focused locally or globally, that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. In this part of the program you can also undertake higher level research.

Part C. Advanced expertise

The focus of these studies is to develop your expertise in a specialisation: Policy studies or Global studies. These will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed for the capacity to work and communicate across the borders of context or discipline.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 72 credit points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2, and have completed the Monash University Graduate Certificate of Public Policy, you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part A (18 credit points), Part B and Part C (18 credit points) that have not already been completed in the Graduate Certificate.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2, and have completed a honours degree or a master’s degree in a cognate discipline, you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part A (24 credit points), Part B and Part C (12 credit points).

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course Progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each teaching period.

The course comprises 72 points structured into three parts: Part A: Principal study (36 points), Part B: Applied study (12 points) and Part C: Advanced expertise (24 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

 Part A. Principal Study (36 points)

You must complete the following six units (36 points):

• ATI5101 Foundations of public policy
• ATI5102 Governance
• ATI5103 Policy analysis
• ATI5104 Public sector reform
• ATI5129 Evaluation 
• ATI5195 Implementation and service delivery 

Notes:

• If you are admitted at entry level 2, and have completed the Monash University Graduate Certificate of Public Policy, you complete 18 points in this part that you have not already completed.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2, and have completed a honours degree or a master’s degree in a cognate discipline, you complete 24 points in this Part.

Part B. Applied Study  (12 points)

You must complete a capstone unit from Policy studies or Global studies:

Policy studies 

You must complete one of the following units (12 points):

• ATI5856 Applied research project
• ATI5100 Social impact lab 

Global studies

You must complete the following capstone unit:

• ATI5236 Global policy challenge (12 points)*

* This unit has a study tour component and will first be offered in Monash Indonesia Term 2, 2025.

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

You must complete 24 points of elective units from your chosen specialisation, Policy studies or Global studies.

Note:

• If you are admitted at entry level 2, and have completed the Monash University Graduate Certificate of Public Policy, you must complete 18 points of electives in this Part that you have not already completed.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2, and have completed a honours degree or a master’s degree in a cognate discipline, you must complete 12 points of electives in this Part.

Policy studies

You must complete any combination of units from the elective lists below, totalling 24 points.

Note: the units are grouped in themes to aid and inform unit selection.

Business Innovation

• ACI5903 Resource allocation and business model performance
• BEI5411 Creativity and entrepreneurship
• BEI5412 Applied research project: Social impact lab
• BFI5954 Financial approaches to calculating value and risk
• BTI5111 Technology: Risk and regulation in the digital age
• ECI5953 Regulation, prices and markets
• MGI5928 Strategic leadership
• MGI5976 Strategic management for innovation
• MKI5123 Entrepreneurial innovation
• MKI5761 Managing distribution channels
• MKI5955 The theory and practice of innovative marketing

Public health

• PHI5040 Introductory epidemiology
• PHI5041 Introductory biostatistics
• PHI5002 Foundations of health promotion and program planning
• PHI5288 Public health fundamentals

 Urban Design

• UDI5502 Studio 2: Climate resilience and smart cities (12 points)
• UDI5503 Studio 3: Thesis (12 points)
• UDI5602 City and ecology
• UDI5603 Smart city technologies
• UDI5604 History and theory of urban design and development

Public Policy Studies

• ATI5020 Policy advocacy and communication
• ATI5021 Special issues in public policy
• ATI5069 Field studies in urban policy and governance
• ATI5081 Comparative Health Policy and Politics
• ATI5083 Digital Technology and Public Policy
• ATI5084 Designing research
• ATI5430 Sustainability and the green economy

Global studies

You must complete 24 points of elective units from the list below. Note: students completing the Global studies specialisation may take up to 12 points of study at Monash Australia with permission from your Course coordinator.

Australian units

• APG5092 Human rights in global politics
• APG5163 Inclusive health policy and practice
• APG5164 Global health policy
• APG5170 Social entrepreneurship challenge in the Indo-Pacific
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments
• BTF5905 Global trade governance
• ECF5921 International economics
• MGF5730 International trade policy
• MGF5760 International institutions and organisations
• MGF5911 Geo-politics and business globalisation
• LAW5424 Human trafficking, modern slavery and the law
• LAW5454 Climate change and displacement
• LAW5465 Migration and human rights

Indonesian units

• ATI5069 Field studies in urban policy and governance
• ATI5081 Comparative health policy and politics
• ATI5083 Digital technology and public policy
• ATI5237 Political, social and economic change in contemporary India (12 points)
• ATI5430 Sustainability and the green economy
• PHI5252 Global health care delivery: principles and challenges
• ECI5590 Poverty inequality and opportunity

Research Pathway (18 points)

If you wish to complete a research thesis (15,000 – 18,000 words), you need to seek permission from the course coordinator and have achieved a course WAM of 80 or higher. If approved, you will replace the units in Part B (12 points) and one elective in Part C (6 points) with the following two units:

• ATI5849 Research thesis A (6 points)
• ATI5850 Research thesis B (12 points)

   

Note: The research pathway is only available if you are undertaking the Policy studies specialisation. ATI5084 Designing research is a prerequisite for enrolment in ATI5849 Research thesis A and must be taken as a Part C. unit for this pathway.