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The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a full-time two-year degree offered by the College of Public Policy at HBKU. The program features a distinctive combination of interdisciplinarity, strong ethical foundations, entrepreneurship in public management, and innovation in policy-making and design.
The MPP provides training to graduate students from a range of disciplines in the skills needed to understand and enrich policy-making in Qatar and the region. The program will offer world-class academic and professional training in public policy analysis, design, implementation, evaluation, and management; as well as specializations in social policy, and in energy and the environment.
Accreditation
The Masters of Public Policy (MPP) program is accredited by the European Association for Public Administration Accreditation (EAPAA) for the 2024-2030 period. It is the first MPP program in the Gulf region and the second MPP program in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region to earn such a prestigious recognition.
Mission
The mission of the Master of Public Policy is to educate, enlighten, and empower the next generation of ethically grounded public leaders in Qatar and beyond.
We strive to provide critical knowledge and skills to address complex sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and environmental challenges for the public good. Through a rigorous curriculum, students will be equipped to foster equitable and responsible decisions. We seek to provide an inclusive and diverse learning environment to promote a culture of excellence, integrity, respect, and fairness. We experiment with, analyze, design, and evaluate innovative, evidence-informed, and future-oriented policy options and solutions.
The program enhances meaningful contributions to the community through public service and social value. Our graduates aspire to effectively communicate, contribute, and facilitate positive global and local impacts.
Number of Students (as of Fall 2024)
| Program | Continuing | New First Time | Grand Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPP |
23 |
28 |
51 |
| MSPPE |
15 |
13 |
28 |
| Grand Total |
38 |
41 |
79 |
The MPP program builds on the four pillars of public policy: policy analysis, economics, public management ethics, and research methodology. It is designed to integrate analysis, research, and the practical application of knowledge, from an interdisciplinary perspective. Other distinctive features include a strong focus on ethics in the program design and real-world experiences. The specializations will complement and deepen the core training, and encourage students to work with clients in addressing current policy problems. The program’s ambition is to create thinkers who can do, and doers who can think.
A 36-credit program taught in English over two years that includes:
- 8 core courses (24 credits)
Course Name Policy Analysis and Design Economics for Public Policy Ethics, Law, and Public Policy Research Methods for Public Policy Public Management: Innovations and Challenges Global Political Economy Comparative Public Policy Analytical Methods for Policy Evaluation - Specialization in one of two areas (6 credits)
Course Name Social Policy (Education, Family and Health) Sustainability and Climate Policy - MPP Capstone Project (6 credits)
In consultation with a faculty advisor and a partner organization, students (working in small teams) will be required to develop a capstone project within one of the two designated specializations. The chosen case will be relevant for Qatar, the Middle East, and the world. The capstone project concludes with the formal defence of a policy paper. - Up to five zero-credit courses will allow students to further develop their communication, analytical, and organizational skills in:
- Written and Oral Communication
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Data Management
- Articulate and map major multidisciplinary debates, schools of thought, and theoretical approaches in the policy sciences.
- Critically analyze policy problems by using locally and globally relevant multidisciplinary perspectives with rigorous and appropriate methods.
- Collaborate effectively via culturally responsive and equity-oriented activities with relevant policymakers, leaders, and other stakeholders.
- Utilize effective verbal and written skills to encourage community service, public service, policy analysis, and evaluation.
- Apply ethical standards in policy research, research design, and adaptive policy practice.
- To create a comprehensive curriculum that provides students with a strong foundation in public policy, including an ethical understanding of the political, economic, and social dynamics that shape policy decisions.
- To Cultivate an environment of respect and inclusion where students can explore and debate a wide range of policy issues in a constructive and civil manner.
- To promote agile and responsive individuals and institutions that foster positive sustainable change.
- To encourage multi-disciplinary and evidence-informed scholarship that contributes to advancing public policy knowledge and practice.
- To empower leaders who are knowledgeable and ethical public policy professionals able to identify, analyze, and develop innovative solutions to complex policy problems.
- To provide a range of collaborative, participatory, and leadership opportunities that allow students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems.
- Integrity – Adherence to strong ethical principles, honesty, transparency, accountability, and fairness.
- Inclusivity – Commitment to creating a diverse, equity-oriented, culturally responsive, and inclusive learning environment.
- Community – Fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and civil discourse.
- Service – Dedication to leadership, resilience, and innovation for the public good.
- Sustainability - Encouraging socially responsible environmental stewardship.
Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Public Policy should have a bachelor’s degree with a strong academic record (minimum 3.2 GPA out of 4.0) from a recognized university. Applicants from all fields are welcome to apply, including engineering, natural sciences and humanities, but preference will be given to those with an academic background in political science, public administration, economics, communications, or other social sciences.
Applicants are required to submit an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 79 to demonstrate their proficiency in English.
Further details about the language proficiency requirement and the process to seek exemption (where this is an option) are available on the website.
Tuition Fees
| Program | Master of Public Policy |
|---|---|
| Total Program Tuition Fees |
QAR 110,000 |
| Tuition Fees per Credit Hour |
QAR 3,065 |
| Total Program Credit Hours |
36 |
| Program Duration |
2 years |