Fudan University

1. Introduction to SIRPA

Fudan University is a comprehensive university based in Shanghai, China’s most internationalized metropolitan city. It is a top university in the world, ranked at the 34th place in the QS World University Rankings (2021). Its campus hosts the biggest group of foreign students in China. The School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA) is a leading school in political and public affairs. Its Politics and International Studies ranked at the 19th place in the QS World University Rankings by subject (2014). Supported by its interdisciplinary structure, strong international publications and exchanges, faculty resources and frontier research, SIRPA has been running several English-taught MA programs, including Chinese Politics and Diplomacy, Europe and Asia in Global Affairs (double degree with Science Po Paris), International Public Policy, as well as one English-taught Ph.D. program in International Politics.

2. Introduction to the Program

In response to the demand for policy analysts and practitioners with an international vision, SIRPA started to build a two-year MA program in International Public Policy (IPP) in 2014. This program combines multiple strengths. First, China, after decades of rapid development, is now the world’s second largest economy. China’s domestic demands for policy experts are proliferating. Meanwhile, as China is becoming a key player in global public affairs, more opportunities for international jobs are being created. Second, Shanghai is China’s economic capital and a vibrant global city. It has China’s first Free Trade Zone and is accommodating the head-quarter of the New Development Bank. The IPP program welcomes students with diverse academic background such as social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, among others. The program emphasizes strong analytical capacities, quantitative skills, policy orientation, and an international vision. The training in IPP will prepare students for leadership and analytical positions in public, private, and nonprofits organizations in or out of China. It also sets solid foundation for further Ph.D. studies.

3. Training goals for students

(1) Grasp basic skills of policy analysis and program evaluation and have a solid knowledge of social science research methods.

(2) Have considerable understanding of certain issues in international public policy and can systematically analyze domestic and international public policies.

(3) Can independently carry out academic research and write professional articles and consulting reports.

(4) Have strong abilities to research and write on policy issues and to design and propose recommendations.

4. Degree and Requirements

(1) A master in Management Science with a major of Public Policy will be awarded.

(2) The term is 2 years. Students can apply to extend the studies, with a maximum of 5 years for graduation purpose. Extended semesters students will pay regular tuition each year.

(3) 30 credits minimum are required for graduation purpose. Students must pass all courses taken and have a GPA above 2.0. The credits should include 15 credits from mandatory courses, 8 credits from elective courses (category I) and 7 credits (category II).

(4) Students are required to complete and defend a graduation thesis or policy design. With the consent of the advisor, students can choose either write graduation thesis or policy design. Graduation thesis is for students interested in further academic study after graduation, and the requirements are the same as those for a MA degree. Policy design is mainly for students interested in entering a certain policy area after graduation. Students who do a policy design are required to do internship for a policy issue and use the policy design to analyze the policy issues in depth and raise policy suggestions.

(5) Students must meet all other requirements for graduation.

For the details of the program, check here