The Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) is a two-year graduate program at Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) under Kathmandu University (KU).
Introduced in July 2019, the program combines public policy, governance, management, economics, research, and quantitative analysis.
It carries 66 credits and includes coursework, specialization study, professional exposure or internship, and a policy capstone. The stated intake capacity is 40 seats.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Course: | Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) |
| University: | Kathmandu University |
| School: | Kathmandu University School of Management |
| Academic level: | Master's degree |
| Duration: | 2 years |
| Total credits: | 66 |
| Seats: | 40 |
| Entrance context: | KUSOM Management Admission Test (KUMAT) |
| Academic area: | Public policy, governance, and management |
| Department: | Department of Public Policy and Management |
MPPM is structured around public policy, public affairs, governance, and management. Its academic focus includes the way public policies are developed, assessed, administered, and connected with institutions and wider social and economic conditions.
The program gives particular attention to Nepal's policy-making context while also using comparative and multidisciplinary perspectives. Students study policy together with economics, statistics, public finance, public institutions, human resource management, governance, procurement, research methods, and leadership.
The program is intended for young and mid-career professionals working in, or preparing for work connected with:
Public service
Private organizations
Non-profit organizations
Development institutions
Policy research and think tanks
Public policy and governance-related organizations
These are fields addressed by the program rather than guaranteed employment outcomes.
Duration: 2 years
Total credits: 66 credits
The MPPM curriculum combines classroom study with seminars, workshops, case-based learning, professional exposure, specialization, and a capstone project.
| Curriculum component | Courses/Modules | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | 4 courses | 12 |
| Core Courses | 12 courses | 36 |
| Concentration and Specialization | 4 courses | 12 |
| Policy Capstone | 1 credit-bearing module | 6 |
| Practicum/Internship | Professional exposure | Non-credit |
Except for the internship/professional exposure and capstone project, the courses are generally worth three credits each. Classes are scheduled in morning and evening periods.
The 12-credit foundation component establishes the program's base in policy, economics, law, political economy, and quantitative analysis.
PPM 501 Introduction to Public Policy
PPM 502 Political Economy and Legal System of Public Policy
MAS 561 Statistics for Public Policy
ECO 561 Economics for Public Policy
These subjects prepare students for the more specialized policy analysis and public-management courses that follow.
The core component contains 12 courses carrying 36 credits.
PPM 511 Policymaking in Comparative Perspective
PPM 512 Ethics and Governance for Public Management
PPM 513 Socio-cultural and Demographic Dimension of Public Policy
ACC 561 Government and Public Accounting
GEM 561 Management of Public Institutions
HRM 561 Human Resources Management
GEM 562 Public Leadership and Organization Behavior
FIN 561 Public Finance and Budgeting
PRJ 561 Public Procurement, Policy, and System
MAS 562 Applied Statistics for Public Policy
MAS 563 Research and Qualitative Methods for Public Policy
PPM 514 Evidence based Policy and Planning
The core curriculum brings together policy analysis and institutional management rather than separating public policy from the administrative and financial systems through which policies operate.
Students complete four courses for a total of 12 credits within the concentration and specialization component.
Areas represented in the MPPM curriculum include:
Subjects include:
Comparative Approaches to Social Justice
Social Justice and Social Policy
Rural and Urban Underclass and Social Transformation
Social Movement for Emancipatory Development
Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in Social Policy
Sociological Inquiry for Public and Social Policy Implication
Education and Social Policy
Subjects include:
Regional Planning and Local Development
Land-Use Planning (Rural and Urban)
Dynamics of Rural and Urban and its transformation
Rural-Urban Linkages and Governance
Fiscal Federalism and Governance
Political Economy of New Federal Governance
The curriculum includes subjects such as:
Issues in Sustainable Development
Comparative Development Policies and Practices
Poverty Alleviation-Issues and Policies
Economics of Development
Urban Development Policy
Rural Development Policy
The Political Economy of the Welfare State
Project Management
The curriculum also provides policy study in energy and hydropower, including Hydropower Development Policy and Planning, Energy and Hydro Power Economics and Policy, Energy Markets, Pricing and Regional Power Trade, and Energy Security Policies and Strategies.
Practical exposure is incorporated into the MPPM structure rather than being separated completely from the academic program.
PPM 721 Practicum or Internship on Public Policy is a non-credit component. It is positioned as professional exposure during the program.
The curriculum also includes:
PPM 761 Policy-In-Action (Policy Capstone) – 6 credits
The capstone is intended to bring together knowledge and experience developed during the two-year program through applied policy work.
A professional-development component also forms part of the broader MPPM learning structure.
Eligibility: Applicants must satisfy one of the following academic and professional pathways:
Nepali or non-Nepali nationals with at least three years of work experience and a Bachelor's Degree of at least two-year duration in any discipline, with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks or CGPA 2.0 on a 4-point scale.
A Master's Degree in any discipline with a minimum of 40% aggregate marks or CGPA 2.0 on a 4-point scale from a university recognized by Kathmandu University.
At least six years of work experience and a Bachelor's Degree of at least two-year duration in any discipline, with a minimum of 40% aggregate marks or CGPA 2.0 on a 4-point scale.
These eligibility routes allow the program to accommodate applicants with different combinations of academic preparation and professional experience.
Applications for MPPM are submitted through the KUSOM Admission Portal.
MPPM falls within the graduate management admission context in which the KUSOM Management Admission Test, or KUMAT, has been used. KUMAT should therefore not be treated as an MBA-only admission test.
Admission, entrance, selection, enrollment, and academic administration operate according to the applicable rules and regulations of Kathmandu University.
The MPPM curriculum uses several forms of academic engagement, including:
Lectures
Seminars
Workshops
Policy-related case studies
Research and analytical work
Internship or professional exposure
Capstone work
This structure connects theoretical study with analysis of public policy and governance issues.
The program develops competence in qualitative and quantitative research methods, policy analysis, identification and evaluation of policy alternatives, communication of policy findings, leadership, and decision-making in public-sector settings.
Student performance is evaluated through continuous in-term assessment and end-term examination.
In-term assessment can include:
Written tests
Quizzes and oral tests
Workshop practices
Assignments
Term papers
Project work
Case studies, analysis, and discussion
Open-book tests
Class participation
The concerned faculty determines the evaluation components and their weightage before the course begins. The end-term examination is normally conducted as a paper-and-pen examination.
MPPM uses a four-point grading scale.
| Grade | Grade Point | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | Outstanding |
| A- | 3.7 | Excellent |
| B+ | 3.3 | Very Good |
| B | 3.0 | Good |
| B- | 2.7 | Fair |
| C+ | 2.3 | Fair |
| C | 2.0 | Fair |
| F | 0 | Failure |
Other academic grades include W for Withdrawn, IN for Incomplete, and NC for Noncredit Course.
Students are required to maintain a CGPA of 2.5 or above at the end of each semester. Academic probation applies when the CGPA falls below this level, subject to the applicable academic progression rules. A student cannot graduate with an F grade in a course.
The maximum period allowed for completion of the master's program is four years from the date of admission.
Academic registration, examinations, progression, results, and degree completion remain governed by Kathmandu University's regulations.
KUSOM's public-policy academic environment includes the KU SOM Policy Lab. The Policy Lab works around public policy problems in Nepal and provides a setting where students, researchers, specialists, and practitioners can engage with policy analysis, policy design, and public-policy discussion.
Its activities involve interaction with public-sector organizations, civil society, research institutions, and other policy stakeholders.
The MPPM Scholars Network also operates as a student-led public-policy discussion platform. Its Tomorrow's Policy Leaders for Public Dialogue initiative has included lectures, round-table discussions, and theme-based panel discussions involving people working in public policy and related areas.
Through its curriculum and practical components, MPPM addresses competencies in:
Public policy and governance concepts
Nepal's policy process and institutions
Qualitative research
Quantitative analysis
Policy analysis
Identification and evaluation of policy options
Communication of policy findings
Public-sector management
Strategic leadership and decision-making
These competencies arise directly from the program's stated academic objectives and course structure.
KUSOM provides scholarship or financial aid based on merit and need.
Kathmandu University's wider scholarship framework also includes School of Management-specific and University-level scholarship categories. Availability is governed by the applicable scholarship and financial-aid arrangements.
The Master of Public Policy and Management degree is awarded within the Kathmandu University academic system after students complete the requirements prescribed for the program.
Curriculum, assessment, examinations, academic progression, results, and degree award follow the applicable rules and regulations of Kathmandu University.
MPPM stands for Master of Public Policy and Management.
The MPPM is a two-year master's program.
The program carries a total of 66 credits.
The stated intake capacity is 40 seats.
The program has three eligibility pathways based on combinations of bachelor's or master's qualifications, minimum marks or CGPA, and professional experience.
Two of the eligibility pathways require professional experience: one requires at least three years and another requires at least six years. Applicants holding a qualifying master's degree have a separate eligibility pathway.
KUMAT has been used in the MPPM graduate admission context at KUSOM.
Yes. PPM 721 Practicum or Internship on Public Policy is included as a non-credit professional-exposure component.
Yes. PPM 761 Policy-In-Action (Policy Capstone) carries six credits.
The curriculum includes public policy, political economy, economics, statistics, governance, public accounting, public institutions, human resource management, public finance, procurement, research methods, policy planning, specialization subjects, and capstone work.
