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Intl Relations/Public Policy - 8221

Program Summary

   
   
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Typical Duration: 1 Years
 
 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
 
 
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC For Award: 48
 
 
Award(s):
 
 
Master of Arts (Specialisation)
 
  

Program Description

The Combined Master of Arts in International Relations (MA (IR))/Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree program offers postgraduate students the opportunity to study a combination of two separate programs which will substantially extend and deepen their existing skills, knowledge and understanding of global politics and public policy. In combining the strengths of the UNSW MA (IR) program and the Peking University (PKU) MPP program it will foster critical enquiry, teach advanced skills in analytical thinking and research, and provide skills that will enhance participation in the workforce.

The program enables students to combine two existing degrees in one combined program. Students receive two awards; one from each institution. Students need to complete 48 units in the UNSW MA (IR) and 30 credits plus a Masters thesis in the PKU MPP to satisfy requirements for the combined degree program and award of two degrees. They must enrol in at least one course per semester.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

The MA (IR)/MPP program is designed to provide an advanced understanding of global politics and public policy. It combines the strengths of the UNSW MA (IR) program and the PKU MPP program. Both programs are designed to foster critical enquiry and to provide skills that will enhance participation in the workforce.

The MA (IR) at UNSW is designed to provide an understanding of contemporary world politics. The program emphasises the relationship between theory and practice and examines how particular theories organise and shape our view of the world. It aims to explain various influences on the behaviour of states and other international actors, and it analyses issues such as war and peace, the global economy, international organisations, and international law and diplomacy. Practically it looks at current issues of international concern such as global environmental problems, human rights, and global poverty. A number of electives examine international relations broadly, while others concentrate on specific issues, regions or countries.

The MPP at PKU is open to recent university graduates as well as experienced professionals and government officials from different countries, and is designed to train students in the field of public affairs, public administration, and public policy. The program aims to provide them with an opportunity to develop functional expertise, strategic perspectives, and public policy management tools to operate effectively in a changing public policy environment or to understand such an environment. It also helps them to learn both the successes and failures in China’s public policy making and management, and therefore to understand more about how to manage political, economic and social development in developing countries.

Program Structure


UNSW MA (IR) Degree
A candidate for the MA (IR) is expected to complete 4 Core Courses and 4 Elective Courses. Each course is worth 6 units of credit. The total requirement of the degree is 48 units of credit.

The core courses in the MA (IR) degree are:

The elective courses are:

To complete the degree program a student must undertake 48 UOC.

All courses are worth 6 UOC except POLS5113 which is worth 12 UOC.

Part-time students (applicable to Australian citizens or residents only) must complete the core courses before embarking on elective courses.

PKU MPP Degree
A candidate for the MPP degree is expected to complete 7 Core Courses, 3 Elective Courses, and a Master’s thesis. Each course is worth 3 credits (unless indicated otherwise). The total requirement of the coursework component of the degree is 30 credits.

The core courses offered in the MPP degree are (total 21 credits):

  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Economics for Public Policy
  • Chinese Politics and Public Policy
  • China’s Economic Reform and Development
  • Research Design and Practice I & II
  • Introduction to China (2 credits)
  • Chinese Language (4 credits)
Some of the elective courses in the MPP degree are (a total of 9 credits are needed; at least three of the following courses or similar ones will be offered every year):
  • Political Philosophy and Public Affairs
  • International and Comparative Political Economy
  • Ethnic Politics
  • Chinese Legal System
  • Social Policy Transformation in China
  • Public Finance and Tax Policy in China
  • Regional Development Strategy in China
  • Urban Economics and Real Estate
  • Chinese foreign policy
To complete the degree program a student must complete 30 units of credit and a Masters thesis.

The courses offered in the MPP degree are subject to the academic adjustments of the year. Under the approval by the School of Government, Peking University (SG-PKU), a PKU student who joins the combined degree program through the Chinese language-based master programs in SG will select Chinese courses similar to the courses listed above, and a UNSW student is also allowed to choose such courses.
The combined degree will be constituted through the combination of the following postgraduate programs:
  • Master of Arts (IR) from the University of New South Wales
  • Master in Public Policy (MPP) from Peking University

The proposed program structure is as follows:


Option 1: Combined Degree Program for UNSW-entry students
Option 2: Combined Degree Program for PKU-entry students
Semester (Institution)
Credits
Semester (Institution)
Credits
Semester 1 (SSIS-UNSW)
Semester 1 (SG-PKU)
6
Chinese Politics and Public Policy
3
 
6
Public Policy Analysis
3
Elective 1
6
Economics for Public Policy
3
Elective 2
6
Introduction to China
2
Semester 2 (SSIS-UNSW)
Chinese Language
4
 
6
Research Design and Practice I
OR
similar Chinese courses
1.5
 
6
Semester 2 (SG-PKU)
Elective 3
6
China's Economic Reform and Development
3
Elective 4
6
Elective Course 1
3
Semester 3 (SG-PKU)
Elective Course 2
3
Chinese Politics and Public Policy
3
Elective Course 3
3
Public Policy Analysis
3
Research Design and Practice II
OR
similar Chinese courses
1.5
Economics for Public Policy
3
Semester 3 (SSIS-UNSW)
Introduction to China
2
6
Chinese Language
4
6
Research Design and Practice I
OR
similar Chinese courses
1.5
Elective 1
6
Semester 4 (SG-PKU)
Elective 2
6
China's Economic Reform and Development
3
Semester 4 (SSIS-UNSW)
Elective Course 1
3
6
Elective Course 2
3
 
6
Elective Course 3
3
Elective 3
6
Research Design and Practice II
OR
similar Chinese courses
1.5
Elective 4
6
Summer (SG-PKU)
Semester 5-6 (SG-PKU)
PKU thesis writing
PKU thesis writing
 
Semester 5-6 (SG-PKU)
Total
78
 PKU thesis writing
Total
78
 

Academic Rules

  1. The MA degree component of the Combined Masters in Arts/Masters in Public Policy by formal coursework may be awarded by the Council to a candidate who has satisfactorily completed a program of advanced study.

  2. Candidates may proceed to the MA (IR) degree through part-time or full-time study (applicable to Australian citizens or residents only)

Admission Requirements


Students can be considered for admission to the overall program at time of original application to one University, but would need to lodge a separate application for the second University to ensure that all legal/legislative requirements are met (e.g. Visa/ESOS Act for Australia).

Admission into the MPP program is limited to non-Chinese citizens or permanent residents of Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan.

Students have to meet the admission requirements for both programs at the time of original application to one University.

Qualifications

  • A candidate for the degree shall have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution at a level acceptable to the Postgraduate Coursework Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Committee).
  • In exceptional cases an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be permitted to enrol for the degree.
  • If the Committee is not satisfied with the qualifications submitted by an applicant the Committee may require the applicant to undergo such assessment or carry out such work as the Committee may prescribe, before permitting enrolment.

Enrolment and Progression

  1. An application to enrol in the program shall be made online in the prescribed manner which shall be lodged with the Registrar at least two calendar months before the commencement of the semester in which enrolment is to begin.

  2. To qualify for the award of the degrees, a candidate must, over a period of study of not less than six semesters (full-time) undertake and pass courses making up a total of 48 units in the UNSW MA (IR) and 30 credits plus a Masters thesis in the PKU MPP, each leading to a separate award.

  3. The progress of a candidate shall be reviewed at least once annually by the Committee and as a result of its review the Committee may cancel enrolment or take such other action as it considers appropriate.

  4. No candidate shall be awarded in the combined degree until the lapse of six academic semesters from the date of enrolment. The maximum period of candidature shall be eight academic semesters from the date of enrolment. In special cases a variation to these times may be granted by the program convenor.

Articulation


A student who does not meet the graduation requirements of the combined degree program may graduate with an MA (IR) degree at UNSW or an MPP degree at PKU if the graduation requirements of the respective degree are met.

Fees for the MA (IR) program


All students accepted in the UNSW – PKU combined degree program will pay fees at the institution where they are enrolled.

For the MA (IR) program – A candidate shall pay such fees as may be determined from time to time by the Council.

For the MPP program - the total tuition fee is currently 80,000 RMB (AUD14,425).

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

Area(s) of Specialisation

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.