Graduate School of Public Policy
Graduate School of Public Policy
Graduate School of Public Policy
Master in Public Administration
The Master in Public Administration (MPA) is an 18-month full-time program designed for professionals seeking rigorous education and training in public administration.
MPA Program
The Master in Public Administration (MPA) is a program which is designed for in-service professionals seeking rigorous education and training in public administration. It will give students a strong foundation in public administration (theory and practice), applied economics, strategic management and leadership, and program evaluation.
The mission of MPA program is to provide mid/senior level practitioners with academic and professional education which will inform their working practices and raise the standard of governance in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
The program is offered in two modes of study to accommodate diverse student needs:
- Full-Time In-Person Mode: this option is designed for students who prefer a traditional, immersive academic experience, attending all classes on campus.
- Distance Learning (online study): online learning offers flexibility for students who need to balance academic commitments with other personal or professional obligations. This mode is available exclusively to tuition-fee paying students.
Students enrolled in the program are subject to different completion timelines depending on their funding source:
- State Grant or other Grants/Scholarships recipients: students receiving state grants or other form of financial aid are expected to complete the program within 18 months to ensure a timely graduation aligned with funding requirements.
- Self-Funded students: students who are funding their own education have the flexibility to complete the program within 48 months, providing additional time to accommodate personal or professional responsibilities.
The Program schedule involves an evening/weekend learning format which is designed to help students integrate their studies with personal and/or professional responsibilities. MPA students can choose to specialize in one of 4 tracks (economic policy, international political economy, public governance or sustainable development) to enhance their career prospects.
On successful completion of the program, graduates will have the ability to:
1. Lead and manage in the public interest;
2. Participate in and contribute to the policy process;
3. Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment;
4. Articulate, apply and advance a public service perspective;
5. Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.
Professional competency: In addition, the program will ensure that students learn to apply their education, such as through experiential exercises and interactions with practitioners across the broad range of public affairs, administration, and policy professions and sectors.
1. Lead and manage in the public interest;
2. Participate in and contribute to the policy process;
3. Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment;
4. Articulate, apply and advance a public service perspective;
5. Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.
Professional competency: In addition, the program will ensure that students learn to apply their education, such as through experiential exercises and interactions with practitioners across the broad range of public affairs, administration, and policy professions and sectors.
Master in Public Policy program is accredited by the European Association for Public Administration Accreditation (EAPAA) and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
Upon completion of an academic program, students will be awarded the Master in Public Administration degree.
Lectures, seminars, tutorials, flipped classrooms, blended learning, laboratory practicum, individual and team projects, independent study, field trips (including overseas), simulation, case studies, other methods.
Examinations, term papers, essays, presentations, final projects, case studies, reflective practice, portfolio, quizzes, debates, role play, audio/video production, peer and self-assessment, other methods.
Progression.To continue in the program, students must be in Good Academic Standing at the conclusion of each grading period as determined by:
- minimum CGPA for Good Academic Standing is ≥ 2.67; and
- timely completion of milestones for Master’s Project with Overseas Component.
- Successful completion of all core and elective modules in the program as outlined in the Curriculum;
- Completion and successful defense of the Master’s Project with Overseas Component.
The program structure includes the following key components:
1. Orientation Week. It is the first week in MPA program. The purpose is to prepare students for the program, and forge bonds among them as classmates. Before arriving for the Orientation Week, students must have submitted all required documents and have completed any pre-assigned work.
2. Core Courses – courses that all students are required to complete within the program.
3. Elective Courses – courses that MPA program students can select from among alternatives. Elective courses are subject to change as they are based on students’ interests/preferences, faculty availability and program design.
4. Master’s Project with an Overseas Component.
The Master’s Project is a final requirement for students on the MPA program. It may be conducted as a public policy or management exercise. In both cases, it is expected to be an exercise in which students will be able to apply relevant knowledge and skills gained during the MPA program including: defining and structuring the problem; organizing data; defining and carrying out analysis of the issue; developing specific action recommendations; and defending their findings publicly. The Master’s Project is an opportunity for students to focus on a policy problem of their own preference in greater depth than is available in a classroom setting. The Master’s Project will include identification of a public policy problem, preferably in the Kazakhstan or Central Asia context, its analysis from a theoretical or empirical prospective, and in case of practical exercise, formulation of a policy proposal and a feasible program of implementation.
The overseas component (currently in Singapore) normally takes place at the end of the first academic year (Summer semester), where students learn about Singapore’s approaches in long-term urban planning and development through lectures and learning journeys, reflect on the lessons learnt and whether/how they could be applied or adapted to the context of Kazakhstan. This can be particularly useful for students who are working on their Master’s project.
1. Orientation Week. It is the first week in MPA program. The purpose is to prepare students for the program, and forge bonds among them as classmates. Before arriving for the Orientation Week, students must have submitted all required documents and have completed any pre-assigned work.
2. Core Courses – courses that all students are required to complete within the program.
3. Elective Courses – courses that MPA program students can select from among alternatives. Elective courses are subject to change as they are based on students’ interests/preferences, faculty availability and program design.
4. Master’s Project with an Overseas Component.
The Master’s Project is a final requirement for students on the MPA program. It may be conducted as a public policy or management exercise. In both cases, it is expected to be an exercise in which students will be able to apply relevant knowledge and skills gained during the MPA program including: defining and structuring the problem; organizing data; defining and carrying out analysis of the issue; developing specific action recommendations; and defending their findings publicly. The Master’s Project is an opportunity for students to focus on a policy problem of their own preference in greater depth than is available in a classroom setting. The Master’s Project will include identification of a public policy problem, preferably in the Kazakhstan or Central Asia context, its analysis from a theoretical or empirical prospective, and in case of practical exercise, formulation of a policy proposal and a feasible program of implementation.
The overseas component (currently in Singapore) normally takes place at the end of the first academic year (Summer semester), where students learn about Singapore’s approaches in long-term urban planning and development through lectures and learning journeys, reflect on the lessons learnt and whether/how they could be applied or adapted to the context of Kazakhstan. This can be particularly useful for students who are working on their Master’s project.
Admission to the MPA program is merit-based. Award of all types of scholarships is carried out based on the competition. NU offers the following funding options:
– Government funding: the Nazarbayev University educational grant (Government-funded scholarship) funded by the Government, covers full tuition fees and a monthly stipend. Government-funded scholarship is not offered to applicants who previously received the same degree under the state educational order or under the Bolashak international scholarship. This scholarship is also not available for the applicants who previously studied at Nazarbayev University and had been dismissed for disciplinary reasons. The number of grants is annually approved by the Governmental Decree of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
– “Abay Kunanbayev” scholarship: “Abay Kunanbayev” scholarship is named after Abay Kunanbayev (1845-1904) a Kazakh poet, a great thinker, composer, philosopher, the founder of the Kazakh written literature. This scholarship is specifically designed for foreign citizens and persons without citizenship and awarded on a competitive basis. This scholarship is funded by Nazarbayev University and covers tuition fees, a monthly stipend and basic medical insurance. The scholarship is provided for an entire period of the specified program. Number of scholarships is annually approved by Nazarbayev University.
– Fee-paying education: admission to a fee-paying education is available to candidates who meet all admission requirements.
– Government funding: the Nazarbayev University educational grant (Government-funded scholarship) funded by the Government, covers full tuition fees and a monthly stipend. Government-funded scholarship is not offered to applicants who previously received the same degree under the state educational order or under the Bolashak international scholarship. This scholarship is also not available for the applicants who previously studied at Nazarbayev University and had been dismissed for disciplinary reasons. The number of grants is annually approved by the Governmental Decree of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
– “Abay Kunanbayev” scholarship: “Abay Kunanbayev” scholarship is named after Abay Kunanbayev (1845-1904) a Kazakh poet, a great thinker, composer, philosopher, the founder of the Kazakh written literature. This scholarship is specifically designed for foreign citizens and persons without citizenship and awarded on a competitive basis. This scholarship is funded by Nazarbayev University and covers tuition fees, a monthly stipend and basic medical insurance. The scholarship is provided for an entire period of the specified program. Number of scholarships is annually approved by Nazarbayev University.
– Fee-paying education: admission to a fee-paying education is available to candidates who meet all admission requirements.
Program Tuition: US $16 000 per academic year
Per 1 ECTS: US $267
Financial Aid:
Per 1 ECTS: US $267
Financial Aid:
- 75% off for socially vulnerable groups
- 50% off for employees of state institutions and state enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Financial aid for employees of Nazarbayev University and its subsidiary organizations, including family members (children and spouses): 70% (local hire), 50% (international hire)
The core curriculum focuses on the application of public administration theories in practice; an understanding of the economic context in which the public sector operates, including issues of strategic management and leadership; how public sector organizations measure their performance; and basic research skills for writing a Master’s Project. The programme curriculum comprises 6 core modules, a Master’s project and 4 elective modules. Each core/elective module is worth 8 ECTS credits, and the Master’s Project is worth 12 ECTS credits. The total number of ECTS credits in the program is 92.
*The order of the modules can be reconsidered by the School
The course provides students with an understanding of the theories and practices of public administration in various contexts. Combining historical, contextual and theoretical perspectives, this course gives students a comprehensive overview of the discipline and focuses on the practical implications of public administration theory. Students will read and discuss literature that explores theory and practice of public administrative and governance. Students will also examine several cases that explore practical examples in public administration in various geographical and political contexts.
This subject provides a public sector manager’s guide to key economic principles, and their applications to public sector activity. Public policy issues are addressed within an economic paradigm. The aim is to help public sector managers make better decisions when allocating scarce resources, when pricing and delivering public sector goods and services and when designing regulations.
This course aims to provide students increased understanding of the scientific research process and the tools they will need to read and conduct empirical research in organizational settings. Students should expect to read and analyze scientific literature, write briefs or reports, perform basic qualitative and quantitative analysis. Upon completion of this module, students will know the structure and components of an empirical research paper, the key elements of the scientific method, the different types of investigations developed by the public administration research community. The course will equip the students with the relevant tools to develop their final Master’s Project.
This course is designed to allow the students to develop a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of public budgeting and financial management. It explores various dimensions of public budgeting and financial management and the significance of resource allocation and management decisions within the public sector in promoting macroeconomic stability, social equity and economic growth/development. It describes the ‘political context’ of public budgeting identifying key actors and processes involved in budgeting and management of public funds. Through a series of lectures, readings, seminars, and interactive workshops you will learn how public managers and ministers work within the budgetary frameworks to balance competing objectives and complex demands for accountability and external control. You will also learn fiscal rules and principles, role of oversight agencies and the approaches they use towards ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, equity and ethical use of public funds. Finally, the course focuses on issues and challenges in public sector financial management & contemporary trends and developments in this regard.
This course introduces GSPP and other graduate students to theory and practice of human resource management and development (HRM/D) in public and non-profit organizations. It focuses on both on practical aspects of HRM/D as well as challenges that public sector and non-profit managers/leaders and professionals face today. Topics covered include both essentials of HRM such as recruitment, selection, motivation and job satisfaction, training, development and retention of staff as well as more cutting-edge issues surrounding HRM/D such as workplace well-being and equal employment opportunity in public and non-profit organizations in an international and comparative context.
Public resources are limited, and decisions regarding how to use these scarce public resources must be informed by an understanding of how well public programs and policies produce their desired outcomes. Knowledge of evaluation methods enables public administrators to: 1) use evaluation findings to improve ongoing programs; 2) work with evaluation consultants to design an evaluation project; and 3) critique evaluation studies cited by various organizations in a policy debate. This course will introduce you to the art and science of evaluation. You will learn methods of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating information used in evaluation studies.
The Master’s Project is a final requirement for students on the MPA program. It may be conducted as a public policy or management exercise. In both cases, it is expected to be an exercise in which students will be able to apply relevant knowledge and skills gained during the MPA program including: defining and structuring the problem; organizing data; defining and carrying out analysis of the issue; developing specific action recommendations; and defending their findings publicly. The Master’s Project is an opportunity for students to focus on a policy problem of their own preference in greater depth than is available in a classroom setting. The Master’s Project will include identification of a public policy problem, preferably in the Kazakhstan or Central Asia context, its analysis from a theoretical or empirical prospective, and in case of practical exercise, formulation of a policy proposal and a feasible program of implementation.
ILLUSTRATIVE LIST OF ELECTIVE MODULES OFFERED BY NU GSPP:
Economic Policy
• Applied Public Economics and Finance
• Behavioral Insights and Public Policy
• Benefit Cost Analysis
• Environmental Economics and Policy
• International Financial Policy
• Game Theory and Public Policy
International Political Economy
• Comparative Policy Making & Public Policy
• Contemporary Security Challenges in Central Asia and Beyond
• Foreign Policy Analysis
• Globalization and Public Policy
• National Identity and Public Policy
• Political Economy of State Building
Public Governance
• Collaborative Governance
• Communications for Public Leadership
• Development Assistance and Governance
• Ethical Challenges in Governance
• Good Governance and Anti-Corruption
• The Third Sector: Civil Society & Non-profits
Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance
• Global Food and Agricultural Policy Analysis
• Health Systems and Policy
• Natural Resource Management and Policy
• Water Resource Management and Policy
A complete list of courses, including electives, can be found on the Registrar’s website.
Economic Policy
• Applied Public Economics and Finance
• Behavioral Insights and Public Policy
• Benefit Cost Analysis
• Environmental Economics and Policy
• International Financial Policy
• Game Theory and Public Policy
International Political Economy
• Comparative Policy Making & Public Policy
• Contemporary Security Challenges in Central Asia and Beyond
• Foreign Policy Analysis
• Globalization and Public Policy
• National Identity and Public Policy
• Political Economy of State Building
Public Governance
• Collaborative Governance
• Communications for Public Leadership
• Development Assistance and Governance
• Ethical Challenges in Governance
• Good Governance and Anti-Corruption
• The Third Sector: Civil Society & Non-profits
Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance
• Global Food and Agricultural Policy Analysis
• Health Systems and Policy
• Natural Resource Management and Policy
• Water Resource Management and Policy
A complete list of courses, including electives, can be found on the Registrar’s website.
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