University of Birmingham Online
Online Microcredentials in Public Administration
UK Online, United Kingdom
Course
DURATION
8 weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
02 Mar 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 1,456 / per course
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Key Summary
Flexible learning for today
Across the globe, public servants need to be more forward-thinking and tech-savvy than ever. Complete with contemporary topics and the latest thinking from around the world, our 8-week, 100% online short courses – or Postgraduate Microcredentials – will help you to progress in this dynamic and evolving field.
Covering topics such as leadership, governance, and performance management, each postgraduate micro-credential is designed to help hone your skills in a particular area of public services. Not only are they a quicker way to boost your CV, but they also teach you the skills you need to support your career objectives and continuing professional development (CPD) – without the commitment of long-term study. At the end of your 8-week course, you will receive an official University of Birmingham Postgraduate Microcredential certificate worth 10 credits, and a transcript highlighting your new credential to both current and prospective employers.
Studying a short course is also an opportunity to introduce yourself to online learning. Should you choose to apply for a full master's program at a later date, any course credits you’ve earned through this Microcredential qualification will count towards the Online Master of Public Administration program.
Online learning experience
Our short courses are 100% online, giving you the flexibility to study and progress your career around your existing commitments, from anywhere in the world. All you need to commit to is 12–15 hours of study a week.
By enrolling in any of these micro-credentials, you will be a fully registered University of Birmingham student for the duration of the course, with access to the same acclaimed lecturers, industry speakers, resources, and support services as our campus-based students. You’ll also be connected to a community of like-minded learners from around the world, through live discussions, instant messaging, group work, and more.
If you are passionate about driving public sector efficiencies to benefit the needs of whole communities, you can take all of the courses by enrolling in our full Online Master of Public Administration. By exploring every aspect of public service, you will be better equipped to lead change in this ever-evolving field.
Explore our featured short courses
All of our postgraduate micro-credentials are taught by academics and industry experts who are leaders in their field – supporting your ability to expand your career opportunities and effect positive change in public services. We currently offer the following online short courses:
- Leadership in Public Services: Exploring the concept of leadership and the changing demands on public service leaders, this course helps to hone a set of individual and highly practical leadership skills.
- Performance Management: Gain the practical skills and knowledge necessary to apply theoretical frameworks and data to drive performance management.
- Partnership and Collaboration: Understand the dynamics of inter-organizational collaboration in public service and government.
- Strategic Management: Learn how to strategically plan and manage policies, practices, resources, services, and communities, drawing on appropriate examples from the private sector.
- Democracy, Governance, and Participation: Study the influence of representative democracy and the challenges in changing societies around the world, exploring models of participation and government.
- Managing Public Money: Examine how the economy works and its role in government, and acquire key skills in budgeting, finance, cost/benefit analysis, and more.
- Managing in a Political Environment: Understand the value of political leadership in public service management, and learn how to manage the interface between political and managerial leadership.
- Programme and Project Management: Explore the practical aspects of programme management and how it is used to implement new strategies and changes in public services around the world.
- Public Management and Governance in a Changing World: Serving as an overview of the development of public service governance, this course examines the challenges and pressures on public bodies and governments to deliver public services.
- Top 100 world-leading universities (QS 2025, THE 2025)
- 14th in the UK (Complete University Guide 2024)
- 35th most international university in the world (Times Higher Education 2024)
- 1st in the UK for being targeted by the country’s top employers (High Fliers Research 2024)
- World-leading Russell Group member
- Universitas 21 member – the leading global network of research-intensive universities