Everything you need to know to apply for the Executive Master of Public Administration
Applying for the Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) might be the best career decision you ever make.
The EMPA program is a two-year postgraduate qualification designed for the unique context of the public sector. Over the last 25 years, it has provided a rigorous practice-focused degree for high-performing public sector leaders and managers who want to increase their knowledge base and become effective systems leaders.
It is an intentionally challenging program that stretches participants. But the EMPA's structure allows you to balance study with work, and we will support you every step of the way. Our alumni agree the EMPA is a career-shaping program that's worth the time commitment.
Below are the answers to some of the questions we regularly get asked, and how you can begin your EMPA journey.
If you still want to know more, visit the EMPA course page or contact us on engage@anzsog.edu.au.
You can also book a 1-on-1 consultation with ANZSOG staff to discuss whether the EMPA is right for you.
What is unique about the EMPA?
The EMPA is a degree that blends deep academic knowledge and practical application. We deliver it in partnership with nine leading Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand universities, and puts you into a diverse cohort drawn from agencies across ten jurisdictions.
Our expert faculty and contributors are drawn from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Europe and the USA. They bring years of experience in both teaching and working with governments. Content is adapted for each cohort to ensure that it reflects the reality of the modern public sector, and the needs of the future.
A key feature of the EMPA is the chance to work closely with, and learn from, public sector colleagues from different agencies who will bring their knowledge, passion and experience to enrich your experience. The EMPA is designed to encourage two-way learning and you will work closely with your cohort and develop a network that lasts the rest of your career
How do I know the EMPA is right for me?
The EMPA is designed for public sector leaders preparing for greater executive responsibility and is ideal for experienced senior public servants at APS EL2+ level (or equivalent). If you want to understand systems leadership, and become better at navigating complexity and driving transformational change, the EMPA can be for you.
All applicants must demonstrate evidence of leadership potential, at least five years relevant work experience, and a strong commitment to career development and a career in the public sector. Applicants must also demonstrate the capability to complete a rigorous Master’s program.
I want to undertake the EMPA – what are my next steps?
All prospective applicants must apply through the ANZSOG website. As part of the application process, applicants nominate their preferred conferring university and provide supporting documentation.
The EMPA is typically undertaken with financial sponsorship and support from an agency, or the public service commission in your jurisdiction, and we strongly encourage applicants to discuss participation with their organisation before applying.
Once we have received and approved your application, we will facilitate enrolment on your behalf into one of our conferring universities.
Applications for 2027 commencement are open until 30 November 2026. However, as the application process requires multiple steps, we recommend beginning your application as early as possible, and letting us know any questions that you have.
How do arrange my agency nomination?
Applications are coordinated differently through each jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions Public Sector Commissions coordinate applications, in others individual agencies do.
If you work for the governments of the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria or Western Australia, please contact your department or agency’s Human Resources or Learning and Development team about your application or expression of interest.
If you work for the Northern Territory government, please contact the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment at swpd.ocpe@nt.gov.au; about your application or expression of interest.
If you work for the Aotearoa New Zealand government, contact your department or agency’s Human Resources or Learning and Development team about your application or expression of interest. Alternatively, you can contact the Leadership Development Centre at LDCProgrammes@ldc.govt.nz about your application or expression of interest.
If you work for the Queensland government, your Public Sector Commission has a limited number of scholarships available for the program. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship via your jurisdiction’s Public Sector Commission, we encourage you to contact development@psc.qld.gov.au for further information including dates for application submission.
Who are the EMPA’s conferring universities?
Students can choose from nine universities. The following have EMPA specific information in their handbook pages.
The following partner universities do not currently have an EMPA handbook page available; please contact us for more information on their electives.
Charles Darwin University
Curtin University
Te Herenga Waka Victoria University Wellington
You can choose any conferring university, not just one in your home jurisdiction.
Can I undertake the EMPA if I do not have an undergraduate degree?
Yes. Applicants without an undergraduate degree may still be eligible through an approved university pathway.
For Australian applicants, Monash University offers a pathway through the Graduate Certificate in Public Policy. Students complete three university electives and the EMPA foundation subject, Delivering Public Value. These subjects meet the requirements of the Graduate Certificate and provide a pathway into the EMPA. Students who continue into the EMPA can complete both qualifications without taking additional subjects.
For applicants in Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington may consider applicants without an undergraduate degree. Admission is based on the university's assessment of professional experience and other eligibility requirements.
How can I balance the EMPA with my work and family responsibilities?
The EMPA is a major commitment, but is delivered at an intensity designed to maximise learning, and cohort bonding, while still allowing public servants to balance their work and family responsibilities.
Each subject has only four days or equivalent of contact time, support by self-paced learning. This and choice in the mode of delivery of university subjects (online/in person) makes easier to balance study with professional commitments.
Our team is there to support you through your EMPA journey, from application to completion, to make the learning experience as easy as possible. Students have four years to complete the program, and the blended delivery allows students some flexibility to study in a way that suits them.
For students based outside capital cities, some of our partner universities offer online subjects, allowing access for regional students, and we advise applicants to make their own inquiries as this can differ from year to year.
What is the structure and time commitment?
The EMPA is a two-year part-time postgraduate degree featuring eight core subjects, including the capstone Work-based Project, and three electives. Students have four years to complete the degree, although it is highly recommended to do all the core first-year units in your first year.
The core subjects are delivered by ANZSOG academics, and elective subjects are delivered by our conferring universities. Each subject consists of around 24 hours of direct instruction and approximately 140 hours of study time, research, reading and assignment work.
The EMPA is delivered through a dynamic blended learning approach, combining online classes with face-to-face and place-based learning in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and cross-jurisdictional networking opportunities. The face-to-face components of the course will not be available online. All core subjects, regardless of delivery mode, have a minimum 75 per cent attendance requirement
University elective contact time is dictated by your chosen university. Electives are generally drawn from postgraduate offerings of the faculties or schools of business, commerce, economics, government, law and political and social science.