The original 18-month Master in Public Policy (MPP) programme, which was first introduced in 1993, was revamped and re-launched as a two-year programme in 2006. A curriculum review of the MPP programme was conducted to enhance and refocus the curriculum to better meet the demands of potential students and employers. The duration was extended to make it consistent with internationally reputable MPP programmes at top public policy schools, and the curriculum re-focused to better address the needs of pre- and early-career professionals seeking an education in public policy. In addition to learning the fundamental skills of public policy analysis and key concepts from the disciplines of politics, economics, and public management, students now enjoy a wider range of elective and advanced modules.

In particular, they have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of a specific area by electing to focus their studies on one of five areas of concentration: Development Studies, Economic Policy and Analysis, International Relations and Security Studies, Social and Environmental Policy, and Public Management and Governance. Finally to provide an element of direct practical experience, MPP students undertake a public policy or management study (the Policy Analysis Exercise) for a client in the public, private or non-profit sector. Examples of topics for the Policy Analysis Exercises include, ‘Measuring Performance in the Public Sector Using the Public Service Value Model: A Southeast Asian Case Study of a Government Agency for 2001-2005,’ ‘Analysis of the Policies on Promoting Green Electricity (Wind Power) in Shanghai,’ ‘Increasing the disbursement speed of ODA capital in Vietnam: The case of the ADB’, and ‘Basic Education Project for Working Children: An Impact Assessment Study.’ Students are also encouraged to (and most do) take internships with organisations in Singapore and abroad. They have worked in institutions such as the United Nations Environment Programme (Bangkok), National Economic Development Authority (Philippines), World Bank (Washington, DC), Government Investment Corporation (Singapore) and Standard Chartered Bank.

As part of the School’s continuous effort to enrich the MPP classroom experience, new initiatives were introduced. In 2005, electives at the School were opened to third and fourth year students from the NUS University Scholars Programme. In 2006, the School welcomed a total of 6 exchange students from Columbia University, Tokyo University and the University of St Gallen. In addition, the School launched concurrent degree programmes with the NUS Faculty of Law and NUS Business School. These programmes allow the top students from the Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business Administration programmes to begin their Master in Public Policy Programme concurrently with the 3rd or 4th year of their Law or Business studies. The School expects that over time, the concurrent degrees will provide a steady stream of high quality students from Singapore for the MPP. In late 2007, the School launched the double degree programmes with Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). The double Masters degree programmes combine the School’s MPP with corresponding degrees from the other institutions participating in the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN) alliance.

In January 2008, LKYSPP launched the double degree programmes with NUS Faculty of Law and NUS Business School. The MBA and MPP double degree programme enables early career individuals to gain knowledge and expertise in both business and government. The MBA-MPP double degree graduate will be able to appreciate and manage the close relationship of business organisations and the public sector. The Master of Laws (LLM) and MPP double degree programme provides rigorous training for early career individuals who aim to increase their competence in law and at the same time, understand the challenges and opportunities of adding value to public sector organisations. LLM-MPP double degree graduates will understand the law and how it applies to governments and the public sector. They will also be able to appreciate the legal framework in which public sector organisations operate and the constraints these organisations and institutions face.