Public Policy MA

Overview

The Public Policy MA is a multi-disciplinary course that covers policy making and analysis, comparative public policy, public sector economics, governance and public management. You will focus on the critical issues and key developments relating to public policy, such as governance, globalisation and policy evaluation. This course will equip you with the analytical and critical skills relevant for understanding the challenges of public policy and its implementation.

Course detail

The Public Policy MA course provides a unique opportunity to study politics, policy and social issues in a range of non-UK settings. The course offers you flexibility with the choice to study either full or part-time. You will explore a range of required modules such as The Policy Process and Comparative Public Policy. You will also study a range of optional modules allowing you to create a unique study plan that reflects your interests. The study programme is made up of optional and required modules. The course requires modules totalling 180 credits, 60 of these credits will come from a dissertation of around 10,000 words.

Teaching and assessment

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. The primary method of assessment for this course is a combination of written examinations and coursework. Typically, a 15-credit module will comprise of assessments, essays and a written examination. Grades awarded for each module will reflect your attendance and lecture participation. The assessment of the dissertation module will be by a 1,000-word research proposal (10 per cent) and a 10,000-word dissertation (90 per cent).

Career prospects

Our graduates go on to work in a variety of public sector management and policy-oriented positions. Recent graduates’ employment opportunities: Working in the policy and analysis section of a large London embassy. Health service leadership positions with responsibility for multi-million-pound budgets. A policy adviser to the chairperson of a major transport organisation. A senior analyst in the ministry of industry and trade of a developing country

Students should have a relevant UK honours degree of 2:1 standard; applicants with degree/professional qualification and at least three years experience in government or NGO service may also be eligible. In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.