You study ten subjects over a two year period. There are seven core subjects and three elective subjects. Four of the core subjects are taught in intensive, residential mode over five days. A further two core subjects are taught in one or two day blocks for a total of five days. The final core subject is a work based project undertaken by a project team. Everyone comes together for two days at the end of this project.

The three electives are taught by our partner universities in the mode offered by them, often over a semester. For more information on elective subjects please refer to the elective question below.
 

Your cohort is the group of students that commence the EMPA together. Your cohort will be referenced with the program you are enrolled in and the year you began your program. For example EMPA 09 refers to the 2009 cohort.

The residential core subjects are taught once for each cohort. The cities they may be taught in are Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Wellington. Students will be told in advance where a subject will be taught and when appropriate will be asked to nominate which city they will attend. For more information on this please refer to the selecting a city question below.

The two non-residential core subjects are taught in six cities. It is anticipated students will attend the teaching in the city closest to where they live. This will be confirmed with students closer to subject delivery.

The electives are taught at each of our partner universities and you attend classes at your chosen university. For more information on choosing your electives please refer to the elective question below.

Please refer to the EMPA schedule for more information on the current teaching locations for the ANZSOG core subjects. EMPA Schedule 2010.
 

Our partner universities offer the degree and you enrol in one of them after acceptance at ANZSOG. Those offering the degree are:

• Charles Darwin University
• Curtin University of Technology
• Flinders University
• Griffith University
• Monash University
• The Australian National University
• The University of Melbourne
• University of Canberra
• University of Western Australia
• University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales combine to offer the degree
• Victoria University of Wellington

The course is designed for mid-level managers with at least five years relevant work experience. Applicants will have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification for entry through extensive practical, professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind. Applicants need to be accepted by ANZSOG and also by one of the partner universities.

The universities have different entry criteria, and enrolment at ANZSOG does not guarantee enrolment in the university of your choice. ANZSOG is happy to provide advice on admissions, particularly if you do not have a tertiary degree.
 

There are two stages in your application. After nomination by your employer, you apply to ANZSOG on our application form through your central government agency. A Selection Committee considers your application. If you are successful, you then apply to enrol at one of our partner universities, with our assistance. If you successfully enrol at the university, you enter the course. The degree is awarded by your enrolled university.

Once you have been offered a place in the EMPA you must either accept or decline your place. It is not possible to defer your offer until the following year. If you are unable to accept the offer but still want to apply for a later year, you will need to re-apply and go through the selection process again.

After you have commenced study, an application to defer a single subject is considered on a case by case basis for reasons such as ill health or extraordinary circumstances that have an unexpected impact on your work load.
 

Networking is one of the strengths of the course. You join the course as one of about 130 students, all demonstrating high potential as future leaders in the public sector. Students are drawn from the following jurisdictions: Australian Capital Territory, Commonwealth, New South Wales, New Zealand, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. You come together with these students for the core subjects and work very closely in syndicate groups and project teams. You will also study with some of these students in your elective subjects. Networking is increased through meeting guest presenters and practitioners during the core subjects. When you graduate, opportunities will be provided through our alumni to build on your networks.

Each subject is taught for around 40 hours. This is supported by around 80 hours of your own study time. The workload will be spread over pre-reading, attendance at the intensive or block sessions, and the period set for assessment submission.

We ask managers to indicate on each student’s application form how they will support the student’s participation in the program. We also encourage managers sponsoring a student for the program to agree on leave requirements for study before the application is submitted.

For more information please download the Manager guide from the following web site. http://www.anzsog.edu.au/content.asp?pageId=56 

You are expected to attend all scheduled sessions as this is important to achieve your learning outcomes and assist you with your assessment tasks. Where absence is unavoidable, notification to the subject leader and the ANZSOG Student Coordinator is required in writing as soon as possible. You will be asked to give reason for your non-attendance. Work commitments will not be an acceptable reason. In the event of an absence of up to 20% of sessions, you will be requested to submit additional assessment in lieu of missed work. If the absence is more than 20% of sessions, you will be required to repeat the subject, including all assessable work. Should this occur, the results may be recorded as a fail at your university and you would be liable for payment of the repeated subject.

There are three elective subjects. One of these must be in the area of public sector financial management and your enrolled university offers a suitable subject. You select the other two electives with the approval of the Academic Director. These electives are taken from the postgraduate offerings of the partner universities and will differ between universities.

You can select electives to:

• bridge your past study and experience and the core curriculum;
• enhance your knowledge in a specific discipline area, such as economics, finance, government, law or management; or
• enhance your knowledge of a specific policy area, such as health, education, environmental or international policy.

The Academic Director gives the approval according to:

• your wishes;
• needs identified by your sponsoring agency;
• the overall course objectives; and
• extent of overlap with core subjects.

You are required to research the website of your enrolled university for subjects you are interested in studying and counting towards your EMPA. Some universities provide suggested electives and these are available on the ANZSOG student information page.

You are required to complete a finance elective specific to the public sector. The student coordinator can provide the name of the specific finance subject offered at your enrolled university.

You must submit an ANZSOG elective application for approval before you can enrol in a subject. This application needs to be emailed to the student coordinator who will seek approval from the ANZSOG Academic Director. The form is then sent to your enrolled university for processing.

The ANZSOG elective application is available from the ANZSOG student information page.
 

You will need to successfully complete 10 subjects to complete the degree. If you have successfully completed a university subject which is substantially equivalent to an EMPA subject, you may apply for credit in that subject. If credit is granted, you will study an alternative subject approved by the Academic Director. Applications for credit are considered case-by-case.

You are placed in a syndicate team for the core subjects. The teams are between four to six students working at the task in hand, which may be to discuss cases relevant to a topic.

You are placed in a project teams for the core subjects. The teams are between four to six students (and usually different to the syndicate team) working at the task in hand, which may be to complete a project team assignment usually consisting of a group presentation and written work.

Syndicate and project teams are arranged so that each team has a good cross section of jurisdictions, departments or agencies and gender.
 

As an ANZSOG student you will have access to important student information through a specific student porthole accessible by your ANZSOG student log in information. From the student porthole you will be able to access specific forms and information relating to your enrolment including core subject outlines. You will also have access to the ANZSOG e-learning site where specific subject information is posted such as reading materials, assessment tasks and presentation notes.

For information on the fees for the EMPA and what your sponsor is required to pay please contact the central government agency responible for your jurisdiction. Contact information

The tuition fee includes tuition for all ten subjects (seven ANZSOG core subjects and three university elective subjects).

During a residential subject, accommodation is covered by ANZSOG from the date the subject commences to the last day of teaching (for example Monday to Friday). Travel to and from the subject is not included in these costs and your sponsor is required to pay for travel and any additional accommodation that is required.

All meals are included during the residential subject except for one free night where participants are required to make their own arrangements.
 

The EMPA fee covers you for seven core subjects and three elective subjects. If you fail a subject (or you are required to repeat) you will be invoiced for the repeated subject.

Please contact the central government agency responsible for your jurisdiction for an application form. Specific contact information is available from the following web site.

Contact information 

For ANZSOG core subjects, the reading materials are posted out approximately three weeks prior to subject delivery. Students will be notified by email regarding any reading materials they are required to access through the ANZSOG e-learning site.

For reading material relating to your elective subjects, you need to contact the university to find out if material is provided or if these need to be purchased. Any reading material costs relating to elective subjects are not covered by ANZSOG.
 

When a residential subject is taught in more than one city, the student coordinator will email students with a specific city preference form. The form needs to be completed and returned by the due date so your city preference can be considered.

It is assumed students will attend the non-residential subject in the city closest to them. Non-residential subject are taught in six cities. Students can attend a different city if that is their preference.

EMPA 2010 schedule

 

It is possible to bring your infant to the residential subject however, someone else needs to be there to provide care for the infant so that you are able to fully commit your attention to the study requirements.

You do not have an ANZSOG student number. Your enrolled university will issue you with a university student number and you should use this whenever you see a request for your student number.