MPA Programme Brochure (PDF version)
As a global city, Hong Kong is undergoing major political and socioeconomic change. Our public managers and professionals are increasingly challenged by complex problems and dynamic situations. The MPA programme at HKU is designed to prepare students to become public service leaders through equipping them with the analytical and problem-solving skills to meet these challenges.
We are celebrating 40 years of excellence in providing professional education in public administration this year. With our extensive experience, internationally recognized faculty members, a vibrant student body, and well-designed curriculum, we provide our students to strive for excellence and attain leadership roles in public service.
We invite you to read on and explore our MPA programme.
Professor W.F. LAM
Professor, Department of Politics & Public Administration
Director, MPA Programme
The University of Hong Kong’s Department of Politics and Public Administration is a founding department of the Faculty of Social Sciences and has played a leading role in research and teaching in Public Administration in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region since 1969. The Department is a core teaching unit at the University, offering a Bachelor of Social Sciences, Master of Public Administration, Master of International and Public Affairs, and Doctor of Public Administration. Our programmes are amongst the most renowned in Hong Kong and many of our graduates are now serving in the upper echelons of the HKSAR Government. At the forefront of Politics and Public Administration education is a commitment to excellence in training our students to become future leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) Programme, first launched in 1978, is designed to provide high quality professional education to students and prepare them for leadership roles in the public sector.
The curriculum is designed to achieve the following learning objectives:
Distinctive programme features:
The MPA is offered on a 2-year part-time or 1-year full-time basis. Students are required to complete eight taught courses and one capstone project or dissertation in order to graduate. The eight courses include four compulsory courses, and four courses from a list of electives.
To accommodate midcareer students, the compulsory courses are usually scheduled on Saturdays and elective courses on weekday evenings or Saturday afternoons.
Part-time | Full-time | Capstone Project or Dissertation |
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Timeline | Year 1 | Semester 1 | ||
September October November December |
POLI7002 + POLI8027 |
POLI7002 + POLI8027 + 2 Elective courses |
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Semester 2 | ||||
January February March April |
2 Elective courses | POLI8017 + POLI8026 + 2 Elective courses |
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May June July August |
*Mainland live-in course | *Mainland live-in course | ||
Year 2 | Semester 3 | |||
September October November December |
2 Elective courses | |||
Semester 4 | ||||
January February March April |
POLI8017 + POLI8026 |
* The optional Mainland live-in course (POLI8008 Public Administration in China) is available to students at additional cost. It lasts for about two weeks and will require time off work. The course will be offered at the Chinese Academy of Governance (國家行政學院).
Students are expected to consult the administrator or Director of the MPA programme regarding the latest information about course offering and course selection. They can also access the syllabuses and regulations of the MPA programme.
(i) Compulsory courses:
(ii) Elective courses:
(these course offerings may vary each academic year)
The MPA programme is taught by faculty members from HKU’s Department of Politics and Public Administration. They are actively engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Professor John P BURNS, Honorary Professor BA, St Olaf College; MA, Oxford and Columbia; MPhil, PhD, East Asian Institute Certificate, Columbia Expertise: Organisation theory and problems, public personnel administration, bureaucratic participation, bureaucratic representation, new public administration, public administration in China |
Dr. Kwan Nok CHAN, Associate Professor BA, MPhil, HKU; PhD, Indiana Expertise: Comparative politics, authoritarianism, comparative public policy, and institutional analysis. |
Mr. Peter LAI Hing-Ling, Honorary Professor (Former Secretary for Security) BA, HKU Expertise: Managerial skills, public administration in Hong Kong |
Mr. Alan N. LAI, Adjunct Professor BA, MSocSc, HKU Expertise: Public administration and management in Hong Kong |
Professor Danny W. F. LAM, Professor & Head BSocSc, CUHK; PhD, Indiana Expertise: Public policy analysis, institutional analysis, public management, common-pool resources management, self-governance |
Dr. LI Hui, Assistant Professor BA & MA, Renmin U; PhD, Southern California Expertise: Public/nonprofit management, organization theory, civil society, environmental governance |
Mr. Andrew H.Y. WONG, Adjunct Professor BBA CUHK Expertise: Public administration and management in Hong Kong |
Professor Ian THYNNE, Visiting Professor BA, PhD, Wellington Expertise: Public governance, public organization, administrative law, and organizational change |
Dr. Wai-Hang YEE, Assistant Professor BSocSc, MPhil, HKU; PhD, Southern California Expertise: Public administration and management, institution theory, organization theory, regulatory governance, policy reform. |
Distinguished International Scholars
In addition to our own staff, distinguished international scholars and practitioners are invited to give guest lectures and especially to be involved in POLI 8017 Workshop in Public Affairs, which is explicitly international in focus.
Professor Chris Ansell Professor, Department of Political Science University of California, Berkeley |
Professor Eugene Bardach Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, Goldman School of Public Policy University of California Berkeley |
Professor Arjen Boin Professor, Department of Political Science Leiden University |
Professor Shamsul Haque Editor-in-Chief, Asian Journal of Political Science Deputy Editor, International Review of Administrative Sciences Department of Political Science National University of Singapore |
Professor Patricia Ingraham Founding Dean, College of Community and Public Affairs Binghamton University |
Professor Bryan Jones J.J. "Jake" Pickle Regents Chair in Congressional Studies Department of Government The University of Texas at Austin |
Professor Jan-Erik Lane Professor in Political Science University of Geneva |
Professor Peter J May Donald R. Matthews Distinguished Professor of American Politics Department of Political Science University of Washington |
Professor H Brinton Milward Director of the School of Government and Public Policy Providence Service Corporation Chair in Public Management University of Arizona |
Ms. Colette Nault Director, General Recruitment Priorities Resourcing and Learning Branch Public Service Commission of Canada |
Professor Rosemary O’Leary Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Affairs & Administration College of Liberal Arts and Sciences The University of Kansas |
(Late) Professor Elinor Ostrom Nobel Prize Laureate in Economic Sciences Arthur F Bentley Professor Department of Political Science Indiana University, Bloomington |
Professor Roger B Parks Professor Emeritus School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University, Bloomington |
Professor James L Perry Distinguished Professor and Chancellor’s Professor School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University, Bloomington |
Professor Guy Peters Maurice Falk Professor of American Government Department of Political Science University of Pittsburgh |
Professor Beryl Radin Adjunct Professor McCourt School of Public Policy (MSPP) Georgetown University |
Professor Martin Rein Professor Emeritus of Social Policy Department of Urban Studies and Planning Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Professor Jodi Sandfort Associate Professor and Chair of the School’s Leadership & Management Area Humphrey School of Public Affairs University of Minnesota, Minneapolis |
Ms. Fiona Spencer Merit Commissioner Province of British Columbia The Government of Canada |
Ms. Marilyn Stuart-Major Director General, Executive Programs Public Service Commission of Canada |
Professor Jacob Torfing Professor in Politics and Institutions Roskilde University Director, Centre for Democratic Network Governance |
Professor Montgomery Van Wart Professor Department of Public Administration California State University San Bernardino |
Professor Gary Wamsley Professor Emeritus Center for Public Administration and Policy Virginia Tech |
Professor Roger Wettenhall Professor Emeritus ANZSOG Institute for Governance University of Canberra |
Professor Kenneth Wiltshire J.D. Story Professor of Public Administration Department of Government University of Queensland |
Our students are a mix of professionals from the public, business and non-governmental sectors. The majority have some managerial experience, although a number are from the top tiers of management, who seek to further their career through obtaining an MPA. The diversity of our student body provides exciting and enriching opportunities for exchange and learning in the classroom.
Our Graduates said:
With over 40 years of history, the MPA programme has produced graduates who have not only developed successful careers, but also made significant contributions to Hong Kong. Today we have over 1,000 alumni working in the government, public bodies, non-profit organizations, private firms, universities and educational institutions.
Name | Post | Company/Department | Year of Graduation |
Mr AU Chi Kwong, Sonny, PDSM, PMSM, JP | Under Secretary for Security | Security Bureau HKSAR Government |
2006 |
Mr. AU Wing Hung | Former Chief Building Surveyor | Buildings Department HKSAR Government |
1999 |
Mr AU YEUNG Ho Lok, Luke, C.D.S.M. C.M.S.M | Former Deputy Commissioner | Customs and Excise Department HKSAR Government |
1990 |
Mr CHAN Chi Kin< | Former Principal Immigration Officer | Immigration Department HKSAR Government |
2005 |
Ms CHAN Fung Lan, Doris | Former Principal Trade Officer | Trade and Industry Department HKSAR Government |
1998 |
Dr CHAN YUEN Tak Fai, Dorothy, JP | Deputy Director of Administration and Resources / Head |
Centre for Logistics and Transport / HKU SPACE |
1981 |
Miss Monica CHEN, JP | Principle Assistant Secretary | Commerce and Economic Development Bureau HKSAR Government |
2002 |
Mr CHEUNG Tak Keung, Jacob | Executive Director / Former Assistant Commissioner |
Aviation Security Company Limited / Hong Kong Police Force |
2005 |
Mr CHIANG Yam Wang, Allan | Former Privacy Commissioner | Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data HKSAR Government |
1986 |
Mr CHIU Yu Chow | Former Assistant Director | Food and Environment Hygiene Department HKSAR Government |
1999 |
Mr CHONG Wing Hong, Ben | Former Chief Building Surveyor | Building Department HKSAR Government |
2003 |
Mr CHUNG Siu Man, Raymond | Marine Advisor | London ETO, Marine Department HKSAR Government |
1998 |
Ms CHUNG Woon Fan, Flora | Former Chief Executive Officer | Agency for Volunteer Service | 2008 |
Dr FAN Yun Sun, Susan, JP | Former Executive Director | Family Planning Association of Hong Kong | 1992 |
Mr Fong Hok Shing, Michael, JP | Director of Civil Engineering and Development | Civil Engineering and Development Department HKSAR Government |
2000 |
Mr HO Chun Hung, Van, JP | Assistant Director | Buildings Department HKSAR Government |
1998 |
Mr HO Fu Ho, Jonathan | Director of External Affairs | Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority | 2007 |
Ms Ho Pui Shan, Louise, C.M.S.M. | Commissioner | Customs and Excise Department HKSAR Government |
2001 |
Ir HON Chi Keung, JP | Chief Executive and Secretary / Former Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) |
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers / Development Bureau |
1997 |
Mr HUI Cho Hang, Desmond | Former Senior Superintendent | Quality Assurance Division, Correctional Services Department HKSAR Government |
1992 |
Dr KO Pat Sing, Tony | Chief Executive | Hospital Authority HKSAR Government |
2004 |
Mr KONG Ping Lam, Francis | Former Assistant Director | Fire Services Department HKSAR Government |
2009 |
Mr KWOK Kwok Chuen, JP, BBS | Former Government Economist | Financial Secretary's Office HKSAR Government |
1986 |
Mrs KWONG LAU Po Yuk, Christina | Former Chief Engineer | Civil Engineering and Development Department HKSAR Government |
2001 |
Mr LAI Nin, Alan, GBS, JP | Former Ombudsman / Former Permanent Secretary |
Office of Ombudsman / Financial Services and the Treasury |
1982 |
Mr LAM Man Wing, Edwin, PDSM | General Secretary / Former Assistant Commissioner |
Hong Chi Association / Hong Kong Police Force |
2006 |
Ir LAM Tin Sing, Enoch, SBS | Former Director of Water Supplies | Water Supplies Department HKSAR Government |
1997 |
Ms LAM Yuen Mui, Wendy | Director (Corporate Communication) | Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountant | 2013 |
Ms LAU Chi Wai, Edwina | Deputy Commissioner (National Security) | Hong Kong Police Force HKSAR Government |
2001 |
Mrs LAU MAK Yee Ming, Alice, JP | Former Commissioner of Inland Revenue | Inland Revenue Department HKSAR Government |
1985 |
Mr LAW Chun Nam | Former Deputy Director of Immigration | Immigration Department HKSAR Government |
2006 |
Mr LAW Wai Fung, Eric, CSMSM | Former Chief Superintendent of Correctional Services and Head of Stanley Prison | Correctional Services Department HKSAR Government |
2010 |
Mr LEE Cheung Wing, John | Former Head of Customs Drug Investigation Bureau | Customs and Excise Department HKSAR Government |
2004 |
Dr LEE Ching Yee, Jane | Director/ Chairperson |
HKSKH Welfare Council, The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) |
1983 |
Mr LEE Kui Biu, Robin, JP | Former Principal Project Coordinator | Sustainable Lantau Office, Civil Engineer and Development Department HKSAR Government |
2003 |
Mr. LIU Chun San, JP | Under Secretary for Development | Development Bureau HKSAR Government |
1998 |
Mrs LO Ho Yin, Martha | Former Assistant Director | Information Services Department HKSAR Government |
2005 |
Dr LO Seen Tsing, Sue | Senior Doctor | The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong | 2005 |
Mr LUK Wai Hung, JP | Project Manager (Major Works) | Highways Department HKSAR Government |
1997 |
Ms LUK Wai Ling, Melody | Former Assistant Commissioner | Labour Department HKSAR Government |
1997 |
Ms MA Siu Hung, Candy | Police Civil Secretary | Hong Kong Police Force HKSAR Government |
1998 |
Ms PANG Mee Yuk, Melissa | Head of Property Development | MTR Corporation | 1999 |
Mr SHUM Kwok Leung | Former Deputy Chief Ambulance Officer | Fire Services Department HKSAR Government |
1997 |
Dr TANG Yiu Hang, Simon | Cluster Chief Executive (New Territories West) | Hospital Authority | 2012 |
Mr TO Chun Wai, Clarence | Former Assistant Commissioner of Police | Hong Kong Police Force HKSAR Government |
2006 |
Mr TSANG Chee Wah, Luke | Former Head of Programme Development | RTHK | 2001 |
Mr TSO Wai Yan | Former Principal Investigator | Independent Commission Against Corruption HKSAR Government |
2005 |
Mr WONG Fook Yee | Former Assistant Director | Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department HKSAR Government |
1984 |
Mr WONG Tak Wing, Albert, JP | Former Assistant Director of Audit | Audit Commission HKSAR Government |
1995 |
Ms WONG Tee Vee, Vivian | Former Senior Assistant Registrar and Faculty Secretary | Faculty of Law HKU |
1995 |
Miss YAU Kwai Chong, Eliza | Former Assistant Secretary to the Commission on Strategic Development | Central Policy Unit HKSAR Government |
2006 |
Mr YAU Wai Keung | Assistant Director (New Territories) | Fire Services Department HKSAR Government |
2006 |
Mr. YEUNG Man Pun | District Commander (Yau Tsim) | Hong Kong Police Force HKSAR Government |
2006 |
Mr YIP Kan Chuen, Frankie | Chief Manager | Corporate Communication Hospital Authority |
2012 |
Mrs YUEN KWONG Sau Yee, Cecilia | Former Assistant Director | Social Welfare Department HKSAR Government |
1996 |
Mrs YUEN KAO Hing Monica, Esther | Former Chief Executive and Secretary | The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers | 2008 |
Dr YUK Tak Fun, Alice, BBS, JP | Chief Executive Officer | Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired | 1991 |
MPA students have full access to all campus facilities and services, including libraries, computer facilities, the University Health Services (medical and dental) and sports amenities.
With over 35 years of history, the MPA programme has graduated over 1,000 alumni, many of whom are now occupying key positions in the civil service, public bodies, non-profit organizations, private firms, and tertiary institutions. They represent our fine tradition of dedication to public service. The MPA Alumni Association, inaugurated in 2005, strengthens our alumni network and ties with society.
The MPAAA welcomes all MPA graduates to join. Please visit http://www.alumni.hku.hk/mpaaa for updated information about the Association.
Applicants for admission to the MPA programme
(a) shall hold
(b) satisfy the English language requirements of HKU; and
(c) if deemed necessary, satisfy examiners in a qualifying examination.
Successful applicants usually have at least three years of working experiences.
A candidate who does not hold a Bachelor's degree of this University or another qualification of equivalent standard may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to register if he or she demonstrates adequate preparation for studies at this level and satisfies the examiners in a qualifying examination. The purpose of this qualifying examination is to test the candidate's formal academic ability or ability to follow the course of study prescribed. Applicants whose undergraduate record is considered to be of an insufficient standard may also be required to sit for the qualifying examination.
Application | $ 300 (non-refundable) |
Caution Money | $ 350 |
Composition | $ 189,200 per year (full-time) $ 94,600 per year (part-time) |
Dear applicants
As Hongkong Post adopted new postage rates on 1 January 2018, please make sure that sufficient postage is provided when you send us your supporting documents by post. For mails with postage underpaid, we shall return the mails to senders or ask them to pay for the shortage. Such actions may delay the processing of the applications concerned.
For new postage rates please refer to Hongkong Post https://www.hongkongpost.hk/en/postage_rate_2018/
Regular Students:
Online application system: http://hku.hk/tpg
Closing Date: 12:00 noon (GMT +8), February 28, 2023
Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Regardless of the final admission decision, the Programme will not comment on the suitability or performance of any applicant.