Postgraduate Coursework
Master of Public Policy
2021
The Master of Public Policy is an opportunity to undertake a in-depth study in the field of public policy that culminates in a research project that seeks to explore issues of research in policy related fields. With a focus on northern Australia and its relation to South-East Asia you'll explore the policy issues in the region's remote contexts and the significance of Indigenous peoples and cultures, and its proximity to South-East Asia.
You will build the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in effective and ethical research for policy development. This course strengthens your in-depth understanding of the unique challenges and characteristics of "doing policy" in northern contexts.
You explore a variety of political, cultural and social theory approaches to public policy and gain a solid understanding of evidence-based policy development, evaluation, and empirical research theories and methodologies.
Choose from specialist electives that will develop your public policy knowledge in an area such as:
- Indigenous policy
- international education
- governance and management
- health
- emergency and disaster management
- environmental management.
You will apply this new knowledge in an important public policy research project of your choice. You will receive one-on-one supervision and support from university research, public policy researchers, policy developers and evaluators, and teaching staff.
Career opportunities
Graduating with a Master of Public Policy may lead to career opportunities in government and private companies as a policy researcher, advisor, analyst or writer.
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
English Language Requirements for International Students
For detail on English Language Entry Requirements please read the entry requirements provided for International students.
How to Apply
International applicants apply directly to CDU and should refer to the information provided for International future students Apply.
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This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
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Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Admission criteria
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, masters degree or equivalent international qualification.
Applicants who don't meet the entry requirements, are advised to contact the course coordinator in the College of Indigenous Future, Arts and Society by email to CIFASAdmin@cdu.edu.au for further advice.
International Pathway
Applicants who have completed the CDU International Masters Qualifying Program (ZMQP01) or the Accelerated International Masters Qualifying Program (ZAMQP1) are eligible for entry.
Essential requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education in an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 176, with no skill below 169. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of C1, valid for three years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU. |
| Navitas Academic English (will not be accepted from 2021 onwards) | A minimum overall pass and 65% in Academic English 3 with a 65% pass in the research essay. (Note: this score will not be accepted from 2021 intakes onwards). |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 58 with no score lower than 50. |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 79 with a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
Course structure
The Master of Public Policy course involves the completion of 40 credit points of core units that provide a background and context to your study.
Core units are supplemented by 20 credit points of study in relevant units in research methodology followed by 40 credit point research project developed and designed in collaboration with your supervisor.
Specialist elective units can be chosen from the postgraduate offerings at Charles Darwin University in a variety of discipline areas including education, business, Indigenous studies, public health or environmental management. Two units of general electives allow you to tailor your studies to your particular context by drawing in units from other fields of study including relevant policy units from other tertiary institutions.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Core Units (6 units) |
80cp |
Compulsory Core units totalling 80 credit points as detailed below. IAS531 Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics (replaces ATI502 from 2020) The following units are worth 20 credit points each and may be taken at the same time or sequentially to develop a single research project worth 40 credit points in total. MPP610 Public Policy Research Project (20cp) (repeatable from 2017) |
| Specialist Electives (5 - 6 units) |
60cp |
Unit totalling 60 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below. The specialist elective units can be taken from one stream or spread across streams. Research Methodologies Select two (2) units from the following prior to undertaking MPP610 and MPP611: An additional 40cp may be selected from the units below. Other Masters level units available at CDU may also be selected if approved as part of the student's pathway by the Course Coordinator. These have been divided thematically for ease of choice. Research Project The following units may be repeated as Specialist Electives in addition to being completed as core units. MPP610 Public Policy Research Project (repeatable from 2017) Indigenous Contexts IAS530 Neocolonialism, Advocacy and the Critique of Development (replaces ATI501 from 2020) Education EMG502 Philosophies, Ethics and Global Frameworks (new title for 2021) Public Management and Governance BUS501 Decision Making (replaces ECO502 from 2018) Health PHM516 Indigenous Health (new title from 2018) Secure and Safe Communities DEM511 Emergency and Disaster Management in Context Environment and Livelihoods ENG519 Sustainability (replaces ENG417 from 2021) |
| Electives (2 units) |
20cp |
Units totalling 20 credit points may be selected from postgraduate units offered by the University. Students may select units from any of the approved specialisations (as above) as electives or by cross institutional enrolment that is approved by the course coordinator. |
| 160 | Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
The grade of "PC" cannot be counted towards a Masters Degree by Coursework AQF Level 9 course award.
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
COURSE CHANGES - 2021
EMG502 was previously Teaching and Learning and Global Learning and now Philosophies, Ethics and Global Frameworks
COURSE CHANGES - 2018
PHM516 was previously Indigenous Health and Social Change and is now Indigenous Health.
ECO502 has been replaced by BUS501 and is equivalent. Students who have completed ECO502 should not complete BUS501.
ENV508 Applied Geographic Information Systems is now Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking.
ENV512 Tropical Wetland and Coastal Management has been replaced by ENV519 Aquatic Resource Management.
ENV518 Advanced Spatial Science is now Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data.
Units added as specialist electives:
BUS502 Entrepreneurship
MPP503 Realist Research and Evaluation
MPP505 Policy and Ethnography
MAN501 Cross Cultural Management
MAN509 Contemporary Management Issues
Changes for 2017
As of 2017 EMG609, MPP610 and MPP611 are repeatable units.
The following units have been changed in the Public Management and Governance stream:
GOV501 Public Governance: Scope and Issues - no longer offered as part of this course (no longer available)
GOV502 Government Finance and Economics - no longer offered as part of this course (no longer available)
MAN505 Managing Innovation - no longer offered as part of this course
ECO502 Decision Making - added
The following unit has been added to the Environment and Livelihoods stream:
ENV518 Advanced Spatial Analysis
The following unit has been added to the Research Methodologies stream:
ACH401 Research Preparation: Knowledge and Skills #20
Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | R = Research Core |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| MPP501 Theoretical Approaches to Public Policy in Northern Contexts | CO | MPP502 Evidence-Based Policy Development in Northern and Indigenous Contexts | CO |
| IAS531 Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics (replaces ATI502 from 2020) | CO | HGE501 Topics in Human Geography: a Remote Perspective | CO |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Year 2 | |||
| MPP610 Public Policy Research Project (20cp) | R | MPP611 Public Policy Research Project (20cp) | R |
| Elective | E | Elective | E |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Students commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard load.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | R = Research Core |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| MPP502 Evidence-Based Policy Development in Northern and Indigenous Contexts | CO | ||
| HGE501 Topics in Human Geography: a Remote Perspective | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| MPP501 Theoretical Approaches to Public Policy in Northern Contexts | CO | MPP610 Public Policy Research Project (20cp) | R |
| IAS531 Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics (replaces ATI502 from 2020) | CO | Elective | E |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| MPP611 Public Policy Research Project (20cp) | R | ||
| Elective | E | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Course fees
Both Commonwealth supported (CS) and full fee (FF) places are available for this course. If you would like to apply for a CS place use the SATAC code 1CM062 or the UAC code 823190. If you would like to apply for a FF place you will need to use the SATAC code 1CM562 or the UAC code 873190.
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
Non-Commonwealth supported places
Full fee paying places are available in this course.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study of 80 credit points (1.0 EFTSL) for commencing students in 2021 is AUD $32,008.00.
These fees are subject to annual increases each year of your study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.