About MA in Public Policy (MAPP)
The MA Public Policy course at BML Munjal University is a practice-oriented programme that engages with contemporary policy challenges and public decision-making by integrating theoretical concepts, rigorous analysis, institutional exposure and professional ethics. It is designed for those who want to make a difference in the world through an engagement with public decision-making, policy design and analysis, within India and beyond.
We live in an era of structural crisis: climate volatility, democratic strain, technological disruption, widening inequality and institutional distrust. These are not failures of intent, but failures of collective design. Public policy today operates in a post-technocratic terrain shaped by data systems, regulatory complexity and contested public reasoning – where technical efficiency alone no longer secures legitimacy or trust. The MA in Public Policy programme at BML Munjal University responds to this moment by cultivating policy thinking that moves beyond technocratic management, integrating analytical depth, institutional immersion, democratic reasoning and ethical judgement.
Programme Overview
Duration: 2 Years (Full-Time)
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with minimum 60% marks (final-year students may also apply)
Entrance Assessment: MAPP Entrance Examination + Personal Interview
Admission Process: Online Application → Entrance Assessment → Faculty Interview
Tuition Fees: ₹6,00,000 for the full two-year programme (Accommodation charges additional)
Career Tracks After MAPP
The programme prepares students for:
- Policy research and advisory roles
- Governance and regulatory analysis
- Development and social impact organisations
- Corporate public policy functions
- Doctoral study
Preparation includes mentored internships, research portfolio development, policy writing training and structured academic supervision.
Curriculum Architecture
The programme is organised around three integrated pillars that combine analytical rigour, policy engagement and institutional immersion:
Analytical
Core
Students build strong foundations in economics, political economy, governance, law, regulatory analysis, public finance, social theory, inequality and the study of power, institutions and state–market relations. The curriculum develops the conceptual and analytical tools necessary for understanding contemporary public problems.
Policy Design & Evaluation
The programme trains students in policy analysis, policy design, monitoring and evaluation, institutional assessment, regulatory frameworks, case-based learning and structured policy writing. Students learn to critically examine policy alternatives and assess implementation challenges within real institutional contexts.
Research & Immersion
Through credited field engagement, internships, the Policy Practice Exercise (PPE), Capstone and Dissertation, students engage directly with policy institutions and contemporary governance challenges. The programme emphasises empirical inquiry, field-based learning and the production of policy-facing research and analytical outputs.
Why Pursue MAPP at BML Munjal University?
Overview
The MA in Public Policy (MAPP) at BML Munjal University prepares students to engage meaningfully with contemporary public challenges through an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented curriculum. The programme integrates perspectives from economics, political science, sociology, governance, law, technology studies and development practice to help students understand how policy is imagined, designed, implemented and evaluated.
MAPP combines rigorous classroom learning with institutional immersion, field engagement, policy writing and research practice. Through internships, the Policy Practice Exercise (PPE), capstone projects and dissertation work, students develop the ability to analyse public problems, engage with institutions and produce policy-facing research and analytical outputs.
The programme is designed for students who seek careers in:
- Public policy and governance
- Development and social impact organisations
- Think tanks and policy research
- Corporate public policy and ESG
- International organisations
- Media and public affairs
- Academic or doctoral research
Anchored within the School of Liberal Studies and supported by interdisciplinary faculty and institutional centres, MAPP encourages students to think critically, engage ethically and work thoughtfully within contemporary policy environments.
Innovation Forum
The Masters programme is supported through research centres:
- Centre for Public Policy & Governance (CPPG)
- The MA in Public Policy at BML Munjal University is anchored by the Centre for Public Policy & Governance.
CPPG facilitates:
- Policy dialogues and lectures
- Policy Research
- Public engagement forums
- Interaction with practitioners
- Students engage with Centre activities and ongoing research, situating academic inquiry within governance practice.
Centre for Child and Youth Transitions (CCYT)
The MAPP programme engages with the Centre for Childhood & Youth Transitions (CCYT), which seeks to address the existing gap in teaching, research and policy/advocacy concerning childhood and youth — across their past, present and future.
CCYT anchors the Education, Youth & Childhood specialisation track of the MAPP programme, enabling students to engage with ongoing research, policy dialogues and field-based initiatives, thereby situating academic inquiry within lived realities and governance practice.
The wider ecosystem of BMU provides a platform for the students for Policy engagement extends across state, market and civil society contexts through:
Practicing the Policy
Policy Practice Exercise (PPE)
The PPE is a credited institutional immersion (minimum 120 hours).
Students engage with policy institutions, regulatory bodies, development organisations, or research centres. These may include central and state ministries, rural institutions such as panchayats, civic bodies, state-sponsored development agencies, multilateral institutions and international think tanks, depending on their area of interest.
The PPE includes:
- Institutional observation
- Structured documentation
- Faculty-guided analytical reflection
- It bridges coursework and dissertation, ensuring that theory is tested within institutional realities.
Capstone & Dissertation
The Capstone and Dissertation together constitute the research and practice component of the MAPP programme, enabling students to integrate theory, research and policy practice.
The Capstone is practice-oriented, requiring students to work on a live policy problem and produce actionable, policy-facing outputs. The Dissertation is a practice-based research thesis, depending on the student’s academic and professional inclination.
Students:
- Identify live or emerging policy questions
- Develop analytical and evaluative frameworks
- Conduct field-based or empirical research
- Produce rigorous policy-facing outputs
Learning Outputs: Policy briefs, analytical papers, research reports, or implementation frameworks.
Learning Outcomes: Institutional literacy, evaluative competence, analytical independence and ethical judgement.
Life on Campus
Library and Research Resources
The BMU library provides access to a comprehensive collection of academic journals, policy databases, government reports and digital resources. Students have access to resources essential for policy research, including access to JSTOR, Shodhganga and relevant government data repositories.
Reimagining Teaching, Learning and Engagement
At BMU, teaching and learning extend beyond conventional classroom boundaries through interdisciplinary, experiential and community-engaged initiatives that encourage students to critically engage with society, culture, ecology and public life.
Intellectual and Cultural Life
The University supports an active ecosystem of student clubs, societies and intellectual forums. Students participate in policy dialogues, reading groups, film screenings, debates and cultural programmes. The School of Liberal Studies regularly hosts public lectures, seminars and conclaves that bring together scholars, practitioners and policymakers from across India and internationally.
Sports and Well-being
BMU campus includes facilities for sports and physical activity, supporting the holistic development of students alongside their academic pursuits. The University is committed to the well-being—intellectual, physical and social—of every student in the community. Students also have access to extensive support systems, including 24/7 medical assistance, mental wellness and counselling services.
Residential Life and Student Amenities
The campus offers fully residential accommodation for all students. Residence life at BMU is designed to support a safe, comfortable and vibrant community of scholars. Students from diverse academic backgrounds—across disciplines, regions and life experiences—form a community that enriches the learning environment for everyone. The students' hostels are equipped with common living spaces, recreational facilities, gyms, indoor games, dining halls, cafeterias and shared social spaces that encourage interaction and community building.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Master of Arts in Public Policy (MAPP) is a postgraduate programme designed to equip students with analytical, research and practical skills required to understand and engage with public policy and governance.
Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a passing percentage of 60% from a recognised university are eligible to apply. The programme welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds.
The MAPP programme is a two-year postgraduate degree that combines classroom learning, policy analysis and practical exposure.
The admission process for the MAPP programme includes evaluation of past academic performance, an entrance assessment and a personal interview.
The MAPP entrance assessment evaluates analytical reasoning, reading comprehension and the ability to think critically about public policy and governance issues.
No, prior academic background in public policy is not required. The MAPP programme is designed to accommodate students from multiple disciplines.
Graduates can work in government institutions, policy think tanks, international organisations, development sector organisations, research institutions and policy consulting.
Yes, the MAPP programme integrates policy research, field engagement and interaction with practitioners to provide practical exposure to real-world policy challenges.
Applicants can apply online through the official BML Munjal University admissions portal by submitting the required application form and supporting documents.
More details about the curriculum, admissions process and programme structure are available on the official BML Munjal University website.
The MA in Public Policy syllabus covers governance, political economy, law, technology, research methods, policy design and ethics, along with internships, dissertation research and specialisations in areas like climate policy, public health and urban governance.