Public Administration (MPA)

Key highlights

• Analyse governance, policy-making and administration across areas of government
• Explore public policy design and delivery
• Study how public and non-profit organisations tackle major policy challenges
• Examine the societal effects of policy choices
• Covers local, national and global perspectives on public administration
• Combines theoretical and practice-related perspectives on public administration

Entry requirements

Scholarships

• Biological Sciences Global Impact Scholarship

  Scholarships of £5,000 and £3,000 off tuition fees are available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in biological sciences.

• Chevening Scholarships

• Environmental and Life Sciences Global Impact Scholarship

  £5000 is available to international students studying for a MSc in Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing.

  Up to £5,000

• Geography and Environmental Science Global Impact Scholarship

  Scholarships of £5,000 and £3,000 off tuition fees are available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in geography and environmental science.

• Global Excellence Scholarship

  The £3,000 is available as a tuition fee reduction on the first year of study.?

  Up to £3,000

• Health Sciences Global Impact Scholarship

  Scholarships of £5,000 and £3,000 off tuition fees are available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in health sciences. The scholarship will apply to the first year of study.

• Medical Technology, Innovation and Design Master’s Scholarship

  £3000 is available to international students studying MSc Medical Technology, Innovation and Design.

  Up to £3,000

• Nursing Global Impact Scholarship

  Scholarships of £5,000 and £3,000 off tuition fees are available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in nursing. The scholarship will apply to the first year of study.

• Ocean and Earth Science Global Impact Scholarship

  Scholarships of £5,000 and £3,000 off tuition fees are available to international students.

• Presidential Bursaries

  The scholarship funds the difference between UK and international level tuition fees.

• Southampton Ageing and Gerontology Talent Scholarship

  Two scholarships of £5,000 are available to UK and international students applying to study an eligible postgraduate Ageing and Gerontology programme in 2026.

  Up to £5,000

• Southampton Business School (MBA) Excellence International Scholarship

  Scholarships are available for 3 different amounts: £13,000, £10,000, £7,000.

• Southampton Business School (MBA) Future Leader Scholarship

  Five scholarships of £15,000 are available to UK and international students studying Master of Business Administration (MBA).

  Up to £15,000

• Southampton Business School (MSc) Dean Scholarship (International)

  If you have a 1st or an equivalent qualification in your undergraduate studies you will get £9,000.

• Southampton Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Postgraduate International Scholarship

  £3000 is available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in chemistry.

  Up to £3,000

• Southampton Economic, Social and Political Sciences Postgraduate International Scholarship

  £3000 is available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in economic, social and political sciences.

  Up to £3,000

• Southampton Education Civic Scholarship

• Southampton Education Postgraduate International Scholarship

  £3000 is available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in education.

  Up to £3,000

• Southampton Engineering Deans Postgraduate International Scholarship

  £5000 is available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in engineering.

  Up to £5,000

• Southampton Faculty of Medicine PGT Talent Scholarship

  Three scholarships of £6,000 off tuition fees are available to UK and international students studying an eligible postgraduate masters’ within the Faculty of Medicine in 2026.

  Up to £6,000

• Southampton Law Postgraduate International Scholarship

  £3,000 is available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in law.

  Up to £3,000

• Southampton MA Holocaust Scholarships

  2 Sayers Family scholarships of £2,000 are available to students applying for the MA Holocaust: History, Experience, Heritage in 2026.

• Southampton Mathematics Postgraduate International Scholarship

  £3000 is available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in mathematics.

  Up to £3,000

• Southampton Medicine Postgraduate International Scholarship

  £3,000 is available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in medicine.

  Up to £3,000

• Southampton Photonics Impact Scholarship

  There are up to 3 scholarships available to international students applying to study MSc Optical Engineering. If you are awarded this scholarship, you'll get up to £15,000 off your tuition fees.

  Up to £15,000

• Southampton Psychology Postgraduate International Scholarship

  Scholarships of £5,000 and £3,000 off tuition fees are available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in psychology.

• Southampton Social Statistics and Demography Chris Skinner Postgraduate International Scholarship

  Two scholarships of £5,000 are available to international students studying for an eligible master’s degree in social statistics and demography.

  Up to £5,000

• Southampton Sociology and Criminology Postgraduate International Scholarship

  2 scholarships of £5,000 off tuition fees are available to international students.

  Up to £5,000

• Southampton Teachers' Postgraduate Scholarship

  We'll issue the 10% discount as a tuition fee reduction on both years of part-time study. For 2025 entry, the 10% discount for year 1 will be £462.50.

  Up to 10% of fees

Careers this course leads to

• Policy officer
• Policy analyst
• Public sector manager
• Civil servant
• Local government officer
• Non-profit programme manager

Cost of study

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to University of Southampton, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.