Master of Public Management

Enhance your performance as a manager with advanced knowledge of the theory and strategies behind best-practice public management.

Effective leadership, positive change

Enhance your performance as a manager with advanced knowledge of the theory and strategies behind best practice in public management. With a Master of Public Management you’ll become a more effective public manager and build your ability to influence the strategic and operational direction of public-sector organisations. Learn about governance and public-sector reform, and how to manage budgets, finances, and organisational capital.

Gain the knowledge and skills to design and implement innovative and effective programmes and services, including planning, service delivery, and monitoring and evaluation.

Our engagement with government agencies will offer you a window into the management processes that influence the strategic and operational direction of public-sector organisations.

Experience our Master of Public Management

Join Dr Flavia de Mattos Donadelli, who is an academic that teaches on the Master of Public Management, for a short lecture on good performance management in the public sector.

Download the latest prospectus

Find out more about your study options. Fill in a form to download our professional and postgraduate programme prospectus.

Get the prospectus

Diploma and Certificate programmes

Depending on your goals you can opt for a shorter postgraduate public management qualification by doing the Postgraduate Certificate in Public Management or Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management. Courses completed as part of the Certificate and Diploma can count towards the full MPM programme if you decide to continue your studies.

Well-connected

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is the only New Zealand university that is connected to the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)—so you know your qualification is of the highest standard.

Your lecturers are actively involved in public and non-profit service, exchanging ideas on key policy and management issues. They're connected to decision makers from local, regional, and national government, giving you the opportunity to meet and learn from those in the know.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Direct graduate entry

Each year, a small number of students are admitted to the Master of Public Management or Master of Public Policy directly from their undergraduate studies. Individuals must have a Bachelor's degree from a New Zealand university with a GPA average of A- or higher. Applicants must also demonstrate their interest and commitment to public service in an expression of interest (EOI). There is a scholarship available for selected applicants. Interested students may apply directly through the regular online enrolments process. Any questions should be sent to [email protected].

International students, global insights

Be part of a school that attracts not only local professionals but a talented group of international students, many of whom are highly experienced employees of government organisations in their own countries. Take advantage of the diverse experience in public policy and public management these students bring to the classroom—providing valuable insights and bringing the comparative perspective alive.

Community

Postgraduate study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will help you build valuable relationships and networks with peers, university staff, and future colleagues.

There will be opportunities to attend events, workshops, social functions, and seminars such as the Student Learning Postgraduate Research skills sessions. You'll also have access to the postgraduate student workspace on the 2nd floor of Rutherford House. Here, you can make use of a spacious computer lab, meeting rooms, a printer, and a small kitchen. The Postgraduate Students' Association provides information on study at the University and a voice for you on campus.

Careers

If you're already working in the government and non-government sectors or a seeking a career shift, a Public Management qualification is a good choice.

You could find management work in central, local, or regional government, in business, in not-for-profits, in consultancies, or for iwi. You might work as a researcher, advocate, campaign coordinator, lobbyist, strategist, or planner.

At the heart of the public sector

Live and study in New Zealand's creative, compact, and vibrant capital. You'll be learning in the heart of Wellington's CBD, where you can take advantage of the University's links with industry and government.

Scholarships

You can look for scholarships based on your level of study, subject area, and background.

Employer support

The capability boost you get from doing Master of Public Management means your employer may be willing to pay some or all of your costs.

Find out about your options for postgraduate Public Management qualifications and discover what and how you’ll study.

Qualification family structure

The MPM is part of a tiered family of qualifications:

• Master of Public Management
• Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management
• Postgraduate Certificate in Public Management

Choose the qualification that suits your career goals, time commitments, and financial situation.

If you are initially accepted for a Certificate or Diploma, you can apply to transfer to the Master’s degree at a later stage.

If you’re working towards a Master of Public Management but can’t complete it for some reason, you may have enough points to be awarded the Certificate or Diploma.

What you'll study

The MPM will give you the skills and capability to understand the theory and practice of public management and boost your performance as a manager.

Your studies will include:

1. Six core courses: you’ll study governance, public sector reform, and strategic and financial management. You’ll also learn about planning and service delivery, human resources, and monitoring and evaluation.
2. Five electives: choose from a variety of courses according to your interests and career goals. Possible subjects include public sector law, economics, policy analysis, politics, or philosophy.
3. A capstone course.

The Diploma programme requires you do four core courses from the MPM and four further approved courses of your choice. Certificate students do four core courses from the MPM.

Recommended study plan for full-time students starting in Trimester 1, 2026

The following study plan allows you to avoid timetable clashes.

Trimester 1, 2026

• GOVT 511—Managing for Results
• GOVT 512—Managing Public Resources
• elective.

Trimester 2, 2026

• GOVT 502—Public Managers and the Policy Process
• GOVT 505—An Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Public Policy
• GOVT 513—Managing People in the Public Sector
• GOVT 514—Leading Change in Public Organisations.

Trimester 3, 2026

• elective
• elective.

Trimester 1, 2027

• GOVT 565—MPM Capstone: The Future-Facing Public Manager
• elective
• elective.