Programme specification – MPA Dual Degree
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Awarding Body
Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body,
e.g. ESRC; BPS etc
Name of final award
Programme Title
Duration of the course
Based in the Department/Institute:
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Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements (See Subject Benchmark
Statements)
UCAS Code
First written/last amended
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The programme aims to:
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LSE
n/a
MPA
MPA Dual Degree
Route 1 – 21 months, route 2 – 9 months
Programme is managed via the Institute of
Public Affairs in partner with all the Departments
which contribute to the core curriculum
(Government, Economics, Management,
International Development, the European
Institute and Social Policy).
The MPA Dual Degree partner institutions are
SIPA at Columbia University, Sciences Po, the
Hertie School of Governance and the Lee Kuan
Yew School of Public Policy at the National
University of Singapore
N/A
L2UL
November 2012
to provide an academically challenging education, in a research-active environment;
to intellectually enable students from a wide range of countries;
to provide access to the wider context of the social sciences;
to enable students intending to pursue higher degrees to develop the necessary analytical
and theoretical sophistication, and breadth and depth of understanding, within their field of
study, thus enabling all students, whatever their chosen career, to become articulate,
clear-thinking individuals able to critically analyse complex bodies of material;
to provide advanced post-graduate education and research training in the social sciences
of the highest academic standards;
to provide specialist study opportunities to students with a first degree in a cognate area.
Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
Programme outcomes:
This is an interdisciplinary degree, devised to meet the needs of government departments and
public agencies in many countries for highly skilled and professional policy makers. It also meets
the needs of people working with governments but in the private sector, for instance in
consultancy, public-private partnerships, public affairs, media non-governmental organisations
and interest groups.
Knowledge and understanding:
Students completing the MPA degree should possess:
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an advanced, critical understanding of the main theoretical and policy debates within
public and economic policy;
specialist knowledge of at least one sub-field of their chosen area;
the ability to work independently, employing an empirical and analytical knowledge of their
field in the planning and presentation of succinct, precise arguments – written and oral;
the ability to design and independently execute written work on approved subjects within
the field;
a critical understanding of the main methodological and philosophical problems involved
in research in their field;
knowledge of the skills appropriate to research in their fields, and detailed knowledge of
the main findings and theories associated with the particular focus of their degree.
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Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies:
1.1 Design
This programme consists of one academic year spent at LSE and one academic year spent at
one of four partner institutions (see section 6 above). There are two routes: route 1 for students
starting at LSE and route 2 for students starting at a partner school.
Route 1 students follow the first year of the MPA curriculum, taking four course units as follows:
EC440 Macro and Microeconomics for Public Policy (1 unit)
EC455 Quantitative Approaches and Policy Analysis (1 unit)
GV478 Political Science and Public Policy (1 unit)
1 further unit of courses
On meeting the progression requirements, route 1 students transfer to the relevant partner school
and follow the second year curriculum of the partner school.
Route 2 students follow the first year curriculum of the partner school where they commence their
studies. On meeting the progression requirements of their first year school, they transfer to LSE
for their second year and take four course units as follows:
GV4D5 Organisations, Power and Leadership (0.5 units)
MPA Capstone (1 unit)
plus one of the following:
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the MPA Policy Paper (0.5 units) and two units of option courses; or
the MPA Dissertation (1 unit) and 1.5 units of option courses: or
2.5 units of option courses
1.2 Modes of Delivery (LSE year only)
Students are taught through lectures, seminars and classes, depending on subject matter.
Options courses are designed and implemented according to the regulations of the Master’s
Programmes throughout the School to which they are attached as core courses.
Of the MPA core courses:
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Micro and Macro Economics (for Public Policy), Quantitative Approaches and Policy
Analysis and Economic Policy Analysis are covered in a combination of lectures
(during which students are introduced to material) and classes (during which students
apply their knowledge of the material covered). For the latter, both computer rooms
and classrooms are used.
Political Science and Public Policy and Organisations, Power and Leadership are
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taught via lecture and seminar.
1.3 Staff Expertise
Core Course teaching is conducted by members of LSE’s Department of Government and
Department of Economics. Guest lecturers from elsewhere in LSE, as well as public sector
organisations, contribute at various points in the year spent at LSE.
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Learning
2.1 The role of lectures, seminars and classes
Lectures play an important role in teaching, providing as overview of the syllabus and
supplementing/updating the literature on the subject. Most lecture series are associated with
examination courses. Attendance is not compulsory, although students are strongly advised to
attend lectures associated with their courses.
Seminars are a key feature of teaching. Most seminars involve student presentations as a way of
starting discussion and teaching students the art of presenting succinctly a body of complex
material. Seminars are compulsory, attendance and participation is noted.
The primary purpose of classes is to deepen and broaden student understanding of core material
taught in lectures, to enable application of principles as appropriate and to enable students to
learn in an interactive environment. The nature of the subject matter and the level of the module
for which it is provided largely dictate the format of classes. Accordingly, both classrooms and
computer rooms are used.
2.2 Support
Each student is allocated as their personal tutor a member of academic staff from one of the
departments that contributes to the MPA.
All teachers hold regular office hours for student consultations.
Information on study skills, IT training, library resources and language support is given to students
during orientation and is available on the LSE website.
Reading lists, lecture notes, articles and other readings are provided for each of the MPA core
courses, mainly via Moodle.
Material for options courses is provided via the department under whose regulations the course
falls.
Scheduled support classes and drop-in sessions are held throughout the year for students who
need extra support with mathematics and statistics.
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Assessment strategies:
3.1
Formative Assessment and Feedback
Students are encouraged to consult class teachers about specific queries either during regular
office hours or by e-mail. Class teachers and faculty hold weekly (at least) office hours
throughout term. In addition MPA core modules provide tailored formative assessment.
For Organisations, Power and Leadership, through the MPA Moodle site, discussion pages are
created for each week’s session, enabling both seminar leaders and peers to provide feedback on
presentations.
All MPA students have a supervisor from one of the MPA-owning departments, who maintains an
overview of their progress and offers advice on dissertations and policy papers.
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3.2
Summative Assessment
MPA Dual Degree students are classified for their final award using the LSE Scheme for the
Award of a taught masters degree (four units). Confirmation from the partner school that all
requirements of the year at the partner school have been met is required before the LSE degree
can be awarded.
All written components of summative assessment are double-blind marked, with samples and
borderline cases moderated by the external examiner. Option courses are managed by the
department that owns the course.
As of October 2012, the summative assessment during the year spent at LSE is as follows:
Route 1
Micro and Macro Economics (for Public Policy)
A three-hour written examination in the summer term.
Political Science and Public Policy
An essay of 2,500 words submitted by the second week of ST, accounting for 20% of the overall
mark; a three-hour written examination in the ST, accounting for 60% of the overall mark; and four
applications exercises, carried out in groups accounting, in all, for 20% of the overall mark.
Quantitative Approaches and Policy Analysis
There will be one data analysis exercise, to be completed by the end of the eighth week of LT that
will count for 25% of the marks. There will be one group project, to be developed and presented
during Lent term, that will count for 10% of the marks. A final three-hour examination will count for
the remaining 65% of the marks.
Route 2
Organisations, Power and Leadership
An essay of 4,000 words counts for 60% of overall marks, a case study analysis of 2,000 words
counts for 25%, an individual seminar presentation counts for 10% and the student's structured
participation in the seminars counts 5%.
Capstone
The project work is conducted in teams, and the assessment is based on a collective group mark
for each component, except in exceptional circumstances. Following a presentation and
submission of the project report to the client organisation, the client organisation awards a mark
worth 20% of the total Capstone mark. The project report of no more than 15,000 words is
marked by academic markers and worth 60% of the final mark. The Capstone supervisor awards
the remaining 20% of marks based on (i) scoping and project development and (ii) group working
and self-management as a team
Dissertation
An abstract, title, contents page and five page synopsis submitted during Michaelmas Term
counts for 10% of the final mark. The remaining 90% is awarded on the basis of the final
dissertation.
Policy Paper
One 6,000 word policy paper worth 100%.
Routes 1 & 2
Options Courses
Assessment of options courses is as per the Departmental regulations under which the course
falls.
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13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the MPA Dual Degree programme regulations for more information.
Additional information
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Criteria for admission to the programme
Students on route 1 (see programme regulations) are originally admitted to the two-year MPA
programme at LSE. They are required to have minimum of an equivalent of an upper second class
honours degree is required. GRE/GMAT is not required, but will be considered if provided. Proof
of English language ability if English is not the native language or if applicant did not complete
undergraduate work where English was the language of instruction is required. The MPA
Programme requires LSE’s higher English language requirement. Prior to transferring to the
relevant partner school for Year 2, students must have met the MPA progression requirement.
Students on route 2 (see programme regulations) are required to meet both the entry and
progression requirements of their first year school in order to be allowed to register on the MPA
Dual Degree programme.
Applications under both routes occur in the spring of the first year of study.
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Indicators of quality
1.High demand for the programme, and high qualifications required for admission.
2.The high fees paid by students taking the programme.
3.Consistently good examination results and very favourable remarks by external examiners.
4.Student questionnaires and feedback via staff-student liaison committees.
5. The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE graduates.
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Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
Departmental mechanisms:
 MPA Student Representatives Meetings: 3-4 per year;
 Postgraduate Teaching Review: 5 yearly cycle per programme;
 The MPA Teaching Committee meets regularly, and teaching issues are also reviewed at
internal examiners meetings in February and at the annual MPA Exam Board meeting in
July.
School mechanisms:
 regular staff appraisal and review;
 improvements in teaching technique are effected by the Teaching and Learning Centre
(TLC) through observations, advice and further training;
 induction programme and mentoring scheme for new members of staff;
 Staff/student liaison committee;
 centrally administered student satisfaction questionnaires by the Teaching Quality
Assurance and Review Office;
 an improved system for ensuring that External Examiner’s comments/recommendations
are fed through to Departments and acted upon;
 the School’s Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee (TLAC) which regulates all
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aspects of teaching quality;
annual monitoring of courses and periodic reviews every 3-5 years. The outcomes of the
annual reviews are presented to TLAC;
the School’s Undergraduate Studies Sub Committee and Graduate Studies Sub
Committee which oversee all taught programmes and ensure that significant changes to
programmes and courses pass through a sequence of formal stages to ensure that
curricular changes are appropriate and compatible with other developments.
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