Master of Arts in Public Policy

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Master of Arts in Public Policy

O.P. Jindal Global University

Applications for April 2025 intake are now open

Priority deadline: March 30, 2025

Live Q&A: Application Guidance and Support


Click on 'Request more info' to know more about the programme.

Total tuition fee: INR 250,000 ($2,920 USD)

For International learners, tuition fee would be the local currency equivalent on the day of payment. Learn more

12-24 months

12 courses with an estimate student effort of 15-18 hours a week

Master's degree

Offered by O.P. Jindal Global University

100% online

Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required

Flexible elective options

Option to choose cross electives in International Relations. Learn more

Academics

The M.A. in Public Policy uses a transdisciplinary approach to comprehensively study and analyse contemporary political, economic, and social issues. The curriculum is carefully structured to impart intense training in policy theory, covering key literature and policy debates. You will develop and build on your quantitative and qualitative analytical skills and receive exposure to real-world policy-making and related management processes. The program's first year builds the foundations required for a broad-based understanding of public policy before offering students the choice of the data analytics and policy design tracks in the second year. The second year of the program will also give you the option of working on a faculty-mentored master's dissertation to help develop the capacity to conduct independent research.

  • 12 courses; 60 credits

  • 12 months (estimated learning load of 15 - 18 hours a week)

  • The curriculum comprises core and elective courses.

  • Each course accounts for five credits and requires a total study time of 75 hours. This includes time for assimilation of instructional material (pre‑recorded lectures and essential readings), live interactive sessions, discussion, and assessments besides time for self‑study.

  • Each course is spread over 11 weeks, with the last two weeks reserved for end-of-course evaluations.

  • Students will develop and build quantitative and qualitative analytical skills and receive exposure to real-world policymaking and related management processes.

  • A unique feature of the programme is the option of a master's dissertation in the last quarter, allowing students to work on a faculty-mentored master's dissertation that will develop the capacity to conduct independent research.

Term 1:

(Core courses, 5 credits each)

  • Microeconomics: Foundation and Insights

  • Theories of Public Policy

  • Qualitative Analysis and Survey Design

Term 2:

(Core courses, 5 credits each)

  • Law, Governance and Public Policy

  • Macroeconomics: Foundation and Insights

  • Statistical Methods and Data Analysis

Term 3:

(2 Core courses, 1 Elective - 5 credits each)

  • Data Analytics Track

    • Econometrics Theory and Practice

    • Introduction to Data Science

    • Elective 1

  • Policy Design Track

    • International Organizations and Policy Regimes

    • Public Finance

    • Elective 1

Term 4:

(1 Core course, 2 Electives - 5 credits each)

  • Data Analytics Track

    • Machine Learning, AI and Public Policy

    • Elective 2

    • Elective 3

  • Policy Design Track

    • Programme Design and Evaluation

    • Elective 2

    • Elective 3

Dissertation Track

  • You can also choose to work on a faculty-guided master's dissertation instead of two electives.

  • Based on their research interest, students will be assigned a faculty mentor to help them develop their dissertation thesis.

  • Students must indicate their preference for the dissertation track at the end of the third quarter.

  • The dissertation workshop must be completed before students commence their dissertation writing.

  • The dissertation is worth eight credits and runs in the last quarter.

  • During the fourth quarter students focus primarily on developing the dissertation thesis under the guidance of their faculty mentor.

Elective Courses

The Non-dissertation track which allows students to choose up to three electives from the following list:

School Electives:

  • Complexity and Public Policy

  • Democratic Governance

  • Development Economics

  • Economics of Reforms and Regulations

  • Environmental Issues, Policies and Practice

  • Gender and Development

  • Identity and Policy

  • Introduction to Health Policy

  • Social Foundations of Public Policy

  • Methods of Impact EvaluationUrbanisation and Development

Cross Electives:

  • International Relations Theory

  • Law and Ethics in International Relations

  • Climate Change, Migration and Human Security

  • Negotiating and Resolving International Conflicts

  • Foreign Policy of Great, Middle and Small Powers

You can also complete the following industry certifications offered on Coursera to earn credit waivers:

Data analytics track

Policy design track

Upon completing the recommended industry certifications, students can receive waivers for up to two courses or ten credits toward their degree.

Not ready to commit yet? Experience non-credit degree courses

Prepare for the M.A. Public Policy Online Program by completing the following MOOC courses (non-credited) hosted on Coursera. These courses will help you build familiarity with the program and the field of Public Policy:

  • Ethics in Public Policy: Delve into the ethical considerations that shape policy decisions and learn how to navigate complex moral dilemmas in public service.

  • Essence of Leadership: Explore the fundamental principles of effective leadership and how they apply to public policy.

  • Introduction to Academic Writing: Enhance your academic writing skills to excel in the program and effectively communicate your policy analysis and research findings.


Documents Required

  1. Academic History - Bachelor’s Degree/ Undergraduate Degree
  2. Valid ID Card -
  • Indian learners: Aadhar Card / Passport / PAN Card / Voter ID Card
  • International learners: Passport / Govt. Issued ID Card

Programme Schedule

The programme is offered in 2 intakes: April and October.

Not ready to enrol yet? Complete these professional certificates stacking into your degree credits.

Upto 15 Credits will be recognised for learners who have completed ANY one of the following: -

Not ready to commit? These courses may provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors in a related degree program which can help you decide if the topic or university is right for you.


Want to learn more about the programme?

Have questions? please contact online@jgu.edu.in.


Documents Required

  1. Academic History - Bachelor’s Degree/ Undergraduate Degree
  2. Valid ID Card -
  • Indian learners: Aadhar Card / Passport / PAN Card / Voter ID Card
  • International learners: Passport / Govt. Issued ID Card

Programme Schedule

The programme is offered in 2 intakes: April and October.

Not ready to enrol yet? Complete these professional certificates stacking into your degree credits.

Upto 15 Credits will be recognised for learners who have completed ANY one of the following: -

Not ready to commit? These courses may provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors in a related degree program which can help you decide if the topic or university is right for you.


Want to learn more about the programme?

Have questions? please contact online@jgu.edu.in.

Curriculum

ITM 705 Microsoft Windows OS: In this introductory graduate course, students will explore the basics of computer architecture and use of contemporary operating systems and networking. Covers hardware requirements, components, software compatibility, and system configuration and administration as well as other key operating systems functions. Popular and business-focused desktop and mobile device operating systems will be examined, as well as enterprise and open-source server implementations.

ITM 706 Linux OS: In this introductory graduate course, students will explore the basics of computer architecture and use of contemporary operating systems and networking. Covers system installation topics as well as other key operating systems functions. Networking, virtualization, cloud computing, and security concepts are introduced. Popular and business-focused desktop and mobile device operating systems will be examined, as well as enterprise and open-source server implementations.

ITM 707 OS Security: Explores the basics of computer architecture and use of contemporary operating systems and networking. Covers software troubleshooting, security implementation, and operational procedures and best practices. Documentation, communication, and professionalism are addressed. Popular and business-focused desktop and mobile device operating systems will be examined, as well as enterprise and open-source server implementations.

ITMD 504 Programming and Application Foundations: This course covers creation and deployment of modern, standards-compliant web pages written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in the context of the client-server architecture of the web. Fundamentals of programming in a modern programming language is covered. Basic data modeling concepts are also introduced, including hands-on database design, implementation, and administration of single-user and shared multi-user database applications using a contemporary relational database management system. These topics are taught in an integrated hands-on manner, where students will learn how frontend, backend, and database systems are written and deployed to work together in a full stack web application.

ITMD 513 Open Source Programming: Contemporary open-source programming languages and frameworks are presented. The student considers design and development topics in system, graphical user interface, network and web programming. Dynamic scripting languages are covered using object-oriented, concurrent and functional programming paradigms. Concepts gained throughout the course are reinforced with numerous exercises which will culminate in an open-source programming project.

ITMO 540 Introduction to Data Networks and the Internet: This course covers current and evolving data network technologies, protocols, network components, and the networks that use them, focusing on the Internet and related LANs. The state of worldwide networking and its evolution will be discussed. This course covers the Internet architecture, organization, and protocols including Ethernet, 802.11, routing, the TCP/UDP/IP suite, DNS, SNMP, DHCP, and more. Students will be presented with Internet-specific networking tools for searching, testing, debugging, and configuring networks and network-connected host computers. There will be opportunities for network configuration and hands-on use of tools.

ITMO 556 Introduction to Open Source Software: This course will cover the fundamental concepts and philosophy behind free and open source software (FOSS). The course will discuss open source and free software licensing; open source business strategies and impact; FOSS utilization in the enterprise; and development methodologies. Students will learn to set up and configure an industry-standard open source operating system, including system installation, and basic system administration; system architecture; package management; command–line commands; devices, filesystems, and the filesystem hierarchy standard. Also addressed are applications, shells, scripting and data management; user interfaces and desktops; administrative tasks; essential system services; networking fundamentals; and security, as well as support issues for open source software. Multiple distributions are covered with emphasis on the two leading major distribution forks.

ITMO 554 Operating System Virtualization: This course will cover technologies allowing multiple instances of operating systems to be run on a single physical system. Concepts addressed will include hypervisors, virtual machines, paravirtualization and virtual appliances. Both server and desktop virtualization will be examined in detail, with brief coverage of storage virtualization and application virtualization. Business benefits, business cases and security implications of virtualization will be discussed. Extensive hands-on assignments and a group project will allow students to gain first-hand experience of this technology.

ITMO 544 Cloud Computing Technologies: Computing applications hosted on dynamically-scaled, virtual resources available as services are considered. Collaborative and non-collaborative "cloud-resident" applications are analyzed with respect to cost, device/location independence, scalability, reliability, security, and sustainability. Commercial and local cloud architectures are examined. A group-based integration of course topics will result in a project employing various cloud computing technologies. 

ITMS 564 Cloud Computing Security: You will learn how to effectively secure cloud-based services and infrastructure in an enterprise setting. Areas addressed will include design principles of secure cloud computing, data security, platform and infrastructure security, application security and the Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and DevSecOps processes, and security operations. The course will cover the legal, risk, and compliance aspects of cloud computing, all in the context of a set of industry-standard learning domains.

ITMO 563 Software as a Service: Software as a Service (SaaS) allows consumers to use a provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure, accessible from client devices over a network through either a thin client interface, such as a web browser, or a program interface. Students will explore different approaches, techniques, tools and technologies to build, deploy, and manage cloud native applications.

ITMO 564 Platform as a Service: Platform as a Service (PaaS) allows developers to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure developer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages, libraries, services, and tools supported by the cloud provider. Students learn to develop applications and services using popular platforms and service tools, and to manage deployed applications as well as configuration settings for the application-hosting environment. 

ITMO 565 Infrastructure as a Service: Infrastructure as a Service (SaaS) allows users to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources which then allows them to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. Students will learn how to provision, deploy and manage operating systems, storage, and deployed applications as well as virtual networking components such as switches, routers, and firewalls in a cloud environment accessible remotely through a network.