Executive Master of Public Administration

LSE's School of Public Policy (SPP) equips professionals with the ability to analyse, understand and resolve the challenges of contemporary governance. The SPP Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) is built for mid-career professionals seeking new knowledge and skills for policy-making. The EMPA is designed to study alongside your full-time job without requiring you to take a career break.

The EMPA is taught over 19 months in intense blocks which develop your core skills in economics, policy evaluation and political science whilst demonstrating how these skills can be applied in a broad range of geographies and contexts. In addition to studying compulsory courses, you will also choose option courses to further customise your EMPA experience, in order to meet your personal and professional needs. Courses combine leading LSE academics and senior practitioners to bring the latest research to life and the modular format ensures you can immediately apply your learning to a work context.

This high-quality programme is designed for professionals working in public and private sector organisations focusing on major public policy decisions. Applicants to the EMPA seek career progression, career transition or senior level effectiveness. Our high-calibre students display a diverse range of backgrounds and nationalities. We have taught investment bankers, consultants, NGO executives, scientists, lawyers, social entrepreneurs, diplomats, journalists and many other professions united by their passion for public policy to improve people's lives.

The EMPA benefits from sharing some classes with the Executive Master of Public Policy programme (EMPP). The EMPP is open only to UK Civil Servants and is designed to train the organisation’s future leaders. The EMPP cohort is senior, experienced and knowledgeable in contemporary public policy challenges.

Teaching methods and assessment

This programme is taught over 19 months, in modular blocks. The unique teaching arrangements are designed specifically to be suitable for participants in full-time employment.

The teaching in the Policy in Practice workshops is based on a series of case studies that are taught by specialists in a particular policy area. They are complemented by presentations by policy practitioners involved in the policy area.

Study on campus will be complemented by preparatory readings, online revision material and support between modules including Skype by highly-qualified Teaching Fellows.

Careers

The Executive MPA is a transformational programme that provides skills and knowledge to enhance your career prospects and options in the area of public policy. LSE Executive MPA alumni occupy leading positions in a wide range of public and private sector organisations around the world including governments, international organisations, major consultancies, financial services companies, charities and think tanks.

EMPA students also receive more customised support appropriate for more experienced professionals including events specifically for experienced hires and a programme of one-to-one executive coaching.