MBA in Public Policy is a two-year postgraduate degree program which is divided into four semesters of study, two semesters per year. This course trains students in skills that can be employed to influence legislators and for forming policies that can serve social purposes.
This course provides efficiency and leadership skills among policy-makers and administrators while exposing them to topical issues in management.
MBA Public Policy students are trained to be proficient in the legislative processes and make presentations and facilitate meetings necessary to accomplish social goals.
This course aims to build skills that can be used in business, quantitative analyses, economics, finance, and management- related and social problems.
The curriculum includes topics such as international business, business law, human resource management, and marketing along with additional subjects related to executive-legislative relations, public budgetary processes, and financial management.
Other subjects like decision making in public policy, economic analysis for public policy, decision making in public policy, and many others are also included in MBA Public Policy.
The basic admission process of the MBA in Public Policy course is, a candidate is required to qualify for the entrance examination and some colleges grant admission on a merit-based as well. Admissions in the best MBA colleges in India are done through entrance exams like CAT, MAT, SVAT, and CMAT, etc.
Some of the top MBA in Public Policy institutes in India are as follows.
| NIRF Ranking | College | Fee Structure | Admission Process | Average Salary Package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad | INR 9.39 Lakhs | Entrance based | INR 26.13 Lakhs |
| 2 | Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore | INR 1.40 Lakh | Entrance test followed by a personal interview and written ability test | INR 26.18 Lakhs |
| 10 | Management Development Institute, Gurgaon | INR 18.86 Lakhs | Entrance test followed by group discussion/ interview/ written analysis test | INR 22.05 Lakhs |
| - | School of Business Studies, Sharda University | 2.60 Lakhs | Entrance based | 12 Lakhs |
| - | TERI School of Advanced Studies | INR 4 Lakhs | Entrance based | INR 5-14 Lakhs |
MBA in Public Policy equips a student with the skills necessary to make a career in a sector that works to solve social problems. Graduates of this stream mainly join public offices or non-profit organizations.
The course also opens career opportunities in private organizations and consultancies working in the fields of public policy and governance. The course is also a good choice for a student who wishes to take on research projects and stick to the academic line of work.
The minimum eligibility criteria for the MBA in Public Policy course is the aspirants who have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from any recognized university or any other institute, are eligible for admission to the Master of Business Administration in Public Policy degree program.
There are a large number of government and private colleges/ universities that offer this course. The average course fees for the program ranges between INR 1.40 Lakh to 19 Lakhs.
The average salary for jobs after the completion of MBA in Public Policy degree program ranges between INR 1 Lakh to 6 Lakhs. The salary may vary; it is totally based on the experience and the skills of the candidate in the workplace.
See more: Top Colleges of MBA/ PGDM
MBA in Public Policy: Course Highlights
The table below gives highlights of the MBA Public Policy course. Get to know eligibility, course fees, average salary, and top recruiting companies for candidates completing the MBA Public Policy course.
| Course | MBA (Public Policy) |
| Full form | Master of Business Administration in Public Policy |
| Level | Post graduate |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
| Admission Process | Entrance test or direct admission |
| Average tuition fee | INR 1.40 Lakh to 19 Lakhs |
| Job Positions | Researcher, Environment Consultant, Public Policy Manager, Research Analyst, Duty Manager, Welfare Officer, Consultant, Policy Advisor, Economic Consultant, Program Manager, Public Affairs Specialist, Community Development Organizer, Public Health Advocate, Budget Analyst etc. |
| Top recruiting areas | Government Agencies, Non-Government Organizations, Consultancies, Environment Protection Agencies, Public Health Administration, Educational Institutions, etc. |
| Average salary | INR 1 Lakh – 6 Lakhs |
MBA in Public Policy: What is it about?
- MBA in Public Policy is a two-year postgraduate program that prepares students for issues related to business practices.
- MBA in Public Policy degree program involves teaching & research in the fields of public policy, public management, and governance.
- The program trains the students in skills that can be employed to influence legislators and for forming policies that can be served for social purposes.
- This course aims to build skills that can be used in business, quantitative analyses, economics, finance, and management related and social problems.
- The students are trained to be proficient in the legislative processes and make presentations and facilitate meetings necessary to accomplish social goals.
- The program aims to build skills that can be used in business, quantitative analyses, economics, finance, and management-related fields and social problems.
- This course builds enhanced sensibility and capability skills in the students necessary to manage public programs and systems better and familiarises them with the global trends and practices to allow exploration of innovative options and choices.
- The Foundation curriculum of this program includes topics such as international business, business law, marketing, and human resource management along with additional subjects related to executive-legislative relations, public budgetary processes.
Why study an MBA in Public Policy course?
MBA Public Policy is a vast and very interesting choice of course for a student who wishes to get into a reputable career that allows him to use his education and knowledge for public betterment. This course is pursued by a lot of students these days. Given below are some reasons why you can think of pursuing this course:
- The course is beneficial to a student who wishes to make a career in governance and join public offices and non-profit organizations that work to mitigate social problems.
- A student of the Public Policy Management course is able to tackle the various fragments of this field related to policy drafting, innovation, delivery of services, legal issues and regulation of public policy, etc.
- Students of this course gain knowledge and experience in the fields of management, economics, finance, marketing, operations, etc.
- Graduates of the MBA in Public Policy Management course cultivate the capabilities of responding to social issues and managing them through public programs.
- The course not only increases the academic intelligence but also the research capabilities of the students.
- Candidates completing this course successfully are placed in government, non-profit organizations, consulting firms, and international organizations. They are hired as Policy Analysts, Social Entrepreneurs, Welfare Officer, etc. The average salary of Policy Analysts is Rs 6 Lakhs and above.
What is the Admission Process of MBA in Public Policy?
Admission to the MBA in Public Policy degree program is based on entrance tests and direct interviews of the short-listed candidates. Few institutes also grant admission on a merit basis as well. Application form for the admission can be availed either from the university’s website or by visiting the admission office of the same.
- Interested candidates can apply online with the required information and the admission is based on the marks obtained in the bachelor’s degree.
- Certificates of all your previous degrees are needed during the admission process.
- Grade transcripts of all your previous degrees. If you are currently undertaking a degree program, an up-to-date interim transcript will be sufficient at this stage.
- Also required are two academic references, preferably from your most recent degree.
- If the candidates meet all the minimum entry requirements and all the documents have been received then the application form will be passed to the appropriate academics within the school.
- Prospective supervisors will take a personal interview of the applicant and make a decision following the interview.
- The final selection for admission in MBA (Public Policy) will be based on the performance in the entrance test and interview. The weightage of interview and entrance exam scores can be varied from college to college.
- Entrance examinations conducted by different universities are also followed by further rounds of group discussion and personal Interviews. Depending upon the cut-off or the score, admissions will be provided in this course.
What is the Eligibility Criteria of MBA in Public Policy?
All the candidates applying for the MBA Public Policy program need to comply with the eligibility criteria prescribed by the college. The basic eligibility criteria are:
- The candidates have to complete Bachelor Degree like, Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or any other Bachelor Degree with relevant subjects or equivalent examination.
- Candidates scored minimum aggregate 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PWD candidates, such candidates are eligible to take admission to the Master’s degree study program.
- To pursue this degree program, the candidates need to appear for the college or university level entrance examination too, which is further followed by the group discussion and personal interview round.
- The eligibility criterion for international applicants is to score at least 50% marks aggregate in the qualifying examination and having studied the prerequisite subjects for admission into the desired program.
What are the popular MBA in Public Policy Entrance Exams?
The aspirants of Master of Business Administration in Public Policy have to prepare for a series of gruelling examinations to prove their credentials and gain admission into the top MBA colleges and universities in the nation by dint of merit:
- CAT: is the most important entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Management(s) (IIMs) and it is preferred as the qualifying exam by most top management institutes and B-schools in India.
- XAT: Final year students and students with Bachelor's degrees can apply for the XAT exam, conducted by the Xavier School of Management.
- MAT: Management Aptitude Test 2023 is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA), which is a national body for the management profession in India and MAT exam takes place 4 times in a year, i.e. in February, May, September, and December.
- GMAT: Conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council [GMAC], the GMAT exam is the qualifying examination for admission into colleges governed by GMAC.
- CMAT: Conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education [AICTE], the CMAT exam is widely accepted as a qualifying exam by a large number of government-sponsored management and business institutes in India.
Some of the top entrance exams with their important dates are mentioned in the table below:
| Exam Name | Exam Details |
|---|---|
| CAT | Check Here |
| MAT | Check Here |
| SNAP | Check Here |
| IIFT | Check Here |
| IBSAT | Check Here |
| CMAT | Check Here |
| MAH CET | Check Here |
| NMAT | Check Here |
| ATMA | Check Here |
| XAT | Check Here |
| TISSNET | Check Here |
| TANCET | Check Here |
How to prepare for MBA in the Public Policy entrance exam?
Candidates need at least six months to prepare for an MBA in Public Policy entrance exams like MAT, CAT, and CMAT, etc. to score well. For a fruitful preparation, they should focus on improving their problem-solving skills with the help of previous years’ question papers and online mock test, etc. The entrance exam preparation strategy should be well planned and according to the exam pattern and syllabus. Below are some tips to prepare for the entrance exams:
- Read best books for the entrance exams preparation, magazines, newspapers, and online blogs on a daily basis to improve reading skills, understanding skills as well as for keeping track of current affairs of national and international level
- Practice previous years’ question papers, sample papers, and online mock tests to improve speed and accuracy as well as to develop familiarity with the test pattern
- Regularly analyze your preparation level to cross-check your strengths and weaknesses in each section from the syllabus of the MBA Public Policy entrance test.
- Target those topics which carrying more weightage in each section to score easily in the exam
- Time management is the key to attempting maximum questions in any exam i.e. don’t waste your time on tricky questions and try to solve each question within a few seconds.
How to get admission in a good college of MBA in Public Policy?
All the students want to take admission in the top colleges, so here are some important points that all the students should keep in mind while applying for a top college:
- Your score and GPA need to be exceptionally good, an application with GPA above 4 will be given good consideration at top colleges, and you need to be academically inclined in order to cope with the program. Just getting admission to a top college isn’t enough; performing best should be your main motive.
- The admissions officers of the MBA (Public Policy) course take into account your involvement in activities surrounding the classroom whether it is sports, theatre, Olympiads, contests, etc., these activities show growth patterns of your personality. A student involved in all activities around the classroom is what top universities look for.
- You will have to seriously prepare for MBA (Public Policy) entrance exams, take at least two months to prepare for the exams conducted for the MBA course, you may have to shortlist your colleges based on your entrance exams scores, top colleges accept only high scores.
- All applicants have to write an essay about why they want to do a Bachelor of Tourism Management course from a university, this is the main part that makes or breaks your application.
- You need to come up with a very convincing piece of the essay that makes a favorable impression on the admission officer.
- You need to prepare yourself for the interview round, as it will be your first major interview so prepare accordingly. Interviews are not difficult to clear at all if you have the right attitude and confidence.
Top Colleges of MBA in Public Policy
The table below gives a list of top colleges and universities in India, where one can take admission for MBA in Public Policy course. Find the details related to fees, admission process, accreditation and location for these colleges and average annual package offered by the institute:
| NIRF Ranking | College | Fee Structure | Admission Process | Average Salary Package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad | INR 9.39 Lakhs | Entrance based | INR 26.13 Lakhs |
| 2 | Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore | INR 1.40 Lakh | Entrance test followed by a personal interview and written ability test | INR 26.18 Lakh |
| 4 | Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow | INR 13.70 Lakh | Entrance based | INR 15 Lakh |
| 5 | Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata | INR 27 Lakh | Entrance based | INR 25 Lakh |
| 7 | Indian Institute of Management, Indore | INR 7.86 | Entrance based | INR 15 Lakh |
| 9 | Xavier School of Management | INR 20.95 | Entrance based | INR 20 Lakh |
| 10 | Management Development Institute, Gurgaon | INR 18.86 Lakhs | Entrance test followed by group discussion/ interview/ written analysis test | INR 22.05 Lakh |
| - | School of Business Studies, Sharda University | 2.60 Lakhs | Entrance based | 12 Lakh |
| - | TERI School of Advanced Studies | INR 4 Lakhs | Entrance based | INR 5-14 Lakh |
| - | MICA School, Ahmedabad | INR 20 Lakhs | Entrance based | INR 12 Lakh |
MBA in Public Policy: College Comparison
As you can see from the tables above, there are so many top colleges in India that offer this course. Below we have compared a few of them with college highlights, NIRF 2020 ranking fees, salary, and ranking and placement companies:
| Parameter | Indian Institute of Management | Management Development Institute | Indian Institute of Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore is among the top graduate schools for management education in Asia. The institute has over 1,200 students across several programs and offers management courses at PG and Doctoral levels. | Management Development Institute is one of the pioneers in providing quality education in the field of management studies. MDI is one of the top B-Schools which is committed to developing the skills of students. | IIMA offers Masters Degree and Doctorate programs in management and its Executive Education provides unique experience peer-to-peer learning, collaborating with a group of accomplished and experienced professionals. |
| NIRF 2020 ranking (for MBA) | 2 | 10 | 1 |
| Location | Bangalore | Gurgaon | Ahmedabad |
| Admission process | Entrance test followed by a personal interview and written ability test | Entrance test followed by group discussion/ interview/ written analysis test | Entrance based |
| Average annual fees | INR 1.40 Lakh | INR 18.86 Lakhs | INR 9.39 Lakhs |
| Average annual package | INR 26.18 Lakhs | INR 22.05 Lakhs | INR 26.13 Lakhs |
| Top recruiters | Acura Consulting, Accenture, GSK, RBI, P & G, Alghanim Industries, HP, Amazon, American Express, etc. | DELL, Castrol, Coca-Cola, L’Oreal, Larsen & Toubro, BCCL, Airtel, Flipkart, Capgemini, Bajaj Auto, Godrej Industries Ltd., etc. | McKinsey & Company, Accenture, UBS, P & G, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, KPMG, Coca-cola, etc. |
MBA in Public Policy Syllabus
While the names of the subjects could change from university to university, MBA students learn through the following domains.
The table below gives a detailed syllabus of the MBA in Public Policy course. The syllabus is a comprehensive presentation. Individual universities and colleges may add some more sections as may be applicable.
A semester wise breakup of the MBA Public Policy syllabus is mentioned below:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Innovations and leadership in public management | Economic analysis for public policy |
| US public policy process | Research methods |
| Decision making in public policy | Elective I |
| Ethics in public management | Elective II |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Management of program evaluation | Project |
| Advanced policy management project | - |
| Elective III | - |
| Elective IV | - |
Which are the Most Important Books for MBA in Public Policy?
Some of the most important books that the candidates will have to prefer for this course are:
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Public Policy in India | Dr. Rajesh Chakraborty and Kaushiki Sanyal |
| In-Service of the Republic | Dr. Vijay Kelkar and Ajay Shah |
| I, The Citizen | Dr. R Balasubramanium |
| Transforming Systems | Arun Mishra |
| 70 Policies That Shaped India | Gautam Chikarmane |
MBA in Public Policy: Course Comparison
MBA in Public Policy vs. MA in Public Policy
Both courses are good courses and are postgraduate level courses. MBA Public Policy and may seem very similar, but there is a slight difference between them. Below we have compared MA in Public Policy and MBA in Public Policy in and pointed out some common differences between them.
| Parameters | MBA in Public Policy | MA in Public Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Level of Study | Postgraduate | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
| Course Overview | This course trains students in skills that can be employed to influence legislators and for forming policies that can serve social purposes. | This course specializes in the area of policy-making thus training the candidates to be public officials and leaders, change-makers, researchers, and much more. |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university | Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university |
| Admission Process | Entrance/ Merit-Based | Entrance/ Merit-Based |
| Average Course Fees | INR 1.40 Lakh to 19 Lakhs | INR 12,000 to 1.28 Lakh |
| Job options | Researcher, Environment Consultant, Public Policy Manager, Research Analyst, Duty Manager, Welfare Officer, Consultant, etc. | Policy Analyst, Lobbyist, Government Analyst, Research Associate, Assistant Professor, Public Affairs Manager, Director of Public Policy, etc. |
| Salary Offered | INR 1 Lakh – 6 Lakhs | INR 3 Lakhs to 9 Lakhs |
MBA in Public Policy: Job Prospects and Career Options
Career opportunities after MBA in Public Policy are challenging and require good skills in communication, management, and organization. Professionals of this field must be good at decision making and are required to think out of the box and work for the public betterment. A career in the field of Public Policymaking can be very enriching and provide a unique perspective and exciting experiences to a candidate.
Some job profiles with descriptions and their average salary:
| Job Position | Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | A researcher's main duty is to research by using various methodologies and sources; they must be able to obtain recent and relevant data for the employers. | INR 6.85 Lakhs |
| Public Policy Manager | A public policy manager is responsible for managing the development of policy programs; they play a crucial role in any organization. They also ensure that the strategic objectives of the organization are fulfilled. | INR 8.27 Lakhs |
| Policy Advisor | The responsibilities of a policy advisor vary according to their department or agency but their duties include working with the team to identify and develop key policy areas, assembling, interpreting, and analyzing the information, briefing partners, and other external organizations. | INR 6.2 Lakhs |
| Public Affairs Specialist | Public affairs specialists help to maintain the relationship between an organization and the public. The title 'public affairs officer' is more commonly used in the military and government agencies; individuals with similar positions in civilian organizations or businesses may be known as public relations specialists or communications specialists. | INR 5.94 Lakhs |
| Environment Consultant | An environment consultant creates solutions to environmental problems, build upon existing solutions to make them better, conduct hazardous-waste management studies, perform on the environmental impact of construction projects, analyze scientific data. | INR 4.43 Lakhs |
MBA in Public Policy: Scope
Students who have completed the MBA Public Policy program have numerous career options. The future scopes for students of MBA Public Policy are given below:
- MBA Public Policy graduates can appear for NTA-UGC NET-JRF that will grant them eligibility for employment as Assistant Professor in Indian colleges and universities, and also open up research avenues in top universities.
- Students, after completing their post-graduation in Public Policy, can appear in different competitive examinations for government jobs, including UPSC CSE, IFS, and PSC of different states.
- After completion of the MBA, Public Policy course students will be able to choose a career as per their skills and area of interest. You can go for higher education or you can also opt for a decent job and it all depends on you whether you want to do the job after completing this course or you wish to do research for the betterment of the world.
- MBA Post-graduate students can opt for pursuing an MPhil Public Policy. This will present candidates with a scope to gain more thorough and intense knowledge over the subject and will provide them with opportunities for academic research.
- Students can also appear for NTA-UGC NET-JRF that will grant them eligibility for employment as Assistant Professor in colleges and universities, and also open up research avenues in top universities and colleges.
MBA in Public Policy: FAQs
Ques. What is the duration of the MBA Public Policy degree program?
Ques. What is the full form of MBA Public Policy?
Ques. What are the best jobs after MBA in Public Policy?
Ques. Is it compulsory to appear for the entrance test for MBA (Public Policy)?
Ques. What percentage of marks do I require in graduation for admission to the MBA Public Policy course?
Ques. What is the average tuition fee for MBA Public Policy?
Ques. How much salary can I expect after completion of an MBA Public Policy course?
Ques. What is the admission process for MBA Public Policy?
Ques. What is the average salary package after completion of the MBA Public Policy?
Ques. What are the areas of employment for MBA Public Policy graduates?
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