Online Masters of Public Administration (MPA)

In short, to log on and complete your assignments you’ll need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection and Microsoft Office. We also recommend a notepad, pen, comfortable chair and refreshments to keep you going! For detailed requirements, please see our Technical and Support page.

As a student of the University of Birmingham, our campus facilities are open to you. We will give you a student ID, so you can use facilities if you are nearby. If you’re unable to visit campus, do not worry – all the programme materials you need are available online.

Looking for a 100% online programme? We offer subjects across Business, Biology, Education, Government and Law. There are also a range of distance-learning and blended programmes available in various formats. Browse our distance learning directory to learn more.

We have multiple intakes per year. Contact us to learn more about our upcoming start date.

Programme information is available on our main website. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact our Admissions Team on +44 (0)800 032 7101 or by email at onlineadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk. They’ll be happy to help you with any information you need.

Our online degrees are designed with today’s mobile students in mind. Still, some programme material can be downloaded for reading offline. In the interests of the environment and copyrighting issues, we don’t endorse the printing of documents.

Programme durations vary depending on which subject you choose to study, and whether you take any breaks during your course.

There are no exam requirements for most online courses, however the Online MSc Bioinformatics does have a 1.5 hour asynchronous exam. All online degrees are assessed via a combination of coursework, group projects, class participation, presentations and other assignments.

The University of Birmingham use Harvard referencing for social science programmes, and OSCOLA referencing for law. For more style guidance, see our university pages.

Online degrees are delivered in a similar way to traditional campus-based degrees. Commonly, you’ll be given a programme structure at the start of the term detailing the year ahead. This breaks the programme down into modules, giving you a clear indication of what’s coming up, so you’re always prepared.

The specific details will depend on your particular programme, but each module is worth a specific number of credits, equating to a total number of credit hours. This generally averages out to approximately 12–15 hours of study per week.

All content is delivered through the University’s own online learning environment (Canvas).

Though the schedule varies by programme, most online classes, or synchronised tutorials, normally take place once every two weeks. These are often run multiple times during the day, so you can join at a time that suits you. You’ll receive a timetable of your synchronous session after you enroll.

Our programmes are scheduled so that all students can attend live lectures, wherever they’re studying from. Though not all programmes offer live lectures, for those which offer them, attending the synchronous sessions is either mandatory or highly recommended. If you are unable to attend a session, contact our Student Services team.

Cohort sizes vary between programmes and each student intake. The cohorts generally come from different locations and backgrounds, offering you an opportunity to network with and learn from people from around the world.

Since our programmes are designed to enable you to learn and network on your own terms, we don’t provide private tutoring. From student feedback we’ve found that our discussion forums, live lectures and assignments provide more than enough learning and development opportunities.

Through our online learning environment, Canvas, you can contact your peers and tutors, use discussion forums, connect to live lectures and take part in group work. It’s a highly interactive environment, designed to make you feel part of a community.

Some students also choose to use Skype, WhatsApp or Google Hangout whilst studying, in addition to Canvas.

We do offer the option to switch; however, it depends on a number of factors, including the similarity of the programmes and the stage you’re at in the current programme setting. If you’d like to discuss switching from a campus-based programme to online, please contact our Admissions Team.

As well as learning from leading lecturers and industry speakers, you’ll have access to community boards, instant messaging services, live discussions and one-to-one support from a Student Services Coordinator. We also offer 24/7 technical support should you encounter any difficulties accessing the online platform.

Our online learning environment includes videos and interactive activities for you to learn from. You can also access the university’s online library, which includes e-textbooks, journal articles and specialist industry reports.

Find out more about our online learning environment.

We offer the same opportunities to our online students as our campus-based students. As well as making our careers information and support available online, we offer career appointments to suit your schedule.

Our programmes are designed so you can study and work at the same time. In fact, around 96% of our online students both work and study. Students find it beneficial to be able to put what they’ve learned into practice in the workplace straight away.

We recommend 12–15 hours of study per week. The time required will depend on your particular way of studying and the amount of free time you have.

We are able to accept students from nearly every location worldwide, and our current students come from over 50% of the world’s countries. One of the main benefits of online study is that you can learn from anywhere. All you need is a computer and an internet connection.

While there are no mandatory face-to-face sessions on campus, there are opportunities to visit campus if you wish, such as to take part in workshops and industry events. But you can choose to visit campus whenever you like.

Just like any other student, you’ll be invited to take part in a graduation ceremony on campus. Do not worry if you’re unable to attend – we will post your degree certificate instead.

Your degree certificate will state the degree that you studied and the qualification level you achieved. It will not mention that it was taken online.

A good level of understanding of the English language is required for all our programmes. If English is not your first language you will need to provide an up-to-date IELTS certificate which meets the programme entry requirements.

Fees vary depending on your programme of study, but are exactly the same for UK and international students. For more specific information about our fees and payment plans, please get in touch with our admissions team.

Though we don’t offer scholarships for our online degrees, other scholarships and funding opportunities may be available. Alumni discounts are available to previous University of Birmingham students. To find out more, please visit our funding pages.

Our programme fees are benchmarked based on the quality of the content and the academic rigour of the teaching, both equal to the campus-based equivalents. We feel this represents great value, especially without the accommodation, travel and other costs associated with campus study.

Studying online allows you to learn around your existing commitments from anywhere in the world. This flexible way of learning means you can choose your study space and overcome some of the geographical and financial concerns of campus-based study.

As a global university, the University of Birmingham draws on research and ideas from around the world. The faculty teams feature multinational lecturers, with experience of working in a number of industries and worldwide locations.

There is no such thing as an ideal student. As long as you meet the programme entry criteria and can commit to regular study time, we’re confident that you will succeed. You will also need plenty of enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and excellent time management. Our previous students come from nearly every continent in the world, from all walks of life.

For many students, online study is the only way to enhance skills and further a career, since they’re unable to attend a university campus due to distance or lifestyle commitments. For others, online study is just a more flexible, more cost-effective way to study.

Studying online with the University of Birmingham gives you access to the same acclaimed lecturers, research and content as our campus-based students, so you’re never missing out as an online student.

We have very high student retention rates, which are, on average, consistently above 90%. This reflects the high engagement and thought-provoking module content delivered through each of our online programmes.

An Online MBA is both an investment and a challenge. The value of an online MBA vs campus MBA is hard to fully quantify. Research by GMAC (2018) suggests that 79% of MBA alumni thought their degree was personally, professionally and financially rewarding. The findings did not find many differences between the modality of studies.

Yes, you can. If you submit your application without meeting the academic entry criteria, you may receive a conditional offer. A conditional offer is a provisional acceptance that you meet the criteria before your start date. You will need to provide evidence of this.

You can apply to study the Online Master of Public Administration irrespective of which industry you work in. Whatever your professional ambition, this programme supports a broad range of organisational functions within the public and private sector.

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in law, and would like to undertake our Online LLM, you can also apply for Bar Professional Training. However, if your first degree is in an allied subject, you would also need to undertake a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), before taking professional courses which allow you to become a qualified lawyer.

Currently there are nine featured short courses available under the Master of Public Administration programme, which you can study online over an 8-week period. At the end of your course, you will receive an official University of Birmingham Postgraduate Micro-credential certificate worth 10 credits, and a transcript highlighting your new credentials to both current and prospective employers.

On completion of the Online PGCert Design for Learning Environments, you will be awarded a 60-credit Postgraduate Certificate. A PGCert is a postgraduate qualification at the same level as a master’s degree. It is the shortest commonly available postgraduate qualification and is therefore sometimes referred to as a ‘mini Masters’. As with all postgraduate qualifications, it will look great on your CV, shows your commitment to continued learning and can open up pathways to further career progression.

Currently there are five featured short courses available under the PGCert Design for Learning Environments programme, which you can study online over an 8-week period. At the end of your course, you will receive an official University of Birmingham Postgraduate Micro-credential certificate worth 10 credits, and a transcript highlighting your new credentials to both current and prospective employers.

No – you don’t necessarily need to have previous work experience specifically in the field of education. We accept applications from a wide range of professional fields including design and computing, as well as education. Work experience is also not a requirement if you possess an upper-second class degree or equivalent. Overall, this is an excellent qualification for people working in any industry or for recent graduates who are interested in entering into the field of instructional design.

Digital learning is stronger than ever, and the need for high-quality digital learning talent remains firmly in place. New organisations and qualification opportunities are popping up to encourage people into the sector, and completing a programme of study such as the Online PGCert Design for Learning Environments will enable you to fill roles such as Instructional Designer, Learning Architect, Learning Technologist, VLE Administrator, Digital Learning Officer and many more.

Since you will be joining a live course, the student experience is much like any other online programme. You will be working collaboratively with other students from your course and the wider programme.

We recommend 12-15 hours of study per week for a full eight-week course.

To study online, you need to meet a set of minimum technical requirements.

As a student enrolled onto a short course, you will have the same level of access to materials as a student studying the full PGCert programme.

You will have access to our dedicated online student services team, who are available to help you with any queries you may have.

Yes. You will be sent your transcript confirming your new qualification and a University of Birmingham postgraduate micro-credential certificate worth 10 credits.

If you complete a short course online, you will not be eligible for all alumni benefits at this time. For example, you will not be able to apply for the alumni discount unless you have previously studied a full degree qualification.

This depends on your current commitments and availability. If you plan on applying to multiple courses, depending on the amount of masters credits you generate, it may be beneficial for you to apply to the full masters programme.

Upon the successful completion of a short course you will be able to use your academic credits to apply for advanced entry to the University of Birmingham’s Online Masters of Public Administration (MPA) qualification. Any credits you have generated will be attributed to the full masters programme. The application process is slightly different for a full masters programme, so please speak to your recruitment coordinator, or a member of the student services team to discuss your interest.

If you complete a short course online, you will not be eligible for all alumni benefits at this time. For example, you will not be able to apply for the alumni discount unless you have previously studied a full degree qualification.

Yes. You will be sent your transcript confirming your new qualification and a University of Birmingham postgraduate micro-credential certificate worth 10 masters credits.

You will have access to our dedicated online student services team, who are available to help you with any queries you may have.

As a student enrolled onto a short course, you will have the same level of access to materials as a student studying the full masters programme.

To study online, you need to meet a set of minimum technical requirements.

We recommend 12-15 hours of study per week for a full eight-week course.

Since you will be joining a live course, the student experience is much like any other online masters programme. You will be working collaboratively with other students from your course and wider programme.

The programme provides a foundation in biology and computer science, so it is suitable for biologists or clinicians, as well as professionals from a computer science background. To apply you need a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in life sciences, biomedical sciences, mathematics, computer science or another relevant quantitative subject, or relevant work experience if you achieved less than a 2:1.

Work experience in life sciences, biomedical sciences, mathematics, computer science or another relevant quantitative subject is preferred. Though, if you have at least a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in one of those subjects, no work experience is necessary.

Studying an Online MSc Bioinformatics opens up a number of exciting new career opportunities. With the global bioinformatics market expected to rise by 13.4% (compound annual growth rate) between 2020 and 2027,⁴ the demand for expertise in this field is growing rapidly.

Delivered by experts from the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Computational Biology, you will be exposed to the latest research and case study content. The University of Birmingham is also a leading provider of both subjects, ranking 12th in biology and 16th in computer science in the UK.⁵

The programme includes all online resources, including access to the online learning platform, course materials and required digital reading materials, such as online journals. You will also have full access to the library and support from the Academic Skills Centre.

While there are currently no exam requirements for most of our online programmes, there may be some exams on the Online MSc Bioinformatics. These will all be completed online and you will not be required to attend campus. All online degrees are assessed via a combination of coursework, group projects, class participation, presentations and other assignments.

We do offer a Student Disability Service to our online students. Our mission is to provide support and guidance for disabled students, promoting a collaborative, inclusive learning experience. The aim of the service is to enable disabled students to access appropriate support so that they can take full advantage of the university experience. Support offered includes:

• liaising with academic departments;
• arranging examination accommodations and other reasonable adjustments;
• loan of specialist resources.

You can complete the programme in just 2.5 years. To see the curriculum, view our curriculum page.

The distance learning MSc in Mental Health is designed for working professionals with busy lives, so if something interrupts your normal course of study, you don’t have to worry about losing the courses you’ve completed. You can take up to 4.5 years to complete the degree, if needed. To see the curriculum, view our curriculum page.

The online MSc in Mental Health programme is designed for professionals who work full-time and is only offered part-time with a weekly study requirement of 12.5 hours per week. This allows you to achieve a realistic balance between work, school and personal responsibilities and gives you the opportunity to fully absorb the information in your coursework. To see the curriculum, view our curriculum page.

Our distance learning MSc in Mental Health programme is designed for professionals who work full-time and is offered part-time with a weekly study requirement of 12.5 hours per week. This allows you to achieve a realistic balance between work, school and personal responsibilities and gives you the opportunity to fully absorb the information in your coursework. To see the curriculum, view our curriculum page.

Tuition is £1,355 per module. You’ll need to complete 13 modules for a total tuition of £17,615. You can review all tuition costs on our tuition page.

Currently, no scholarships are offered for this programme, but you may review other funding options.

Tuition for the MSc in Mental Health distance learning program is £17,615. You need to complete 180 credits comprised of 13 modules that are £1,355 each. You can review all tuition costs on our tuition page.

There are no hidden fees. The programme fee includes any online resources, including full access to the online learning platform, course materials and required digital reading materials. The fee does not include any personal expenses for new technical equipment or office supplies. Tuition fees are reviewed annually and are subject to a small increase. You can review all tuition costs on our tuition page.

No, there are no entrance exams required. Learn more about our admissions policy.

The first step is to start your application.

While it is considered, prior work experience is not required. Learn more about our admissions policy.

No, the distance learning programme in mental health does not accept transfer credits. Learn more about our admissions policy.

The online MSc in Mental Health has start dates in July and October. Applications close approximately one month before the start of the programme.

The requirements for the online MSc in Mental Health include:

• Certificate/transcripts
• Completed application
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé
• Reference
• Statement of purpose
• Work experience

Learn more about our admissions policy.

The online MSc in Mental Health has start dates in July and October. Applications close approximately one month before the start of the programme.

The online MSc in Mental Health does not currently offer a virtual open house.

You’ll complete 180 to earn the MSc in Mental Health online. You can review our curriculum page now. There are no residency or clinical hours to fulfil.

You’ll complete 12 courses (120 credits) and a 60-credit dissertation to earn the MSc in Mental Health degree. You can learn more about coursework for the MSc in Mental Health on our courses page.

Yes, the online MSc in Mental follows a cohort model. This allows you to build deeper relationships with peers and faculty, expanding your network, support system, and career opportunities.

The online MSc in Mental Health is only available online. This allows you to study in the times and locations that are best for you throughout your entire program without a requirement of ever coming to campus.

No, there is no residency required to earn your MSc in Mental Health online.

This is not a clinical programme, and as such, there are no clinical hours required to complete the MSc in Mental Health online.

The online MSc in Mental Health is taught by full-time faculty members with rich experience in their areas of expertise and who are dedicated to your success.

Those who hold an MSc in Mental Health often pursue career titles such as mental health and wellbeing manager, health worker and wellbeing practitioner. Learn more about your career options by visiting our careers page.

The online MSc in Mental Health is not a clinical programme and cannot lead to licensure to become a psychologist. However, its coursework does prepare you to enter into a clinical programme if you wish.

The Online PGCert Higher Education Policy Into Practice is a 60-credit programme which takes one year to complete.

You can complete the PGCert part-time so that it can fit into your schedule.

This PGCert costs £780 per module. Visit the programme tuition page to learn more.

The total estimated tuition for this online PGCert is £4,680. Visit the programme tuition page to learn more.

The programme fee includes any online resources, such as full access to the online learning platform, course materials, and required digital reading materials. The fee does not include any personal expenses for new technical equipment or office supplies. Visit the programme tuition page to learn more.

You do not need work experience to apply to this programme. However, two years of relevant work experience can boost your application if you do not meet the standard academic entry criteria. We also accept applications with no degree but 5+ years of work experience in fields related to higher education. Visit the admissions page to learn more.

Test scores are not needed for admission to this programme. Visit the admissions page to learn more.

The first step is to visit the admissions page and complete an application form online. You’ll add your CV, optional statement of purpose, and any other supporting documents. Visit the admissions page to learn more.

We will accept transfer credits from students who study one or more of the following University of Birmingham short courses and wish to transfer into the full PGCert:

• Design and design thinking
• Applied data science for learning environments
• Sociotechnical learning environments

Visit the admissions page to learn more.

You’ll need the following documents for your application: Completed online application

• Curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé
• Statement of purpose
• One reference

Visit the admissions page to learn more.

The PGCert programme has intakes in spring, summer, and autumn. Applications close approximately one month before your intended start date. Visit the admissions page to learn more.

The online PGCert Higher Education Policy Into Practice is a 60-credit programme. Visit the curriculum page to learn more.

This programme consists of six 10-credit modules, each module lasting 8 weeks in total. Visit the curriculum page to learn more.

Unable to commit to the full year programme? We also offer short, 8-week micro-credentials that can be completed online or in-person. Learn more about our micro-credentials.

Face-to-face sessions are not required for this fully online programme. Visit the curriculum page to learn more.

Yes, you will take classes with those who started the programme at the same time. Visit the curriculum page to learn more.

The PGCert Higher Education Policy into Practice is available 100% online. Visit the curriculum page to learn more.

This PGCert differentiates your experience by developing international perspectives on higher education. Ultimately, you can enhance your ability to lead in several institutions and organisations. Visit the careers page for more information.

Our online PGCert Higher Education Policy into Practice bridges the gap between professional and academic roles. You could aim for senior academic or professional roles—such as director, department head, academic dean, or vice chancellor—or one of many roles in government or for commercial partners. Visit the careers page for more information.

Test scores are not needed for admission to this programme. Visit the admissions page to learn more.

Tuition is £1,875 per module. You may pay the full tuition of £26,250 or on a module-by-module basis. You can review all costs on the tuition page.

The total tuition is £26,250. You may pay in full or in instalments of £1,875 per module. You can review all costs on the tuition page.

You can choose to pay the tuition fee for your programme in full. However, please note that you will still receive modular invoices. You can disregard these.