Find out more about studying Public Policy MSc at The University of Edinburgh? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
MSc - Master of Science
Main Campus
Full Time
Sep 2026
1 Year
Our MSc Public Policy programme is theory-led, empirically-informed and practice-oriented.With a particular focus on the social and economic policy fields that are at the heart of modern welfare states the programme is geared to development of critical, creative thinking about public policy and the challenges presented by the scope and complexity of a range of issues across multiple policy sectors.The programme facilitates exploration of how policy makers interpret, experience and respond to various socio-economic and political problems at local, national, and international levels; and consideration of the organisational resources, both governmental and non-governmental, which might be mobilised to address them.To this end the programme draws on an interdisciplinary understanding of the field of public policy, informed by insights fromsocial policypoliticssociologyeconomicsWe aim to enable you to:acquire policy relevant skills in the acquisition and sophisticated use of informationbe able to articulate and warrant a given understanding or positionknow how to contribute to a collective strategic projectOur teaching is grounded in contemporary policy concerns, and our students get to connect cutting-edge social and political science with the challenges of governing.