UNISA Masters in Public Administration 2025

UNISA Masters in Public Administration 2025: Master’s in Public Administration

The University of South Africa (Unisa) offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA) designed for advanced public service leadership. The program covers public policy analysis, public sector management, financial oversight, strategic planning, and research methods. It aims to equip students with the skills necessary for effective management and implementation of public policies. The MPA at Unisa is often flexible, catering to working professionals through part-time or online study options, making it suitable for those seeking to advance their careers in government and nonprofit sectors.

All master’s and doctoral programs are organized to be completed within a specific timeframe. A student enrolled in a 180-credit structured coursework master’s program must finish the degree within three years. If additional time is needed, the student may request an extra year from their supervisor. The supervisor will then discuss the request with the Executive Dean of the relevant College.

READ: Unisa NQF Levels

Masters in Public Administration At UNISA Curriculum 2025

Group A. Compulsory Modules:

• DLPUB91 – Mini-Dissertation: Public Administration
Pre-requisite: MPEMS91
• MPEMS91 – Masters Research Proposal: Economic and Management Sciences
• PUB5970 – Policy Studies V
• PUB5971 – Public Human Resource Management V
• PUB5972 – Public Leadership
• PUB5973 – Public Financial Management

UNISA Masters in Public Administration Admission Requirements 2025

Applicants must hold one of the following qualifications:

• An appropriate Bachelor’s Honours degree,
• An appropriate Postgraduate Diploma, or
• A 480-credit Bachelor’s degree with at least 96 credits at NQF Level 8 in the field of Public Administration, with an average of 60% or higher.

If admitted based on a Postgraduate Diploma or a 480-credit Bachelor’s degree with the required NQF Level 8 credits but without a completed module in Research Methodology, the student may be required to complete such a module at NQF Level 8 before registering for the research proposal.
All students with foreign qualifications, including those from African countries, must have their credentials evaluated by SAQA (www.saqa.org.za).

In addition to meeting these requirements, applicants must provide a transcript or academic record and a document outlining their proposed research. Acceptance will be based on the suitability and feasibility of the proposed research, as well as the availability of adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise within the discipline or department.
The selection process adheres to Unisa’s policies on equality and diversity.

READ: University of UNISA Online Application 2025