Public Management

This is a two-year, part-time programme in public management that allows a degree of specialisation. It is both a stand-alone qualification and the second year of the four-year BA (Hons) programme. The first year is the Certificate in Public Management, in which students take four core modules. The second year allows students to take a subject in an area of particular relevance to them. Students take four subjects from a choice of five streams.

  • Healthcare Management 
  • Human Resource Management
  • Law and the Administration of Justice 
  • Local Government 
  • Public Management  

If students do not wish to take all the subjects in one year, they can study on a phased basis. 

Diploma in Public Management

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Key Facts

Delivery Method

The programme is delivered through a student-friendly blended learning model. Students attend three in-person weekend seminars at the IPA and attend eight weeknight webinars per module. They are supported in their studies with extensive course material and online resources.

Entry Requirements

Applicants require a Leaving Certificate with a minimum grade C in two higher level papers and grade D in four other subjects. The papers passed must include Irish, English and a third language.

OR

Mature students (students over 21 on January 1 of the calendar year of entry) may enter a programme without the above qualifications. 

Duration

Two academic years

Interim Awards

Year One: Certificate in Public Management

Accreditation

NUI

Place on NFQ

Level 6 (Higher Certificate) what is this?

Commences

September 2024

Application Deadline

September 2024

Fees

The cost of the programme is €3,600 per annum (includes all matriculation and examination fees), payable in one or two instalments.

Employers and Fees

Where employers are paying fees, students, when enrolling, must provide a PO number and employer authorisation on the applicaiton form OR submit a letter from their employer confirming that fees will be paid directly. 

Students Paying their own Fees

Fees can be paid by:

  • Electronic transfer (contact the Undergraduate Office).
  • Debit/credit card (contact the Undergraduate Office).
  • Cheque (payable to the Institute of Public Administration).
  • Bank draft.

Note: Fees may increase slightly from year to year. Where this occors, students will be charged the increased fee.

Progression

Students can progress to the relevant stream of the BA (Hons).

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The Programme

This is a two-year, part-time programme in public management that allows a degree of specialisation. It is both a stand-alone qualification and the second year of the four-year BA (Hons) programme. The first year is the Certificate in Public Management, in which students take four core modules. The second year allows students to take a subject in an area of particular relevance to them. Students take four subjects from a choice of five streams.

  • Healthcare Management 
  • Human Resource Management
  • Law and the Administration of Justice 
  • Local Government 
  • Public Management  

If students do not wish to take all the subjects in one year, they can study on a phased basis. 

Is This Programme for you?

This programme is suited to those working across the wider public service who would like to extend their understanding of public management issues and take a subject especially relevant to a particular sector. The first year provides a solid appreciation of the fundamentals of economics, law, government and management, which the second year builds upon through a range of core and elective modules. 

Subjects

Year One: Certificate In Public Management 

The first year is both a stand-alone qualification and a stage in this programme and the degree. 

Year Two

Economics

This course builds on the fundamentals of economics explored in the Certificate year by exploring both micro and macroeconomics in greater depth. Students will learn about the economic rules and theories that relate to the operation of markets, the distribution of wealth, the allocation of resources, labour supply and inflation.

Organisation and Management

An organisation’s structure is a determining factor in its operation. This course explores current thinking on organisational structure and the role of management in the creation and maintenance of the most appropriate structure. Among the specific topics addressed are the different schools of organisation theory, the design of effective organisations and the significance of the internal culture and the external environment to an organisation’s work.

European Studies*

Ireland’s membership of the EU is plainly of huge importance to public management. This course explains the key facts of EU membership, addressing the history of the EU, the power and responsibilities of its institutions, the decision-making process, key EU policies, and different perspectives on the EU’s development and reform.

* This subject is not taken by students in the Law and the Administration of Justice and Healthcare Management Streams 

Students Choose Another Subject(s) From One of the Following Streams:

Public Management
Soical Policy:

This course explores the history, organisation and management of Ireland’s social infrastructure. It considers such matters as expenditure trends in social services, EU social policy and the factors that influence domestic social policy.

Healthcare Management
Health Policy and Planning

This course offers an overview of policy and planning in the Irish health system. It examines the historical development of the system, the impact of demographic changes, and current structures for governance, service delivery and regulation. It also examines the roles of key stakeholders, important policy developments and the challanges in planning and implementing health policy. 

Social Policy:

This course explores the history, organisation and management of Ireland’s social infrastructure. It considers such matters as expenditure trends in social services, EU social policy and the factors that influence domestic social policy.

Local Government
Local Government:

This course examines the powers, responsibilities and organisation of local authorities in Ireland. Students explore the laws that determine the activities of those authorities, the policy aspects of local government and the key services that local authorities are mandated to deliver.

Law and the Administration of Justice
Social Policy:

This course explores the history, organisation and management of Ireland’s social infrastructure. It considers such matters as expenditure trends in social services, EU social policy and the factors that influence domestic social policy.

European Law:

EU law plays a hugely significant role in public management in Ireland. This course explains the sources of EU law, the main legal instruments that the EU uses, the EU institutions that uphold the law, the fundamental freedoms that EU law protects and how EU law relates to Irish domestic law.

Management
Business and Company Law:

All transactions in the State,whether public or private, are governed by commercial law. In this course, students will examine the laws that pertain to the creation, performance and dissolution of contract, the formation of companies, the acquisition of shares and the liquidation of businesses.

Human Resource Management
Organisational Behaviour:

Human behaviour is the critical element in organisational success. This course explores the theories that have developed about how people behave in an organisational setting and how management can respond to those behaviours. It considers such topics as motivation, leadership, group behaviour and organisational culture. 

Assessment

The programme is assessed by means of assignments and final examinations. 

How To Apply
  1. Download this Application Form and complete it (if your fees are being paid by your employer, be sure to include all the relevant details on the form).
  2. That form MUST be accompanied by: (a) proof of ID (copy of passport, birth cert, or driving licence), (b) a passport photo, (c) the programme fee (see section on Fees).

Send the completed application form and the above items to undergrad@ipa.ie.

You may also apply by post.

Prospectus

Programme Delivery and Applications

IPA programmes are part time and generally delivered through a blended learning model.  To apply, see the How to Apply section on the relevant programme and download the application form below.

Undergraduate Application Form 2024

 

Enquiry Form

 

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