Master of Governance and Public Policy
Overview
Boost your career potential and gain an advanced understanding of 21st century governance and public policy.
UQ brings world-class scholars, policy practitioners and cutting-edge researchers together to deliver a first-class learning experience for those looking to develop a career in governance and policy.
Housed in the Graduate Centre in Governance and International Affairs within UQ’s School of Political Science and International Studies, the two year full-time (or part-time equivalent) Masters program aims to take your student experience to a new level and boost your quality and employability as a future leader.
As a student, you'll undertake high-level coursework – choosing from over 40 subjects and projects – to gain practical knowledge and research skills, and a critical, inquiring approach to questions of governance and policy development in the modern world.
You'll gain a deeper understanding of how governments operate and the major public issues confronting our society, across areas such as community and international policy, governance and development, and resource management.
As a graduate, you'll be equipped with a transferable skill-set allowing you to meaningfully address key policy issues and improve policy outcomes in both the public and private sectors.
Program highlights
- Interact with world-class scholars and policy practitioners, and work closely with top-rated researchers in the field.
- Be exposed to leading thinkers in the public, private and community sectors on a regular basis.
- Study with students from a range of different backgrounds and countries in a genuinely multicultural classroom, giving you a global perspective.
- Choose to include an internship, a research project or participate in the Graduate Centre Mentorship program.
How you'll learn
Due to the way they are taught, certain programs and plans are not offered online in Semester 2, 2022.
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Work placements
- Overseas study
- Research experience
- Fieldwork
- Seminars
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Overview of Australian Political Institutions
- Economic Analysis & Public Policy
- Foundations of Sustainable Development
- Economics of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Think tank adviser
- Policy research institute member
- Not-for-profit manager
- Environmental adviser
- Project environmental adviser
- Ministerial team member
- Diplomatic corps official
- Public policy adviser
- Global health and development adviser
- Social justice advocate
“My dream job is to use what I have learnt in the Master of Governance and Public Policy and serve as a diplomat for the United Nations to bring healing to my home county of Venezuela.”
Javier AlejandroGraduate, Master of Governance and Public Policy
“The academic staff are exceptional: they come from the real world of policy-making and have the networks – local, national and international – to equip students (whether in the private or public sector) to be public policy leaders of the future.”
Elliott SteinGraduate, Master of Governance and Public Policy
“My dream job is to use what I have learnt in the Master of Governance and Public Policy and serve as a diplomat for the United Nations to bring healing to my home county of Venezuela.”
Javier AlejandroGraduate, Master of Governance and Public Policy
“The academic staff are exceptional: they come from the real world of policy-making and have the networks – local, national and international – to equip students (whether in the private or public sector) to be public policy leaders of the future.”
Elliott SteinGraduate, Master of Governance and Public Policy
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
- to have successfully completed 3 years of study towards an approved qualification at an overseas partner institution that has a formal pathway to the Master of Governance and Public Policy (32 units).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
- to have successfully completed 3 years of study towards an approved qualification at an overseas partner institution that has a formal pathway to the Master of Governance and Public Policy (32 units).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
TOEFL PB - Overall 570, listening 54, reading 54, writing 59/5.
Pearsons - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Governance and Public Policy are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$27,120
2022
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $32,448
2022
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Master of Governance and Public Policy pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Governance and Public Policy is 5607.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Governance and Public Policy is 5607.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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