Public policy courses

It depends on the level of the course that you choose, and whether you have a background in public policy, or you’re exploring a new direction.

You can expect to cover topics like:

• How policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated
• Techniques for analysing complex social, economic and environmental issues
• Governance, ethics and decision-making frameworks
• Leadership and strategy in public, private and community sectors
• Practical skills to design and manage policy programs

Entry requirements vary by course, but generally, anyone can enrol in short courses and open-entry single subjects, which run for 10-14 weeks and are designed to upskill you in an area of interest.

Undergraduate public policy qualifications require the completion of Year 12 or prior VET study.

To apply for a postgraduate qualification, you'll need a bachelor degree in any discipline, or at least five years of relevant work experience.

You can always start small and build your way to a higher qualification. Get in touch with our student advisors if you'd like help finding a pathway into this study area, because we can show you options you haven't considered.

Political science and politics courses focus on understanding political systems, theories, and behaviour.

Public policy, on the other hand, is more practical. It’s about creating the policies that address real-world challenges, and it's an ideal study path for you if you'd like to change communities and organisations for the better.

Yes. All public policy courses offered through Open Universities Australia are 100% online and designed with flexibility in mind. You can study part-time by completing just one or two subjects at a time, which lets you fit your learning around work and life commitments.

Learn more about how study planning and scheduling works for online students.

Studying public policy can open the door to a range of careers. You could become a:

• Policy advisor or analyst in a government agency
• Program manager or project officer in the public or not-for-profit sectors
• Researcher or consultant for think tanks and advocacy groups
• Strategist for an international organisation or Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)
• Corporate governance or regulatory affairs specialist in the private sector
• Community development or social policy practitioner

Yes. Public policy professionals are in demand across government, industry and community sectors. The Australian Government recently added 3,400 permanent public service roles, expanding the workforce to over 213,000, which signals growing opportunities in policy-related areas.

The field offers stable career prospects, opportunities to move into leadership, and the chance to make a meaningful difference on key issues. Senior roles can earn upwards of $125,000 a year, meaning you will be well paid for your skillset as well.

Enrolling online is simple. Here’s how it works:

1. Find your course

• Browse the options on this page.
• Use our comparison tool to explore the different choices.
• Need help? Book a free phone consultation with a student advisor for personalised guidance.

2. Start your enrolment

• When you’re ready, click ‘Start studying now’ on the course page.
• Follow the prompts to begin your enrolment.
• You’ll need to provide supporting documents, such as:
  • Proof of identity
  • Your tax file number
  • A Unique Student Identifier (USI)

3. Wait for confirmation

Your chosen university will email you to confirm if your enrolment has been successful.

Note: Some courses have enquiries and applications handled directly by the university. If this applies, it will be clearly stated on the course listing page.

For more details, check our online self-service enrolment guide. And if you need help at any stage, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.