Below are some frequently asked questions when entering the program. If you have any further questions, please contact the MPA office at 86-10-62513870.

How much is tuition?

Beginning in 2025, the tuition is RMB 128500 for 2.5 years. It includes the fall and spring semesters. It is subject to change without notice.

Do I have to choose an area of specialization?

MPA students could choose a specific area of study. Our program offers specialized study in the following: good governance and leadership, public safety and emergency management, public policy, government operation management, regional development and urban governance,  urban-rural development and spatial governance, public financial management and tax, health policy and management, social security, public organization and human resources management, management of non-profit organization.

In 2025, it is planned to add three new directions: Veterans Affairs Management, Smart Public Governance, and Global Governance, providing students with more diverse options for their education and development after enrollment.

How are MPA classes delivered?

The MPA program offered all courses through in-person instruction in a traditional classroom setting. In addition to offline courses, we also invite industry experts and renowned scholars to give online lectures for students, focusing on improving their ability to link theory to practice.

How long will it take me to complete the MPA degree?

MPA students are requested to take 5 credits for general education courses, 11 credits for required course, 5 credits for core courses, 5 credits for required specialization courses, 8 credits for elective courses and 2 credits for internship, which can ensure both of their knowledge breadth and depth in the field of public administration. Afterwards, individual student can choose a certain study subfield which is tightly connected with his/her job obligations so that a faculty member can be selected to act as his/her supervisor. After this substantial class-taking they should fulfill to write a master thesis and pass an oral defense to get the degree.

The program can be completed in 2 to 3 years with continuous full-time enrollment. If a student elects to enroll part-time, the program can be completed in 2.5 to 5 years, depending upon how many courses are taken per semester. Students can apply for the maximum of 2-year-extension of graduation, if they cannot graduate in 3 years. Surely, students may also apply for early graduation, if they complete their academic requirements early.

How many students are enrolled in the program?

There are currently 1095 students in the program. Roughly 27.40% in 2023, and 31.32% in 2024. The percentage of female is approximately 50%. 9% of the students are ethnic minorities in China.

How many enrolled students complete the program?

The completion rates of the2016-2020 cohorts are reported in the Table below.

 Table. The Completion Rates of MPA Graduates (the cohorts of 2016-2020)

What are the placements for internships and jobs following graduation?

The vast majority of students of our program are staff in post. They fulfill the internship requirement by performing work at their current job positions, and stay at the position after graduation. They are from a variety of public sectors in the cell and all levels of local governments, as well as from public institutions and state-owned enterprises.

Table. The job Placement of MPA Graduates in 2024.

Can I get joint degrees?

There are a number of international exchange programs and joint degree programs at both the Renmin University and SPAP levels.If your work unit gives consent and your qualifications meet the annually updated admission criteria of the international institutions collaborating with the university and SPAP, you can participate in the joint degree program.

What is the organizational relationship between program and university?

MPA program is managed directly by SPAP, but we accept many policy guidance and regulation from the University. The Graduate School is in charge of our program’s functioning policies in admission, coursework, extra-curricular activities and thesis-writing. The Graduate Students’ Affairs Department is in charge of all graduate students’ campus life and psychological support. The International Affairs Department undertakes MPA students’ international exchange. The Logistics Group is responsible for providing food catering, accommodation and other logistics affairs.

How does the program offer financial aids and assistantships to current students?

Both of the University and SPAP offers scholarships to encourage MPA to get excellent performances in course-learning and thesis-writing. SPAP also provides financial aids to help students to overcome possible financial difficulties based on case-by-case approval system. In addition, many TA and RA positions with assistantships have been offered to MPA students both by the University and SPAP.

What’s the completion rate of our program for class entering five years prior to data year that graduated within 3 years?

The completion rate of our program varies in different years. Generally speaking, over 60% of students can graduate within 3 years.