Skip to content
There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

Modern societies demand much from those obliged to protect the public interest and pursue the common good. The foremost expectation is effective leadership, particularly in the development and delivery of public policy. Public leadership transcending organisational management is expected within communities concerned with practical outcomes; agencies committed to regional issues; … For more content click the Read More button below. The Master of Public Leadership and Policy has been developed to serve those occupying or aspiring to positions of public leadership, as well as postgraduate scholars seeking to develop a research competence in this highly significant emerging field.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills applicable to a range of leadership positions and depictions of what/who/where constitutes the public.
  • Scholars
2.
Communicate complex ideas effectively and confidently in written, oral, and technological forms appropriate to academic and policy discourse on the principles and practice of public leadership.
  • Global Citizens
3.
Undertake both independent and collaborative enquiry, apply technical skills, and be adaptive learners and practitioners of public leadership with an emphasis on workplace or vocational settings.
  • Professionals
4.
Articulate awareness of a range of social, ethical, environmental, intercultural, and global issues, and responsibilities related to public leadership and policy.
  • Global Citizens
5.
Analyse, reflect on, and synthesise complex information, demonstrating evidence-based logic and reasoning in the context of public leadership and policy.
  • Scholars
  • Professionals
6.
Articulate an advanced knowledge and integrated understanding of the nature of effective and ethical public leadership and its relationship with public policy and be able to apply this understanding to practical problems in a contemporary setting.
  • Scholars
  • Professionals
  • Leaders

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure
48 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 48 UOC as a standalone program.

  1. Core Courses - 12 UOC
  2. Core Research Courses - 12 UOC
  3. Prescribed Elective - 24 UOC

Core Courses

Students must take 12 UOC of the following courses.

ZHSS8501
6 UOC
Principles of Public Leadership
ZBUS8201
6 UOC
Leadership
ZHSS8460
6 UOC
Power and Australian Government Policy

Research Core Courses

Students must complete a 12 UOC Research Project from the following two options:
ZHSS8401 Research Project IPS (6 UOC x 2 semesters) OR ZHSS8400 Research Project IPS (12 UOC x 1 semester)

ZHSS8401
6 UOC
Research Project International and Political Studies - Full Year
ZHSS8400
12 UOC
Research Project: IPS Single Session

Prescribed Electives

Students must take 24 UOC of the following courses.

Students may, with the approval of the Postgraduate Co-ordinator, complete up to two courses (12 UOC) from other coursework programs of equivalent academic standard.

ZBUS8101
6 UOC
Strategic Management
ZBUS8203
6 UOC
Change Management
ZBUS8314
6 UOC
People and Systems
ZBUS8318
6 UOC
Cross Cultural Management
ZHSS8125
6 UOC
Strategic Communication
ZHSS8410
6 UOC
Australian Defence Policy: Concepts and Challenges
ZHSS8437
6 UOC
Global Justice and World Politics
ZHSS8441
6 UOC
Cyber-Security and World Politics

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):
Domestic Students
International Student

Related Programs

Related Programs

Master of Public Policy and Governance - MPPG8259 - Public Policy & Governance

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence
Current Students Award with Excellence
For more information, please visit the link above.
The Award with Excellence is awarded in coursework masters programs, including Masters (Extension) but with the exception of Masters (Extended) such as JD and MD, when a Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of at least 80% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award are completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award 'with Excellence' except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)
International Students

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)
Pre-2019 Handbook Editions