The 1-year Master in Public Administration (MPA) programme provides an intensive, interdisciplinary course of study for experienced mid-career professionals with 5–15 years of work experience who wish to work on increasingly complex issues shaping national, regional, and global policies and projects. The MPA programme takes in mid-career public servants and intends to prepare them for more senior management roles in the public sector. As a result, the curriculum is more focused on giving them relevant skills such as the intelligent and critical consumption of research, the ability to plan more detailed policy responses to more complex situations, and the desire to be life-long learners.

Taught by expert faculty using a problem-based learning approach and real-world case studies, MPA students learn to apply the techniques of policy analysis and programme evaluation to resolve complex multi-dimensional policy challenges, as well as sharpen their leadership and communication skills. The School also conducts an active programme of seminars and public lectures by political, not-for-profit and business leaders to enable all students to complement their formal learning with the opportunity to interact with distinguished individuals who are shaping the future. The MPA class comprises approximately 80 accomplished and motivated individuals who come from more than 25 countries around the world and lend themselves to a dynamic exchange of ideas. They bring with them a wealth of diverse experiences from a variety of sectors such as finance, trade, education, media, health, transport, housing, foreign affairs, and development.

The MPA student profile is drawn widely from the public, private and not-for-profit sector. A sample cohort includes candidates from the Indian Administrative Service, National Audit Office of China, Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Centre, Mongolia; and in positions such as Director of Global Corporate Responsibility, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Director for UNFPA, Indonesia; Freelance Reporter for The New York Times and Managing Director, Head of Equities, Merrill Lynch.

MPA students and faculty come from around the world across the public, private and not-for-profit sector, with international students constituting roughly 80 percent of the student body.

MPA Students can undertake a double degree with NUS Faculty of Law (MPA-LLM) or NUS Business School (MPA-MBA).The admission to LLM or MBA programmes must be obtained at the same time as the MPA Programme. To learn more please click here.

The MPA programme also provides the opportunity for candidates to obtain a continuation path degree with INSEAD Business School.

For the MPA programme, the School evaluates candidates on their academic preparation, the depth and quality of their work experience, as demonstrated by employment history, letters of reference and written analysis of past employment experience. Candidates accepted in the programme will normally have an average of 10 years of full-time work experience and the average age is 35 years. GMAT/GRE scores are optional and not mandatory.

Admission requirements are as follows:

• NUS honours degree (minimum 2nd Upper) or an equivalent degree (i.e. Bachelor degree with an average grade of B or above)
• Valid TOEFL or IELTS test scores obtained within the last 2 years (except those with a degree from an English-medium institution in Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ, Singapore, UK or the US); a score of at least 580 on TOEFL paper based test / 85 on TOEFL internet based test or 6.5 on IELTS is preferred
• Completed application form
• Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• 3 essays
• 3 references
• Application fee (waived)
• Official transcripts and certificates/diplomas

Application for MPA 2013 is now closed.

Please click here to view the tuition fees*, and other applicable fees**.

*Full fees are payable if students have previously enjoyed a government subsidy or sponsorship by the Singaporean government agency for a graduate programme.

**Please note that fees are subject to change

In addition to the program fees specified above, the School estimates general costs of living (per student per month) to be:

N/B: The costs have been derived based on a conservative estimate of a reasonably comfortable lifestyle. The actual amount could be higher or lower depending on the individual student’s expenditure and lifestyle pattern.

More than 50 percent of the students at LKY School study on merit-based scholarships, grants or tuition fee waivers. All MPA full-time candidates can apply for the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) and Chang Yung-Fa scholarships. Furthermore, candidates can also apply for more scholarships based on nationality. Click here for further information.

There is no bond or obligation for the scholar to be employed by NUS or in Singapore except for the Lien Foundation scholarship.

Scholarships

The scholarships are offered on a competitive basis to applicants with good academic and professional records. The estimated value of a one-year scholarship for the full-time Master in Public Administration (MPA) Programme is approximately S$ 44,000. Scholarships generally cover: Tuition Fees, monthly stipend, shared housing and utilities allowance, cost of travel from home country to Singapore on award of the scholarship, cost of travel from Singapore to home country on graduation, health insurance, teaching materials, student development seminars and other approved fees and allowances.

Grants

The School provides for a number of grants to students as a form of financial assistance. The estimated value of a one-year grant for the full-time Master in Public Administration (MPA) Programme is approximately S$ 31,000 per student over a course of one year. Although the specific value and coverage may vary, a grant will generally cover: Tuition Fees shared housing, cost of travel from home country to Singapore on award of the scholarship, cost of travel from Singapore to home country on graduation, health insurance, teaching materials, student development seminars and some approved fees and allowances.

Tuition Fee Waiver

The School also offers financial assistance by way of waiving the Tuition Fees for the entire programme on a one-year full-time basis

Please click here for more information on financial aid.

The MPA program is fully taught in English. In this 1-year degree programme, students are required to read 40 modular credits in order to graduate. The current MPA curriculum consists of:

1. A Common Curriculum (12 MCs)
2. Governance Study Conference (4 MCs)
3. Electives from the MPP Public Management and Leadership Specialization (2 modules, 8 MCs)
4. Free Electives (4 modules, 16 MCs): Students can choose to read any 4 available electives as their ‘free elective’ modules

Please click here to learn more about the curriculum modules. Additionally, students have the option of enrolling in up to two graduate modules offered in NUS at large.

Joyce Cuff at (65) 6516 5357 or
Regine Wong at (65) 6516 4845

You can also email your queries to