Master of Public Policy: Public Finance Specialisation
Postgraduate | ANU-PFN-MAS | 2023
Course information for 2023 intake
View information for 2024 course intakeMove into public finance leadership
Understand how taxes and expenditure impact decision-making in economies. Build confidence in benchmarks like efficiency, equity and redistribution so that you can debate on taxes and expenditure. Reach your goals as a public leader of finance.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 2 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 16
- Price from
- $67,000
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Public Policy: Public Finance Specialisation
About this degree
Upon completion of the study, you should be able to:
- Demonstrate deep understanding of public policy and its key challenges and issues, in Australia and globally;
- Understand processes and challenges of agenda-setting, formulation, implementation, management and evaluation of public policy;
- Reflect critically on key theoretical debates in the field of public policy including its practical application across cultural, developmental and institutional contexts;
- Demonstrate understanding of methods for policy research and analysis and identify and apply them with appropriate tools to public policy issues;
- Analyse, synthesise and communicate complex, political and institutional policy problems from multiple perspectives.
This specialisation engages students in the question of financing government and the interaction of tax, spending and fiscal policies with the market economy in an era of fiscal austerity, growing inequality and economic disruption.
Students examine the policies, institutions and regulatory structures for raising public finance, and for managing public expenditures. Students will examine principles and conceptual benchmarks of public finance policy including efficiency, equity and redistribution, and administration and compliance and will learn about the politics of taxation and expenditures. They will understand the core features of budget and fiscal institutions in the executive, legislature and role of the judiciary.
Particular emphasis is given to the way in which taxes and expenditures interact with, shape and are themselves affected by market, household and individual decisions in the contemporary national and global economy.
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
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.
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.
Learn more about ANU.
Explore ANU courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 4
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 4
How to apply
Australian National University manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to Australian National University who will contact you to discuss this degree.
Don't worry, we're still here to help you - you'll receive a personalised follow-up from an Open Universities Australia student advisor to make sure you have found the right degree for you.
Entry requirements
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; or
· 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.
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.
Applications must show English language proficiency by meeting ANU's English Language Requirements for admission to study this course.
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.
Career opportunities
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world. We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life. The MPP specialisation prepares finance professionals for leadership roles in public finance.
Career outlook
- Policy Analysts:
- $86K to $111K
- Policy and Planning Managers:
- Over $111K
- Social Professionals:
- $86K to $111K