Governments today face a world that’s more complex and unpredictable than ever. While science and technology offer solutions to global challenges like climate change and ageing, they bring new ethical, legal, and social dilemmas too. At the same time, trust in institutions is waning, and public sector jobs are disappearing.
In Hong Kong, 10,000 civil service jobs will be cut by 2027. In the US, federal workers are on edge, living under constant threat of layoffs. Over in the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has proposed budget cuts across Whitehall, putting an estimated 50,000 civil service jobs at risk. It’s a scary time but also one that calls for courage and creativity in policy leadership. Here are three universities paving the way for these change makers:
The PPOL is run by a team of dedicated academic leaders and draws from experts across HKUST. Source: HKUST, Division of Public Policy
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
To explore how science and technology shapes public policy, there’s no better place than The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) Division of Public Policy (PPOL). Here, leading minds from engineering, business, science, and the social sciences come together to tackle big policy questions. And with a focus on impact, its degrees offer the kind of interdisciplinary training required to make a difference.
One of them is Hong Kong’s only two-year Master of Public Policy (MPP) programme. This extra time means instead of scratching the surface, you’ll explore both practical and theoretical applications of public policy through one of two tracks – Science & Technology Policy or Environmental Policy & Sustainability.
“The duration allows students to fully engage with their chosen field,” says Professor Naubahar Sharif, Head of the Division of Public Policy. “We use real-world cases extensively and strengthen professional connections through the Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE).”
In the eight-month PAE, you will work in teams to deliver actionable solutions for real policy challenges set by elite partners like PwC and Deloitte, leading think tanks, NGOs, and government agencies. By graduation, you’ll be ready to work as an analyst, manager, consultant, or researcher in information technology, telecommunications, environment, energy, healthcare, transportation, or finance.
Meanwhile, the Master of Public Management (MPM) helps you rethink how governments and organisations respond to today’s most urgent challenges. “Our approach is interdisciplinary and forward-looking, our students learn to explore and embrace the complexity of policy problems,” says Professor Kira Matus, Associate Dean of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (Taught Postgraduate Studies).
Through a comparative, case-based approach, you will look at policy management at local, regional, and global levels. Core themes include sustainability and technology innovation, with a focus on how these issues impact public sector decision-making.
Learn more about fast-tracking your leadership journey at HKUST.
The Sanford School of Public Policy is ranked among the top 10% of graduate schools in the US. Source: Duke University
The future isn’t set in stone; it’s written in policy — and that’s how Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy strives to make an impact. It’s in the school’s DNA to combat complex societal challenges. Whether fighting for fiscal policy measures to halt the deterioration of the environment in Thailand, combatting misinformation in the US, or reaching effective measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 in its home city of Durham, North Carolina, Duke Sanford is at the forefront of shaping policy.
Duke Sanford’s residential Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) programmes ensure existing and emerging leaders have the tools needed to drive innovative policy and sustainable development into the future.
The MPP is a great fit for early-career professionals passionate about leveraging the plans, laws, and behaviours adopted by a government to make a difference. You’ll learn to develop evidence-based policy solutions through a comprehensive curriculum that combines economics, ethics, and quantitative analysis with real-world applications.
For mid-career professionals with at least five years of work experience looking to dive into the global realm of sustainable development, the MIDP programme is what you’re looking for. With this programme, students develop a comprehensive understanding of international development policy through core coursework, practicums, and electives.
Students can tailor their studies to align with their career goals, choosing electives and special topics that focus on governance, sustainability, economic policy, and more. The curriculum ensures a balance between theoretical knowledge, applied skills, and real-world experience, preparing students to deepen their impact in the field.
The London School of Economics (LSE) was ranked the top university in London for 2025 across various publications, like The Sunday Times and The Guardian. Source: London School of Economics and Political Science
Year after year, the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) continues to be a launchpad for future policymakers who can transform society. It’s no small feat, cementing LSE’s reputation as one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
While impressive, the campus is anything but standoffish. Here, faculty, practitioners, and students from over 60 nations congregate in their central London campus to exchange ideas and perspectives. You will foster a sense of global awareness and see what navigating between the different opinions and perspectives of economists, lawyers, financiers, and philosophers is like.
Such rich debates pair well with programmes offered by the SPP, like the Master of Public Policy (MPP). It combines academic rigour with practical applications to develop a unique understanding of the complex challenges of contemporary governance across core discipline perspectives including economics and econometrics, political science, quantitative methods, public management and philosophy. This strong discipline focus core, plus room to specialise, further ensures you gain the tools and approaches needed to reform and enhance public service provision.
By the end of this intensive nine-month programme, you’ll be ready for the next step in your career. You’ll be more confident and competent in the craft of government to return to your profession and take on new challenges.
While the MPP is designed primarily for working professionals with over five years of experience, the range of programmes at LSE is vast and wide. There’s a degree for everyone here, whether they’re in the early stages of their career or at the executive level.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
