The MAPPM will provide you with opportunities to enhance your theoretical knowledge, practical skills and critical understanding of public policy and management processes in both local and international contexts. Upon successful completion of the programme, you should be able to:

• discover and analyse critically current and emerging knowledge relating to principles, theories and practices in international and local governance, public policy and management;
• contrast and assess the roles, inter-relationships and limitations of various actors and organizations involved in the governance of people, money, and the environment ;
• explain, compare and evaluate critically various values, ethical principles and cultural traditions shaping policy-making processes and the delivery of services to the community;
• be creative in problem solving and demonstrate practical and, as appropriate, innovative management, planning, team-working, decision making and research skills; and
• contribute to the development of knowledge about public policy and management by active discovery through undertaking supervised dissertation, capstone project, or other project-related coursework.

To be eligible for admission, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements and hold a degree, or equivalent.

Short-listed applicants may be asked to undergo a selection process.

Priority will be given to those applying with relevant work experience.

Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is not English should also fulfill the following minimum English proficiency requirement:

• TOEFL score 550 (paper-based test) or 79 (internet-based test); or
• Overall band 6.5 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or
• Score 450 in the new College English Test (CET-6) of Chinese mainland or a pass in the old CET-6 test; or
• Other equivalent qualifications.

There are six common core courses (a total of 17 credit units) and three stream core courses (a total of 9 credit units). In addition, this programme will compose of a 4-credit research elective course:

Programme core courses (17 credit units)

Students are required to take six common core courses (a total of 17 credit units). These common core courses, consist of public management, public policy evaluation, and research method and evidence, serve as a firm foundation for public policy and management professions.

• Theories of Government and Public Administration
• Values and Choice in Public Policy
• Policy Processes and Analysis
• Workshop in Public Affairs
• Evidence-based Policy and Practice
• Research Methods in Public Policy and Managemen

Stream core courses (9 credit units)

For the needs of professional specialization, the programme will have the streams in public management, public policy, and environmental management. Students are allowed to choose only one stream, with nine credit units. Three designated stream courses (3 credit each) are specially designed for each of the stream.

Public Policy Stream

• Comparative Public Policy
• Behavioral Insights in Public Policy
• Public Budgeting and the Management of Financial Resources

Public Management Stream

• Managing Organizations and People
• Comparative Public Sector Management
• Public Budgeting and the Management of Financial Resources

Environmental Management Stream

• Environmental Management and Economics
• Environmental Impact Assessment: Principles and Practice/Behavioral Insights in Public Policy*
• Energy and Environmental Law/Environmental Governance in China*

* As an alternative offering when the designated course is unavailable.

Research Electives (4 credit units)

Students are required to group together and work on a capstone project that focuses on selected public management, policy or environmental management issues approved by an instructor. Students who have the cumulative GPA (3.2) on the Programme Core Courses and want to work on more academic oriented research topics or pursue further study can choose to work on a dissertation.

The programme offers you:

• A highly varied and dynamic peer group of public managers, disciplined services officers, politicians, as well as managers and professionals working in the private and non-profit sectors.

• Comparative perspectives

• Integration of theories and practices   

• International and local guest speakers and lectures

• Special induction and study skills workshops

Course Descriptions
Department of Public Policy
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences