NZ · Master's
Victoria University of Wellington (Wellington School of Business and Government)
Master of Public Policy (MPP)
Victoria University of Wellington (Wellington School of Business and Government)
Course Overview
The Master of Public Policy (MPP) at Victoria is the country's flagship policy degree — taught at the Wellington School of Business and Government in Pipitea, a few hundred metres from Parliament, the Treasury and most of the central government ministries that recruit directly from the programme. The MPP is a professional 180-point degree designed for current and aspiring policy practitioners; Sri Lankan applicants typically come from public-sector, NGO, development banking or international relations backgrounds.
The curriculum covers public policy analysis, economic policy, public sector management, regulation, political economy, and policy implementation, plus a 30-point research project on a real policy problem. Recent guest lecturers include current and former Cabinet Ministers, Treasury Secretaries and senior policy advisors. Graduates qualify for the 3-year Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV) and direct entry into the NZ Policy Trainee programmes.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) with a B average (NZ B = ~65%) — Sri Lankan Second Class Upper or above qualifies.
- check_circle Two years of relevant work experience in the public sector, NGO/development, or policy-adjacent roles is preferred (extensive work experience can substitute for a lower academic record).
- check_circle Personal statement outlining policy interests and career goals.
- check_circle Two references — one academic, one professional.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall (min 20 Writing).
- check_circle PTE Academic: 58 Overall (min 50 in each section).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (NZD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (16 months) | NZD 54,900 | Rs. 10,431,000 |
| Student Services Levy | NZD 1,400 | Rs. 266,000 |
| Living Expenses (16 months) | NZD 26,700 | Rs. 5,073,000 |
| Student Visa & Insurance | NZD 1,400 | Rs. 266,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | NZD 84,400 | Rs. 16,036,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
MPP graduates qualify for the 3-year Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV) and feed directly into NZ central government. Recent graduates have joined the Treasury, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, MBIE, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry for the Environment, the Productivity Commission, and the OECD. International students also place strongly with the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and policy think tanks back home in Sri Lanka.
Related Programs
Master of Social Work (Applied)
Victoria University of Wellington
MA Anthropology of Travel, Tourism and Pilgrimage
SOAS University of London
MA Comparative International Relations
Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in NZ. We handle everything from applications to visa processing — and it starts with a free, in-person visit to one of our three offices.
ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.
Book a visit to discuss this course
verified100% free for students. Universities pay us, not you. How?
Every consultation happens face to face with a counsellor. We don't do phone or online consultations — pick a branch, day and time that suits you.
- location_on Rajagiriya (head office) 8th Floor, Jana Jaya City Mall, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
- location_on Jaffna 158 Hospital Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- location_on Matara No. 474 New Tangalle Road, Matara, Sri Lanka
schedule Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM · Sat: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Choose a date & time event_available