Master of Public and Social Policy
PostgraduateMAQ-PSP-MAS2025
A unique course in Australia
Take a dual focus towards policy and social research. Learn how policy is shaped, before gaining skills to design and deliver your own. Use research to address sustainable communities, welfare, immigration, population health and more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 20 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Public and Social Policy
About this degree
On successful completion, a student will be able to:
- Develop advanced and integrated knowledge of the key processes through which public and social policy is developed.
- Develop advanced and integrated knowledge of one or more policy domains.
- Apply policy process and domain knowledge to policy design and be able to apply this knowledge to develop policy solutions to social problems.
- Apply established theories relating to public and social policy to compare and evaluate different policy designs.
- Utilise and interpret complex research and administrative data to develop and evaluate public and social policy independently.
- Undertake quantitative and qualitative social research, design social research tools and apply the knowledge gained from undertaking social research to policy design and evaluation.
- Apply knowledge and skills to make ethically and socially informed judgement in the fields of public and social policy and applied social research.
- Critically analyse, reflect upon and synthesise interdisciplinary public and social policy information, concepts and theories.
- Interpret and communicate policy information and social research to diverse audiences.
With its dual focus on policy analysis and applied social research, the Master of Public and Social policy (OUA) is a unique and innovative course in Australia. Through your studies, you will develop a deep knowledge of how policy is shaped, as well as the skills to help you analyse, design and deliver effective policy solutions to serve the public interest. You will also acquire the knowledge and skills to engage with and undertake research addressing global challenges facing contemporary societies, including sustainable communities, welfare reform, immigration, population health, drugs and alcohol.
Recommended study pattern
Structure - 80 credit points
Students have to complete the eight core subjects:
Core Zone - 80 credit points
- GEOX8010 Social Impact Assessment
- POIX8000 Policy Design: Concepts and Case Studies
- POIX8090 Advanced Introduction to Policy
- SOCX8015 Doing Social Survey Research
- SOCX8020 Evaluating Social Policy
- SOCX8035 Qualitative Methods for Policy
- SOCX8075 Policy Ideas in Focus: Framing Policy Problems
- SOCX8080 Making Public Policy in a Globalised World
Award requirements
Students must complete 8 subjects to qualify for the Master of Public and Social Policy
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Please note:
Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students.
Visit Studying a degree through OUA for further information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $24,200
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 10
Entry requirements
- AQF level 8 bachelor honours or graduate diploma qualification in a related field or recognised equivalent, or
- Meet two of the following three criteria:
- AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification in a related field or recognised equivalent
- Minimum two years relevant approved work experience at senior management level, professional certification or other recognised prior learning
- AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification or recognised equivalent with a WAM of 65
Related fields for prior qualifications
- Social Sciences
- Applied Mathematics
- Statistics
- Environmental Science and Management
- Public Health and Health Services
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Economics
- Commerce
- Management
- Tourism and Services
- Studies in Human Society
- Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- Law and Legal Studies
- Journalism and Professional Writing
- Communication and Media Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Historical Studies
- Applied Ethics
- History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
- Political Science and Policy Studies
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Development Studies
- Geography
- Anthropology
- Society and Culture
- Business
The required standard of English for this program is:
Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each band, or equivalent.
All applicants to coursework programs at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
For more information on accepted equivalents, please see English Language Requirements.
The Core zone is compulsory.
Career opportunities
The Master of Public and Social Policy equips students with skills and knowledge sought after in government and non-government agencies, and private research organisations, including consultancies. Students learn applied research skills and policy knowledge, and have opportunities to practice a wide range of the analytical, research and writing skills they will use in a work setting. Graduates may enter research, policy, advocacy and social service related roles, within a broad range of settings, including community-based organisations, trade unions, local government, marketing and social research organisations, private consultancies or government policy agencies.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Legislators | N/A^ | N/A^ |
| Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
Explore humanities & social science courses
Discover related degrees to compare your options and find the best fit for your goals.
Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience
PostgraduateUON-DRR-MAS
Graduate Certificate in Global Development
PostgraduateGRF-GLD-GCE
PostgraduateGRF-ENP-MAS
Graduate Certificate in Supervision
PostgraduateACU-SUP-GCE
PostgraduateACU-SPI-MAS
Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction
PostgraduateACU-SPD-GDI
PostgraduateOUA-PSU-GCE
Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability
PostgraduateUON-EMS-MAS
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.