Master of Public Policy: Public Finance Specialisation

Upon completion of the study, you should be able to:

1. Understand the policies, institutions, processes and regulatory structures for key elements of public finance. 
2. Reflect critically on the interrelationship between public finance and the design, selection and application of public policy and policy instruments. 
3. Engage critically with theoretical and practical literature on public finance to understand and analyse the gaps between theory and practice. 
4. Engage effectively with reform debates about public finance such as taxes and expenditure, budget management in times of austerity, and the use of fiscal policy in the economy. 

The Public Finance and Policy specialisation engages students in the questions of financing, prioritising and managing government activities, including the interaction of fiscal (tax and spending) policies with the market economy in an era of fiscal austerity and growing inequality.

Students can range across three interrelated areas of public finance to develop knowledge and skills. The first examines policies, institutions, processes and regulatory structures for raising public revenue and for managing public expenditures, such as principles of equity, redistribution and compliance in tax policy, and fiscal rule frameworks and evidence-informed decision-making and accountabilities in expenditure budgeting. The second explores interactions between fiscal policy and public policies, such as in the context of social protection policies and their impacts on public spending and social and economic inequality. The third surveys theories and practices of policy design and instrument selection in budgetary and policy decision-making processes. Students can develop knowledge of the relationship between fiscal policy and the design and evaluation of public policies, as well as analytical tools to understand and assess the politics of taxation and expenditures. 

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, subjects in this degree can include:

• Public Finance
• Managing Government Finances
• Empirical Public Finance
• Cost-Benefit Analysis: Principles and Practice

Plus there's a selection of electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you. 

Award requirements

The Master of Public Policy Specialisation: Public Finance requires that 24 of the 96 units for the Master of Public Policy must be from the list of courses in the specified area.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $75,880

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.

Australian National University is a world-leading university in Australia’s capital city, Canberra. With ties to the Australian Government, they have special standing as a resource for the Australian people. Their approach to education ensures graduates are in demand the world-over for their abilities to address complex contemporary challenges. Offering innovative online subjects from beginning to advanced levels through Open Universities Australia, they meet varied students’ needs and goals.

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At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis.

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 5/7; or

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7; or

· Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7; or

· 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7; or

· Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

· Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General test, completed no more than 5 years before the time of application, with a minimum score of 155 for Verbal Reasoning, 155 for Quantitative Reasoning and 4.0 in Analytical Writing and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or

· A minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program.

Applications must show English language proficiency by meeting ANU's English Language Requirements for admission to study this program.

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree, Bachelor degree with Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units.