Since our founding in 2004, our mission has been to educate and inspire leaders to raise the standard of governance in Asia, improve the lives of its people and contribute to the region’s transformation. It remains unchanged, and as of today, enrolment for our programmes has increased 10 times to about 400 students in all the various programmes offered.
Click on the programme icons below to learn more about each unique curriculum.
Our graduate programmes, at a glance
Below is a comparison of four of the graduate programmes we currently offer.
| Master in Public Policy (MPP) |
Master in Public Administration (MPA) |
Master in Public Management (MPM) |
Master in International Affairs (MIA) |
|
| Duration | 2 years | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years |
| Approximate cohort size | 60-80 students | 40-60 students | 20-25 students | 30 students |
| Admissions criteria | 2 to 5 years of work experience is preferred. Fresh graduates are welcome to apply. They demonstrate maturity and commitment towards the public service. Proficiency in written and spoken English is a must. | Applicants should have attained mid-level managerial position in their career stage. They aspire to take on management roles and demonstrate commitment towards public service. Proficiency in written and spoken English is a must. | Applicants should have achieved a senior managerial position in their career. They demonstrate maturity and commitment towards the public service. Proficiency in written and spoken English is a must. | Applicants should have a good Bachelor degree. Competitive candidates will have at least a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0, a second upper class honours or equivalent. Proficiency in written and spoken English is a must. Submission of GRE/GMAT/LSAT is compulsory. |
| Curriculum focus | Rigorous training for a strong foundation in economics, political science, policy analysis, so as to be able to conduct research and analysis for effective programme evaluation and management | Intensive and interdisciplinary training in decision-making and problem-solving skills, so as to be able to plan detailed policy responses to complex issues that shape national, regional and global issues | Emphasis on intellectual renewal and skills enhancement by focusing on the challenges of effective leadership through good governance, with primarily Asian case studies | Highlights Asia’s role in world affairs drawing from a range of subjects such as international political economy, global governance, foreign policy analysis and geopolitics. |
| Programme features | • Exchange programmes • Internship opportunities • Double degrees* with our overseas partners • Double degree at NUS |
• Overseas study trip • Double degree at NUS |
• A semester at Harvard Kennedy School or Columbia SIPA • Attachment to a Singapore Ministry or Statutory Board |
• Holistically designed programme which provides a global perspective coupled with Asian insights • Helmed by distinguished practitioners who come from top institutions |
On top of these four programmes, we also offer two additional programmes:
- MPAM (高级公共行政与管理硕士), delivered in Chinese over a period of 1 year
- PhD in Public Policy, typically completed over a period of 4 years
*eligibility is determined at the end of 1st semester.
Curriculum
Our graduate programmes are designed to be distinctive and innovative, while retaining the internationally recognised features of public policy programmes. The curricula extend learning well beyond the walls of the classroom and students benefit from strong empirical evidence and contextual narratives that emphasise Asian and international dimensions.
Some of the highlights of our curriculum includes:
- Study of “wicked problems” such as climate change and international economic governance from an Asian perspective
- Analysis of relevant case studies, such as the Asian Financial Crisis, migration in Asia, inequality and the growth of cities
- Interdisciplinary learning through team-teaching of multi-faceted topics, such as Myanmar in Transition
- First-hand learning through overseas study trips
- Opportunities to work with organisations and government agencies on real-life challenges confronting them
We are enthusiastic users of case studies and embrace problem-based learning. In some classes we adopt team-teaching, where faculty members from different disciplines model interdisciplinary dialogue by coming together to conduct a course. In turn, students are encouraged to acquire “textbook learning” or basic disciplinary knowledge outside of the classroom, which will be devoted to higher-order learning outcomes.
Enquiries
Aside from the comprehensive information on our admissions page, if you have any other queries or would like to receive a copy of our programme brochure, please submit your request via our query form. Alternatively, you may also speak to our admissions officers at +65 6516 8004.
