Overview

The Public Policy programme at University of California, Berkeley is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the practical and applied dimensions of modern governance. This master level course encourages participants to develop sophisticated techniques for assessing policy alternatives and evaluating their social consequences across various sectors.

Students engage in a collaborative learning environment that prioritises teamwork and direct interaction with expert faculty. The curriculum is structured to transform complex policy issues into intelligible frameworks for officials in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, ensuring graduates can lead effectively in diverse professional environments.

Why Public Policy at University of California, Berkeley?

The programme is hosted at the Goldman School of Public Policy, which is renowned for its emphasis on innovation and leadership. Students benefit from a small class size that fosters a close-knit community, allowing for intensive faculty supervision while working on real-world policy problems for actual clients.

The university offers extensive interdisciplinary opportunities, including the ability to pursue concurrent degrees in fields such as Public Health, Law, Engineering, and Social Welfare. This unique structure allows students to tailor their education to specific career goals while leveraging the vast resources of a world-leading research institution.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 6570 per year
National fee: USD 6570 per year
Local fee: USD 6570 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is built around a core set of analytical tools and practical experiences. Modules may include:

Policy Analysis
Public Management
Economics for Public Policy
Quantitative Methods
Policy Internship
Political Decision-Making
Ethics and Public Policy

Careers with Public Policy

Graduates are prepared for high-level roles within government agencies, international non-profit organisations, and private sector consultancy firms. The programme focuses on developing strategies for the successful implementation of public policies, making alumni highly sought after for positions involving strategic leadership and visionary management.

Common career paths include policy analysts, legislative aides, and programme directors. By working on real policy problems during their studies, students gain the practical experience necessary to transition into influential roles that shape social and economic outcomes on a global scale.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

The Economics of Public Policy Analysis

Public Leadership and Management

Decision Analysis, Modeling, and Quantitative Methods

Advanced Policy Analysis –Thesis Seminar

Political and Agency Management Aspects of Public Policy

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-26 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

60 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Berkeley, United States

Disciplines

Public Policy View 404 other Masters in Public Policy in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;

a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and

enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

Evidence of English Language Proficiency

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Letters of Recommendation

Application Fee: The application fee is not refundable. If you are a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident, the application fee is $105; for all others, the fee is $125.

Work experience

Although GSPP does not require work experience for admission, applying to the program with at least three to four years of relevant full-time, post-undergraduate work experience is strongly encouraged.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

6570 USD / year

≈ 6570 USD / year
Out-of-State

6570 USD / year

≈ 6570 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

6570 USD / year

≈ 6570 USD / year

Living costs

Berkeley

United States

1750 - 2820 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

Interested in financing your studies? Find a student loan that works for you.

MPOWER Financing No cosigner. No collateral. No hidden fees.

Check your Eligibility

Get the funding you need to study in the U.S. or Canada - with a process that's fast, simple, and built for international students.

Flexible loans from US$2,001 to US$100,000
Fixed interest rates -- no inflation surprises
No upfront fees or prepayment penalties
Accepted at 500+ universities across the U.S. & Canada
100% online application -- instant conditional offer
Free visa & career support through our Path2Success program

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Public Policy.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Work experience

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Berkeley

Financing

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners