Global Public Policy and Management EMPA

UCL's School of Public Policy and NYU Wagner have created a unique partnership to offer the first truly joint degree designed for international civil servants. The robust blend of theoretical and applied policy analysis and management studies is intended to provide a distinctive edge enabling public service leaders to function with many actors in a global environment to devise and implement strategies for change.

Students will spend the first semester at NYU Wagner in New York City, the Spring Term at UCL and the summer in locations across the globe working on a client-based Capstone project. Core modules bridge cutting-edge concepts and skills in policy analysis, management, implementation, and facilitating change. Students will then select from the offerings of both institutions to craft an approach best suited to their specific needs.

Students undertake modules to the value of 150 credits (equivalent to 30 credits at NYU or 75 ECTS credits).

The programme consists of four core modules (two at UCL and two at NYU), four optional modules (two at UCL and two at NYU) and a Capstone project.

Core modules

• Term One at NYU Wagner
• Global Public Policy Analysis Reform
• Institutions, Governance, and Public Sector Reform
• Term Two at UCL
• Strategy and Organisational Change
• Policy Implementation

Optional modules

Students select two from NYU Wagner and two from UCL. The below are suggestions. 

• Term One at NYU Wagner
• Design Thinking: A Creative Approach to Problem Solving and Creating Impact
• Global Health Policy
• Conflict Management and Negotiation
• International Economic Development: Government Markets
• International Development Project Planning
• Politics of International Development
• Sustainable Cities
• Please see the NYU website for all available options.
• Term Two at UCL
• Agenda Setting and Public Policy
• Policy and Regulation in Europe
• Human Rights: Accountability and World Politics
• International Trade Policy
• Law and Regulation
• Making Policy Work
• Public Management: Theories and Innovations
• Please see the UCL website for all available options.

Capstone Project

All students undertake a Capstone group project which allows them to expand on their own experiences, knowledge and skills acquired through the programme to deliver a concrete task for a public services organisation. The project can be conducted at an international organisation in the EU or USA.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, presentations and educational visits e.g. the British Library. Assesment is through examinations, essays and the Capstone group project.

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. 

The English language level for this programme is: Standard