BA (Hons.) in Governance and Public Administration

The BA (Hons.) in Governance and Public Administration is an empirically driven program that builds a strong grounding in governance frameworks, administrative systems and the politics of development. It introduces students to the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ of governance, developing a comprehensive understanding of public policy, public administration, service delivery, public management and development.

The curriculum is deliberately transdisciplinary, drawing from Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, Sociology and Law. It engages with themes such as comparative governance, global and domestic public administration, climate governance, the political economy of reforms, welfare politics and data-led governance.

• Transdisciplinary curriculum integrating political science, public policy, public administration, global governance, sociology and climate studies.
• Learning-by-doing pedagogy through field visits, case experiments, simulations, case discussions and student-driven learning.
• Faculty trained at leading institutions in India and internationally, supporting curated mentoring.
• Expert-led masterclasses and seminars with civil servants, policy practitioners, representatives from international organisations, think tanks and industry.
• Global exposure through immersion, exchange and progression pathways with universities in North America, Europe and Asia.
• Internship and fellowship pathways with think tanks, international organisations, government bodies, NGOs and industry.
• Strong focus on analytical thinking and writing, policy analysis, data interpretation, methodological skills and practical reasoning.

In a VUCA world shaped by climate risks, welfare and development challenges, and disruptive data technologies, organisations increasingly require professionals who can combine empirical research with policy reasoning and cross-sectoral problem-solving. The program prepares students to approach governance as a dynamic, data-informed discipline, enabling them to work across government, international development, consulting, research and social impact ecosystems.

Typical pathways include:

• Government and public administration services
• Civil services preparation and allied roles
• International and domestic think tanks
• Consultancy and policy research firms
• International organisations and development agencies
• Civil society, NGOs and social sector enterprises
• Private sector public affairs / governance roles and social entrepreneurship
• Higher education and research

Students graduating from this program will build a strong foundation to explore a wide variety of career opportunities, including government services, international development organisations, issue-based research consultancy firms, research think tanks, social enterprises, higher education, and data-driven entrepreneurship.

UPES supports placements by building students’ problem-solving and analytical capability alongside practical exposure to governance and development politics. The program’s blend of theory and applied learning, strengthened by UPES’s external linkages, enables students to pursue career opportunities across policy, research, consulting, government and the social sector.

Click here for detailed Fee Structure.

Interested students must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria for BA (H) Governance and Public Administration: Minimum 50% Marks in Class X and XII (Any Stream)

Selection for admission to the BA (H) Governance and Public Administration program at UPES School of Liberal Studies and Humanities relies on the CUET-UG/Personal Interview