100% online MPA Social and Public Policy
World-class Russell Group university
Ranked 13th in UK for Social Policy (Complete University Guide 2025)
Top 40 in the world for Social Policy and Administration (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
100% online - study from anywhere
Start within weeks
Pay-per-module
Total programme cost: £10,440
Next start: 13 January 2025
Learn how to influence social and public policy and shape the future of public services and welfare
The online MPA Social and Public Policy from the University of York has been specifically designed for aspiring leaders working in the public or non-profit sector, or in private sector roles with a link to public policy or public management. This Masters programme equips you with the skills and knowledge to shape and influence policy and deepens your understanding of policy making and the interaction between policy making on the local, national and global level.
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Flexible learning and accelerated career progression
The entirely online teaching and delivery of this Masters degree ensures that there is no need to ever visit campus – this MPA can be studied and completed from anywhere in the world. The flexible design of the programme makes it the ideal choice for busy professionals as it can be studied at any time. This enables you to study around work and family life, with no need to put your ambitions on hold by taking a career break.
You will learn from a highly skilled team of academics from around the world and study with a Department that has received national and global recognition in this field: in the 2020 QS World University rankings, the University of York ranked 22nd in the world for social policy and administration.
About this programme
Studying this online Master of Public Administration, you will assess and analyse how social policy making interacts with and is shaped by socio-economic structures and conflicting political processes. You will examine the ways in which global dynamics impact on and are filtered through national social policies. You will use evidence to improve social policy practice and develop a range of transferable skills such as critical thinking and designing and conducting research. You will also gain an understanding of the requirements for ethical leadership and effective change management.
The capabilities you will develop studying this programme will help enable you to take on roles with higher degrees of leadership responsibility and strategic impact, empowering you to shape policy and change people’s lives for the better.
York MPA graduates go on to a wide range of roles, including in government, international NGOs and charities, the NHS, leading consultancies and accountancy firms, universities, banks, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Why York?
- Part of the elite Russell Group of major research-intensive universities
- Top of the Russell Group for academic support (NSS 2020)
- Over 20,000 students and 4,000 staff from 150 countries
- Ranked joint 10th in the UK for research quality (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
- 17th overall in the Complete University Guide 2025
- University of the Year shortlisted (Times Higher Education Awards 2021)
- University of the Year shortlisted (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022)