Master of Public Administration
ASG’s flagship degree, preparing public leaders, policymakers and development practitioners to shape Africa’s governance and development agenda.
Opening
Design policy, implement it, and judge whether it worked
The Master of Public Administration is ASG’s flagship degree. It prepares public leaders, policymakers and development practitioners to shape Africa’s governance and development agenda. Grounded in the continent’s own realities, the MPA goes further than traditional public administration study. It brings leadership development, policy innovation and hands-on practice together, so that graduates can design policy, implement it, and judge whether it worked.
Who this programme is for
Who this programme is for
The MPA is built for emerging and mid-career professionals who intend to spend their careers in public service, policy or development, and who want the training to do it well.
Our second cohort joined in August 2026: 65 students from 15 countries, studying alongside the returning pioneer cohort who are now in their second year.
- Emerging professionals heading into public service
- Mid-career professionals in policy or development
- Anyone intending to spend their career in public service
What you will study
What you will study
Two years, two purposes: a shared foundation, then specialisation, strategy and impact.
Year one. Foundations of leadership, policy and institutions.
Students build a shared grounding in African governance, public policy analysis, institutional economics, political economy, research methods, and the leadership mindsets public service demands. By the end of year one, students understand how leadership, institutions, politics and economics combine to shape public outcomes in Africa.
Year two. Specialisation, strategy and impact.
Students choose one of three tracks.
MPA, General Track
For students seeking broad mastery across governance and leadership.
- Democracy, Politics and Institutions
- Comparative Public Management
- Strategic Leadership and Change
MPA in Human Development
For leaders working to improve people’s wellbeing through social policy.
- Strategies and Policies for Human Development
- Social Protection and Welfare Systems
- Organisational Theory and Human Behaviour
MPA in Natural Resources Governance
For leaders shaping Africa’s natural wealth, climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
- Natural Resource Conflict Resolution and Governance in Africa
- Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Learning in practice
Learning in practice
Work Integrated Learning
Every student completes a field placement inside a real institution: a government ministry, a regional body, an NGO or a private-sector partner. The placement builds practical experience and opens professional networks that outlast the degree.
Capstone project
A supervised piece of work on a real problem. Students produce a policy innovation, an institutional reform proposal, or an applied research project, and have to show that the solution could actually be delivered.
Teaching across both years runs on case studies, simulations and leadership coaching rather than lectures alone.
What you will be able to do
Graduates leave able to lead with integrity and a pan-African outlook, design and implement evidence-based policy, read and navigate complex political-economy landscapes, manage institutions and public resources, and hold their own as African voices in global policy debate.
Who teaches it
Who teaches it
MPA teaching is led by ASG faculty and the Director of Academic Affairs. Faculty teach MPA students in leadership, qualitative research, and pedagogy and andragogy.
Entry requirements and how to apply
Entry requirements and how to apply
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Why choose the ASG MPA
Built for Africa
A curriculum rooted in Africa’s priorities, institutions, histories and visions for the future.
Leadership from the inside out
The values, mindsets and ethical grounding public service actually requires.
Learning by doing
Case studies, field placements and applied projects at every stage.
Faculty without borders
Leading African and global scholars, practitioners and visiting experts.
A network that moves the continent
Emerging leaders and changemakers from across Africa and beyond.
Purpose, not just prestige
ASG exists to shape Africa’s future, one integrity-driven leader at a time.
What are the MPA programme facts?
Two years, full-time, in person in Kigali, 120 credits, taught in English.
Can I study the MPA part-time?
The MPA is offered full-time and in person. The Executive Master of Leadership and Governance is the programme designed for working professionals, delivered approximately 80% online.
Which track should I choose?
You choose your track in year two. Most students decide after the core courses, and staff advise on the choice.
Start your application
Applications are made online. Read the admissions information first, then apply.