Masters Degrees (Public Policy)

Take advantage of one of our 100 Master’s Scholarships to study Public Policy at Swansea University, the Times Good University Guide’s Welsh University of the Year 2017. Postgraduate loans are also available to English and Welsh domiciled students. For more information on fees and funding please visit our website.

The MA in Public Policy is designed to provide a high level training in the study of public policy and policy making at international, national and sub-state levels.

Key Features of MA in Public Policy

The MA in Public Policy provides a solid grounding in the key theoretical approaches to the study of public policy, and seeks to develop the knowledge and skills of those wishing to engage in further academic study. At the same time, the Public Policy MA focuses on the necessary skills involved in working in a public policy landscape now increasingly characterised by change and interdependence. Consequently, it will also develop the knowledge and skills of those wishing to, or already, pursuing a career in public policy research, policy advice, lobbying, public sector management or journalism.

The full-time Public Policy course structure is split across the year with three modules taken in each academic semester (a total of six modules) and then a dissertation over the summer. Students study four compulsory modules and two optional modules. The dissertation is written on a specialist research topic of the student's choosing.

Part-time study is available.

The Swansea programme in Public Policy is uniquely placed to offer students a comprehensive knowledge of public policy in multi-level and comparative settings, with staff well-versed in the theoretical, empirical and methodological understanding of public policy, with specialisms including European Union policy, multi-level governance, political economy, development studies and British and regional politics.

The Extended MA (EMA) in Public Policy is a 240-credit postgraduate qualification that is equivalent to 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) and is thus a recognised Masters qualification throughout the European Union. The EMA is a standard UK MA plus an additional 60 credits (30 ECTS) and this additional coursework is undertaken in one semester at a partner institution overseas. The EMA is therefore not only an EU recognised postgraduate qualification it also adds a study abroad experience thus enhancing the qualification’s employability credentials.


The partner institution for EMA Public Policy is The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Founded in 1997, the Bush School is ranked in the top 12 percent of the
266 graduate public affairs schools in the USA, according to rankings published in U.S. News & World Report. Located in College Station, Texas, the School’s programmes are housed in the Robert H. and Judy Ley Allen Building, which is part of the George Bush Presidential Library Center on the West Campus of Texas A&M. This location affords students access to the archival holdings of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, invitation to numerous events hosted by the George Bush Foundation at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center, and inclusion in the many activities of the Texas A&M community. Texas A&M is the sixth-largest university in the USA with 50,000 students. It holds membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities, one of only 61 institutions with this distinction.

Modules

Modules on the MA in Public Policy typically include:

• Governance,Globalization and Neoliberal Political Economy
• Comparative Politics in the New World Order
• The Policy Making Process
• Politics and Public Policy in the New Wales
• Approaching Political Theory: the challenge of democracy
• Politics in Contemporary Britain
• Violence, Conflict and Development
• Critical Security Studies
• Civil Society and International Development
• War, Technology and Culture
• State of Africa
• Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention

MA Public Policy Programme Aims

- To develop and advance practical and academic knowledge and understanding of public policy
- To develop critical, theoretical and analytical skills, and to improve written and oral communication skills.
- To acquire research and practical skills in public policy relevant to academic, public- and private sector careers in policy-related areas.

Who should Apply for the Public Policy MA?

Students interested in politics, international relations, development studies, law, humanities, social science, International business or a related background. Professionals interested in public policy and administration. Students interested in preparation for postgraduate research, MPhil or PhD, or who wish to develop skills and knowledge related to Public Policy.

Careers

Career expectations are excellent for public policy graduates, who are well-placed for careers in a variety of sectors in the UK, Europe or internationally. MA degree holders may move on to doctoral study or enter employment sectors such as government and politics; the public sector; journalism; the diplomatic corps; the armed forces; intelligence and risk analysis; relief and humanitarian organisations; law and finance and international business.

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Take advantage of one of our 100 Master’s Scholarships to study Public Policy at Swansea University, the Times Good University Guide’s Welsh University of the Year 2017. Postgraduate loans are also available to English and Welsh domiciled students. For more information on fees and funding please visit our website.

The MA in Public Policy is designed to provide a high level training in the study of public policy and policy making at international, national and sub-state levels.

Key Features of MA in Public Policy

The MA in Public Policy provides a solid grounding in the key theoretical approaches to the study of public policy, and seeks to develop the knowledge and skills of those wishing to engage in further academic study. At the same time, the Public Policy MA focuses on the necessary skills involved in working in a public policy landscape now increasingly characterised by change and interdependence. Consequently, it will also develop the knowledge and skills of those wishing to, or already, pursuing a career in public policy research, policy advice, lobbying, public sector management or journalism.

The full-time Public Policy course structure is split across the year with three modules taken in each academic semester (a total of six modules) and then a dissertation over the summer. Students study four compulsory modules and two optional modules. The dissertation is written on a specialist research topic of the student's choosing.

Part-time study is available.

The Swansea programme in Public Policy is uniquely placed to offer students a comprehensive knowledge of public policy in multi-level and comparative settings, with staff well-versed in the theoretical, empirical and methodological understanding of public policy, with specialisms including European Union policy, multi-level governance, political economy, development studies and British and regional politics.

Modules

Modules on the MA in Public Policy typically include:

• Governance,Globalization and Neoliberal Political Economy
• Comparative Politics in the New World Order
• The Policy Making Process
• Politics and Public Policy in the New Wales
• Approaching Political Theory: the challenge of democracy
• Politics in Contemporary Britain
• Violence, Conflict and Development
• Critical Security Studies
• Civil Society and International Development
• War, Technology and Culture
• State of Africa
• Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention

MA Public Policy Programme Aims

- To develop and advance practical and academic knowledge and understanding of public policy
- To develop critical, theoretical and analytical skills, and to improve written and oral communication skills.
- To acquire research and practical skills in public policy relevant to academic, public- and private sector careers in policy-related areas.

Who should Apply for the Public Policy MA?

Students interested in politics, international relations, development studies, law, humanities, social science, International business or a related background. Professionals interested in public policy and administration. Students interested in preparation for postgraduate research, MPhil or PhD, or who wish to develop skills and knowledge related to Public Policy.

Careers

Career expectations are excellent for public policy graduates, who are well-placed for careers in a variety of sectors in the UK, Europe or internationally. MA degree holders may move on to doctoral study or enter employment sectors such as government and politics; the public sector; journalism; the diplomatic corps; the armed forces; intelligence and risk analysis; relief and humanitarian organisations; law and finance and international business.

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The Master of Governance and Public Policy (MGPP) degree aims to impart knowledge, skills, and analytic capability about the rational application of methods, practical tools and techniques in public governance including the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policy in the dynamic and complex era of globalization. The Program combines relevant contemporary theories, professional skills, practical knowledge, high level research skills and critical thinking to approach the questions of governance and policy management in the new millennium. The MGPP equips students with cutting-edge skills to undertake open, accountable, responsive, and inclusive leadership to address the administrative, ethical, financial, organizational, and political challenges in delivering superior governmental services and making effectual decisions. For more details on this program, click here: http://www.chss.uaeu.ac.ae/en/mgpp/index.shtml

Program Objectives

‌•To prepare professionals and public policy leaders to discuss, analyze, and evaluate public policies.
‌•To appreciate the complex and cross-sectorial nature of public policy, public policy challenges, and public policy solutions.
‌•To implement skills necessary to address important criteria of transparency, accountability, responsive, effectiveness, efficiency, and inclusive in all policy processes.
‌•To develop leadership skills necessary to lead national and local institutions and perform administrative, financial, organizational, and political activities.
‌•To exercise ethical and moral standards in public policy processes and leadership behaviors.
‌•To equip students with various analytical tools to effectively diagnose and proffer solutions to complex public policy issues .

Program Learning Outcomes

‌•Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
‌•Comprehend selected theories and methods in public governance, policy analysis, market-government relations, macro and micro economics, public budgeting, leadership, and research in the analysis and formulation of public policy.
‌•Conduct governance and public policy research using appropriate research methods, ethics procedures, and statistical analysis
‌•Apply qualitative and quantitative skills in the formulation of public policy independently and in teams.
‌•Use different tools and techniques in policy analysis, stakeholder management, successful policy implementation, effective program evaluation, and financial management
Communicate descriptive and analytical knowledge effectively in written and oral format to various audiences.
‌•Demonstrate preparedness for continued reflective practice and lifelong learning in public policy and governance.
‌•Degree Requirements
‌•Required Credit Hours : minimum 36 hours
‌•Governance and Public Policy

Required Courses (24.00 hours)
‌•Economics for Policy Analysis
‌•Financial Management and Public Budgeting
‌•Public Policy Analysis Theory & Practice
‌•New Public Man & Governments
‌•Research Methods for Political Analysis
‌•Government, Leadership, & Pubic Management
‌•Public Policy Design and Tools
‌•Seminar in Government & Public Policy in the UAE

Elective Courses (6.00 hours)
‌•Globalization, International Agencies & Public Policy
‌•Environmental Policy & Sustainable Development Management
‌•Implementation, Evaluation & Monitoring of Strategic Issues
‌•Comparative Political Institutions
‌•Thesis

Required Course (6.00 hours)
•Master Degree Thesis

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The MSc in Public Policy and Management seeks to provide an interdisciplinary training and education that will enable policy-makers, economists, planners, managers and researchers to be fully conversant with current issues of public policy and management, in an international development setting. In doing so the programme will provide participants with the conceptual and analytical tools needed to understand and critically review issues relevant to public policy and public sector reform. While the programme was conceived primarily for those already working in the public sector environment, it has evolved into a highly successful multidisciplinary programme that is appropriate to modern professionals, from a wide variety of backgrounds, who have an interest in issues of public policy.

Aims

By the end of the programme students will:
-Have an understanding of the different conceptual and theoretical perspectives applied to public policy and management, and public sector reform
-Have an understanding of the principles and practices underlying the implementation of public policy processes, and have acquired knowledge of `real world' examples of public policy/sector reform from leading experts
-Have an understanding of the role and importance of institutions for public policy and management
-Have developed skills in initial analysis of development economics, public policy, management and development studies, and in communicating their analysis in the form of clearly written and readable documents
-Have a good command of current theory, policy and practice in relation to some of the following specialist areas; public policy process and methods; public sector economics; development and economic policy; privatisation and public enterprise reform; public sector accounting and organisational change
-Have developed basic research skills through a supervised dissertation research project

Teaching and learning

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over 24 months. There are NO evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme, therefore if you are considering taking a programme on a part-time basis, you should discuss the requirements with the Programme Director first and seek approval from your employer to have the relevant time off. Timetabling information is normally available from late August from the Programme Administrator and you will have the opportunity to discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Coursework and assessment

The taught elements of the programme, carrying 120 credits overall is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (project based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.

Participants must also complete a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice approved by the Programme Directors. Students are encouraged to base their dissertations on topics of direct professional concern to themselves.

Career opportunities

The course is intended primarily for those with experience of the public sector and those involved in public policy formulation and implementation. The nature of the course also ensures that graduates are well equipped to pursue careers in the public sector or in public policy and development as researchers, advisers or consultants.

The Global Development Institute (GDI) has a large and diverse postgraduate population, including a large number of students from outside the UK (85% of our students are drawn from outside the UK, particularly from Africa, Asia and Western Europe, but also reaching out to Latin America, the Middle East, North America and the Pacific). Many of our alumni have gone on to prestigious careers in the public service or in the NGO/charitable and private sectors, as policy officers, managers, consultants or development practitioners - while others have pursued further academic study leading to a PhD and academic careers. Since its foundation, GDI has trained over 7000 individuals from 170 different countries.

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This is an ideal course if you want to develop your capacity to analyse social and public policies nationally and internationally. It will enable you to deepen your understanding of the major aspects of social and public policy, including competing conceptions of citizenship and how these inform social policy; contemporary forms of governance and public policy implementation, and the use of theories and research evidence to analyse and explain social and public policy change.

The course is suitable for those who have recently completed undergraduate courses of study, as well as those working in the community and voluntary sector, think-tanks, as researchers, or at different levels of government. It has been designed to be of value and relevance to students both from the UK and overseas, so interested individuals from all nations are encouraged to apply.

We aim to equip you with the theoretical, conceptual and analytical tools to examine contemporary social and public policies in both national and international contexts. It will enable you to draw on theories and concepts and interpret a range of forms of evidence in analysing policy developments and their social impacts.

Distinctive features

This MSc in Social and Public Policy is one of the few such courses in the UK to be offered by an interdisciplinary School of Social Sciences. As such, the approach to social and public policy offered here is shaped by a strong belief in the value of interdisciplinary social science theory and research and the importance of understanding the relationship between social and public policy and the other social sciences.

Structure

The course can be completed in one year with full-time study or in two years by part-time study.

The MSc in Social and Public Policy is organised around a sequence of up to three 20-credit specialist modules, two 30-credit modules in social science theory and research methods, and one 60-credit supervised dissertation on a social or public policy topic of your choice.

You will conduct your own analysis and present these in written work and oral presentations. In addition to specialist modules which deepen your understandings of social and public policy analysis, you will undertake modules in social science and research methods. The skills developed on these modules will enable you to complete your own dissertation on a social or public policy topic of your choice.

For a list of modules for the FULL-TIME route, please see website:

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/courses/group/social-and-public-policy

For a list of the modules for the PART-TIME route, please see website:

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/courses/course/social-and-public-policy-msc-part-time

Teaching

You will be expected to attend lectures, seminars and tutorials as set out in the timetable for MSc students. These sometimes sit outside the regular pattern of university attendance and may include day, evening and weekend study and on occasion may fall outside the standard semester dates. You will also be expected to undertake independent study in preparation for lectures, seminars and assessments. A 20 credit module comprises 200 hours of study, including about 30 hours of contact time, and the MSc as a whole, 1800 hours of study.

Modules employ a diverse range of teaching including lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials, and independent guided study.

The programme benefits from being located in an inter-disciplinary environment so that in parts of the course, you will come into contact with staff and students from other subject areas and, in other parts of the course, with staff and students in the same substantive area.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by a combination of essays, reports, reviews and presentations.

Career Prospects

The programme is designed to be of particular interest to individuals who have experience of working with, or an interest of working for, social or academic research organisations, departments at different levels of government (e.g. local, Welsh, UK-wide, European), international organisations (e.g. UNICEF), or at community and voluntary sector organisations. It is also relevant for students who seek to pursue other avenues but who wish to deepen their understanding of social and public policy in Wales, the UK and internationally.

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Why this course?

This course provides rigorous training in the analytical frameworks and methods required in the study of public policy.

It’s ideal for those wanting professional skills to become a policy practitioner, analyst or to proceed to a PhD.

You’ll explore the various methodological tools and their connections to real world problems facing governments and related organisations. You’ll learn a range of key skills:
- Analytical & Critical Thinking
- Research Management
- Data Analysis
- Report Writing & Presentation

You can study this course full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months.

Study mode and duration:
- MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
- PgDip: 9 months full-time; 21 months part-time

See the website https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/publicpolicy/

You’ll study

The MSc in Public Policy is organised into core and optional classes. You’ll also complete a dissertation. The core classes provide an introduction to the theory and practice of public policy, as well as a range of skills and methodologies to design, conduct and report on social research.

Facilities

Established in 2010, the School of Government and Public Policy integrates the Department of Government with three research centres:
- European Policies Research Centre
- Centre for the Study of Public Policy
- Centre for Elections and Representation Studies

Research placement

You can do a research placement through the Erasmus programme http://www.strath.ac.uk/rio/exchangestudyabroad/goingabroad/erasmus/ .

English language requirements

If you’re a national of an English speaking country recognised by UK Border Agency (please check most up-to-date list) or you have successfully completed an academic qualification (at least equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree) in any of these countries, then you do not need to present any additional evidence.

For others, the School requires a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no individual component below 5.5. Pre-sessional courses in English are available.

If you are from a country not recognised as an English speaking country by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), please check English requirements before making your application.

Pre-Masters preparation course

The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course for international students (non EU/UK) who do not meet the entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde. The Pre-Masters programme provides progression to a number of degree options

To find out more about the courses and opportunities on offer visit isc.strath.ac.uk or call today on +44 (0) 1273 339333 and discuss your education future. You can also complete the online application form, or to ask a question please fill in the enquiry form and talk to one of our multi-lingual Student Enrolment Advisers today.

Learning & teaching

The MSc in Public Policy comprises of core and optional classes and a dissertation. The core classes provide an introduction to the theory and practice of public policy, as well as a range of skills and methodologies relevant to designing, conducting and reporting on social research.

All classes are taught in small-group seminars. You’ll receive considerable time and attention from our staff in the seminars and individual supervision sessions.

If you’re studying part-time you’ll attend classes across two academic years. You’ll work on a dissertation over 10 months.

Classes average 20 contact hours, with additional computer laboratory sessions for some methods classes. Part-time students attend classes across two academic years. They then work on their dissertation over the course of 10 months.

Indicative readings:
- Cariney, P. (2012) Understanding Public Policy. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
- Dodds, A. (2013) Comparitive Public Policy. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
- Sabatier, P. & Weible, C. (ed) (2014) Theories of the Policy Processes. 3rd ed. Boulder: Westview Press.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods including essays, options papers and group projects. These account for two thirds of the total assessment. Your dissertation accounts for one third of the total assessment.

Careers

- Where are they now?
Examples of organisations our graduates work for include:
Audit Scotland
Centre for African Family Studies
Centre for Scottish Public Policy
Confederation of Passenger Transport
German Red Cross
Hall Aitken Associates
Health and Social Care Alliance
HMRC
Invicta Public Affairs
Ministry of Finance Iceland
Morgan Stanley
National Centre for Social Research
NHS
Ofgem
Santander Bank UK
Scottish Council for Development and Industry
Scottish Refugee Council
Serco Group
The Improvement Service
The Scottish Parliament
United Nations Development Programme
West and Central Voluntary Network

Find information on Scholarships here http://www.strath.ac.uk/search/scholarships/index.jsp

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What is public policy? Who are the key actors and which institutions are involved? Who is it shaped by and how does it have an impact on an economic, social and cultural environment that is increasingly globalised?

This programme investigates the international public policy environment in terms of global political economy and the impact of business, voluntary sector and public policy agents in the field of multi-level governance. The programme encompasses both a theoretical understanding of the policy process and models of appraisal with a practical orientation to evaluating research evidence.

As well as considering generic policy concerns, the programme gives you an opportunity to choose from a range of substantive policy issues. These include: the economics of public policy; poverty and social exclusion; penal policy; cities, housing and public policy; health and public policy; migration, asylum; and sustainability. All the programme units consider policy in an international and comparative context.

Programme structure

Core units
-Governance, Institutions and the Global Political Economy
-Informing and Evaluating Policy: Research Methods and Analysis
-Power Politics and the Policy Process
-Public Management and Organisations.

Optional units - Optional units can vary, but may include:
-The Economics of Public Policy
-Gender and Violence: International and Global Perspectives
-An International Analysis of Poverty and Social Exclusion
-Social Policy and Social Change in East Asia
-Critical Policy Studies and the Internationalisation of Public Policy
-The State of Labour
-International Analysis of crime, harm and justice
-Environmental policy and social justice
-Migration, asylum and human rights
-EU and global perspectives
-Social Policy and Social Change in East Asia
-Public Policy for a complex and uncertain world

Dissertation
You must complete a dissertation of 15,000 words. The dissertation accounts for 60 credit points. You begin work in late April and must submit by September.

Careers

Graduates from our MSc in Public Policy frequently work in roles that focus on strategy, policy development and implementation or policy research. Potential employers include local or central government departments; national or international non-governmental organisations; and international institutions, such as the European Union and the United Nations.

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General Information

UBC’s two-year, professional Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program will equip students with a broad policy foundation of strong analytical and technical skills – plus knowledge in development and social change, sustainability, and global governance.

The Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs curriculum is designed to emphasize many aspects of being a professional in a policy-making environment: comprehensive knowledge, application of scientific and engineering principles, assessment of alternatives, and problem-solving.

Students will graduate with a deeper understanding of policy networks between North America or Europe and China and other emerging nations in Asia and beyond. The MPPGA program will graduate policy professionals prepared to create boundary-crossing solutions to address urgent issues facing the world in the 21st century.

What makes the program unique?

UBC’s MPPGA degree prepares future policy leaders with an informed perspective, critical and creative thinking skills, and professional networks qualifying them to work effectively with global policy establishments. Together, this toolkit will allow graduates to diversify and enhance their careers. The MPPGA program has a novel and broad approach to governance: going beyond government bodies to include a network of actors - NGOs, social enterprises, international institutions, and the private sector – that are target employers for graduates.

The program’s three streams allow for customization and specialization of global public policy and are reflective of UBC's unique strengths on Asia and sustainability in particular. Students will be exposed to global case studies in the areas of political, socio-economic and cultural change taught by some of the world’s leading public policy experts.

Quick Facts

- Degree: Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs
- Specialization: Policy
- Subject: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
- Mode of delivery: On campus
- Program components: Coursework only
- Registration options: Full-time
- Faculty: Faculty of Arts

Program

The world is in the midst of major and rapid transformation: dramatic technological change, instability in the system of globalization, dramatic rise of emerging powers and rebalancing of power, increased presence of systemic risk, climate crisis and urgent sustainability challenges. What is required is policy education with particular focus on global-domestic interactions, multi-sectoral interactions, sustainability issues and cross-Pacific functional capacity as well as a “learning-by-doing” environment that increases graduates readiness to enter employment productively from the standpoint of both the employer and employee.

Learning Outcomes

The Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs curriculum is designed to emphasize many aspects of being a professional in a policy-making environment: comprehensive knowledge, application of scientific and engineering principles, assessment of alternatives, and problem-solving. With relevant training in various sectors, Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs graduates will be capable of:
- working proficiently and efficiently with professionals,
- designing and developing policy solutions for global problems.

The core courses offered in Year 1 will allow students to acquire the necessary multi-disciplinary policy analysis and design skills they will need to understand domestic and global policy processes, manage organizations, and communicate effectively across organizations and cultures. Over the course of the program, students will acquire knowledge and skills in development, sustainability, and global governance through:
- core and elective courses,
- related policy events, and
- development cases.

Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs students will integrate tools with policy through field-based and hands-on professional experience within internships, professional workshops, and Capstone projects.

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Gain a thorough foundation in the tools required to analyse aspects of public policy.

Overview

York enjoys a prominent international reputation in public economics and in the use of economics in the design of social policy. If you already work in the public sector, the NHS or for an international agency, the MSc in Economics and Public Policy will help you upgrade your existing skills. You'll gain more exposure to up-to-date techniques and knowledge relevant to policy analysis in social and other public policy areas, and to public sector administration and financial management.

If you have completed a degree in economics, the Masters will allow you to build on this by gaining further knowledge and expertise in more specialised areas, such as health economics, social policy analysis and public finance.

The programme is also suitable for those with a background in disciplines such as government, sociology, mathematics or natural sciences, who wish to develop their abilities in economics and related areas, particularly economic and social policy, administration and management. If you don't have a strong background in economics, but have other relevant qualifications or experience, you can take a Summer Session course in Economics and Quantitative Methods.

Course Content

The MSc in Economics and Public Policy will offer you a thorough training in core areas of economics used in the evaluation of public policy. Taught by leading experts, you'll complete modules to the value of 180 credits. This includes 100 credits of taught modules - some core and some optional - and an 80 credit dissertation.

Modules
For the Masters you will take 100 credits of taught modules. There are five core modules which make up 80 of your 100 taught credits:
-Applied Microeconomics 1 and Applied Microeconomics 2 or Advanced Microeconomics (20 credits)
-Public Policy Analysis (20 credits)
-Econometrics 1 & 2 or Statistics and Econometrics or Econometric Methods for Research orEconometrics 1 and Applied Microeconometrics (20 credits)
-Public Finance (10 credits)
-Public Sector Economics (10 credits)

In addition you can choose 20 credits from:
-Advanced Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-Applied Microeconometrics (10 credits)
-Design and Analysis of Mechanisms and Institutions (10 credits)
-Evaluation of Health Policy (10 credits)
-Experimental Economics (10 credits)
-Health and Development (10 credits)
-Industrial Economics (10 credits)
-International Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-Labour Economics (10 credits)
-Project (10 credits)

You'll complete a piece of independent research carried out over three months of the summer, guided by a supervisor. The dissertation, of up to 10,000 words, is worth 80 credits and offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.

Careers

The MSc in Economics and Public Policy will open up a broad range of career options in government, the public sector, health or public administration. It is an ideal basis for progression to a PhD.

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The International Public Policy MSc at UCL provides students with a detailed and systematic understanding of how political institutions, processes and public policies operate in world affairs. The programme brings together the academic study of international relations with analysis of public policy formulation and governance beyond the nation-state.

Degree information

Students are equipped with the theoretical tools and empirical evidence necessary for an in-depth understanding of policy-making within the general theories of international relations, political science, public policy and comparative politics. They develop analytical skills for the study of world politics and the assessment of issues currently facing international policymakers.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (75 credits), optional modules (45 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules
-International Organisation (30)
-Public Policy Economics and Analysis (15)
-Introduction to Qualitative Methods or Advanced Qualitative Methods (15)
-Introduction to Quantitative Methods or Advanced Quantitative Methods (15)

Optional modules - choose one of the following 15-credit modules (the others remain available as options):
-Foreign Policy Analysis (15)
-Global Public Policy (15)
-International Political Economy (15)
-Theories of International Relations (15)

Choose further modules up to a value of 30 credits. The following are suggestions:
-Global Economic and Social Rights (15)
-Making Policy Work (15)
-Policy-Making and Regulation in Europe (15)
-The European Union in the World (15)
-The European Union, Globalisation and the State (15)

Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars, and includes a policy simulation and a series of talks with leading practitioners and policymakers. Assessment is through a variety of methods, including unseen examination, long essays and the dissertation.

Careers

Graduate destinations both nationally and internationally include:
-Civil servants in departments in central or local government in the UK and overseas.
-Policy officers and researchers for UK members of parliament and Members of the European Parliament.
-The European Commission (for example through internships).
-Public and private sector organisations such as: Universities UK, Transport for London, The Legal Services Commission, Accenture, -Japan International Cooperation Agency, Overseas Development Institute, United Nations Development Programme, Deloitte and Touche.
-Further research study at UCL or other universities in the UK or overseas.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Embassy Trainee, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lusaka
-VSO ICS SW Bangladesh Team Leader, Voluntary Service Overseas
-Business Intelligence Analyst, Edinburgh International
-Civil Servant, Department for Education
-Compliance and Security Analyst, Return Path

Employability
Students are prepared for a number of potential careers ranging from additional academic work to employment in both the public and private sector. Previous students have secured employment in government agencies in the UK and abroad. A large number of students also find work in the financial sector, including investment banking and consulting. The success of previous students is attributable to the rigorous methods training provided, as well as the diversity of the modules offered.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL Political Science is recognised as a centre of excellence in the field and offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of international public policy.

London features an enormous range of seminars, conferences, and other events on issues related to the programme. These provide a means for students to expand their knowledge and extend their professional networks.

The research preparation and tailor-made interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary training students receive are of the highest standard available, at one of the world's top universities, as reflected in UCL's performance in a range of rankings and tables.

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This MSc aims to educate a new generation of public policymakers and policy analysts, familiarising them with the necessary concepts, theories, methods and principles involved in the formulation and analysis of public policy. The programme draws on many disciplines, including political science, economics, law, public management and public health.

Degree information

Students develop a working knowledge of many aspects of political science theory relevant to understanding how public policies are formulated, implemented and evaluated. They gain a basic understanding of economic approaches to public policy analysis and of the concepts of economic efficiency and equity as societal objectives. Students also learn extensively about research methods which gives them the tools necessary to understand political processes and to analyse important policy issues.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules
-Theories and Actors of the Policy Process (30)
-Public Policy Economics and Analysis (15)
-Introduction to Qualitative Methods or Advanced Qualitative Methods (15)
-Introduction to Quantitative Methods or Advanced Quantitative Methods (15)

Optional modules - choose one of the following 15-credit modules (the other two remain available as options):
-Law and Regulation (15)
-Public Management: Theories and Innovations (15)
-Agenda Setting and Public Policy (15)

Choose further modules up to a value of 30 credits in total. The following are suggestions:
-Health, Policy and Reform (15)
-Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management (15)
-Policy-Making and Regulation in Europe (15)
-The European Union in the World (15)
-Making Policy Work (15)
-Democracy and Accountability: Holding Power to Account (15)
-British Government and Politics (15)
-International Political Economy (15)
-The Political Economy of Development (15)
-Democratic Political Institutions (15)

Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an individual research project, which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and case studies, and is taught by scholars who have carried out theoretical and empirical research in the field. Students will be assessed by a variety of methods: unseen examinations, long essays, course work and the dissertation.

Careers

Graduates go on to a range of destinations both nationally and internationally including:
-Civil servants in central or local government in the UK and overseas, think tanks, NGOs and consultancies.
-Policy officers and researchers for UK members of parliament and members of the European Parliament.
-The European Commission.
-Other public and private sector organisations in a range of sectors, for example, Universities UK, Transport for London, the Legal Services Commission, Accenture, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Overseas Development Institute, United Nations Development Programme, Deloitte and Touche, Serco, KPMG, Confederation of British Industry, Civil Service Faststream, the Institute of Government, the Legatum Institute.
-Further research study at UCL or elsewhere.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Policy Adviser, The Law Society
-Economist, Government of Japan
-Policy Adviser, HM Treasury
-Principal Clerk Assistant, Parliament of Kenya
-PhD Political Science and International Relations, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje

Employability
The training that students receive in policy analysis, research methods, political science, economics and other disciplines equips them to work in a range of different organisations engaged in policy-making and policy analysis. Additionally, the emphasis on independent research, through the dissertation, enables students to think critically about policy problems and devise innovative solutions to such problems.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL Political Science is recognised as a centre of excellence in the field and offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of public policy.

The interdisciplinary aspect of this programme provides participants with the opportunity to address some of the key issues of contemporary governance and public sector reform.

UCL is uniquely well placed to draw together theory and practice in the field of public policy in health, where perhaps the most far-reaching of all public sector reforms has taken place.

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This programme provides you with an excellent grounding in social science research methods and theory and in contemporary public policy analytical processes. It is ideally suited for those wishing to undertake a PhD or to work in public/third or private sector organisations.

Why this programme

◾Studying public policy theory and practice within the urban setting of Glasgow allows for direct engagement with many of the most pressing public policy problems of our time and with the types of solutions being developed to combat these.
◾This programme is recognised by the Scottish Graduate School which oversees the allocation of ESRC studentships.
◾By the end of the programme you will leave equipped with a secure grounding in social science research theory, will have developed transferable skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, and will have demonstrated grounded knowledge and understanding of specialist areas of public policy.
◾An optional field trip to London will provide you with an insight into the complex socio-economic dynamics of city building and design through visits to high profile real estate, planning and regeneration projects. You will have the opportunity to both meet and speak with senior industry professionals and policy-makers involved in the delivery of major urban developments. Past trips have included visits to The Shard, Olympic Park, Crossrail, Battersea Power Station.

Programme structure

You will take five core and one optional course, and complete an independent research project. Teaching is delivered through lectures and seminars, but may also include lab work, input from policy/practice experts and, in some case, UK field trips.

Core courses
◾Evidence, evaluation and policy
◾Qualitative research methods
◾Quantitative data analysis
◾Research design
◾Understanding public policy.

Optional courses
◾Advanced qualitative methods
◾Introduction to social theory for researchers.

Additional courses from the School of Social & Political Science or College of Social Sciences may be chosen, as approved by the programme director.

Career prospects

The programme provides a strong foundation for advanced research in public policy, both in the context of careers in the public and voluntary sectors, and especially of further studies to PhD level. You will have fully met the research training requirements of the UK Economic and Social Research Council and the Social Sciences Graduate School for doctoral students.

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About the MSc programme

This programme offers high-quality teaching by leading scholars in public administration, public management, public policy and political science. You will take a compulsory course in Approaches and Issues in Public Policy and Administration and will choose from a number of courses in the areas of public management and public policy, in addition to a methods course, and completing a dissertation. By taking appropriate combinations of courses students can obtain the MSc with a specialised stream in Comparative Public Policy and Administration or Public Management, and can choose to have the specialisation noted on their degree certificates.

Graduates of this programme follow careers in a broad variety of fields including education, public policy research, advice and consultancy as well as government and the media. They have gone on to occupy senior positions in a range of organisations including the Financial Times, the National Audit Office, Morgan Stanley, the World Bank, leading universities and research institutes worldwide as well as the national, regional and local civil services of many countries.

Graduate destinations

Our graduates follow careers in a broad variety of fields including education, public policy research, advice and consultancy as well as government and the media. They have gone on to occupy senior positions in a range of organisations including the Financial Times, the National Audit Office, Morgan Stanley, the World Bank, leading universities and research institutes worldwide as well as the national, regional and local civil services of many countries.

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This distance learning programme will provide you with an in-depth understanding of how policy is made and implemented within the EU, as well as the key political and theoretical debates within the field.

This programme is ideal for students who either work or aim to work within the EU institutions, national and regional level institutions within the Member States, or NGOs, charities or companies where knowledge of EU Public Policy is important.

Key features of this programme

-The only programme of its type to be delivered via distance learning
-Ideal for anybody wishing to combine work and study effectively
-Draws on the world leading expertise in the School's Centre for European Research. The Centre has a unique inter-disciplinary focus crossing boundaries between law, politics, public policy, political economy and international relations
-The School of Politics and International Relations has a strong tradition of public policy and this will be incorporated into the programme
-Option to complete a placement module

Why study with us?

The School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary was rated amongst the top 20 Politics departments in the UK in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise meaning that you will be taught by academics who are leaders in their field.

The School also has a strong history of public policy which will be incorporated into the programme.

Unlike many graduate programmes in London you will be taught personally by lecturers who have internationally recognised expertise in international relations, public policy, the politics of the developing world, economic globalisation, security studies, and critical theory. Our area expertise includes Europe, South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and South-East Asia.

As an academic team, the Centre for European Research has a unique inter-disciplinary focus with a number of colleagues crossing the boundaries between law, politics, public policy, political economy, and international relations.

Bursary

This programme has a £1000 bursary awarded by the School’s Centre for European Research. The bursary will be awarded on the basis of demonstrating academic excellence.

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This Master's degree in politics, policy and management is ideal if you are working, or seeking a career, in public policy research and implementation. You will gain an advanced understanding of the ideas, interests and institutions that contribute to the making of policy across a wide range of areas, including healthcare, society and social care, migration, the environment, education and macroeconomics. This programme will give you insights into how policy choices are made, in comparison to policy developing by default, without clear choices or the establishment of priorities and strategies.

Alongside this, you will also consider management in the public sector, analysing the issues involved in making decisions about how public services are managed. You will explore how the different parts of national and local government interact and how the private sector is involved in the implementation of public policy. Overall, you will acquire the essential skills needed for the systematic analysis of government policies and for the professional practice of policy formulation and implementation.

The programme is highly topical, considering up-to-the-minute concerns and real-world debates within contemporary UK politics.

The first core module explores how individuals, institutions and interest groups, inside and outside of government, drive, formulate and implement public policy. You will consider case studies of real-world policy issues and the processes by which key decisions are reached and applied. The second core module looks at theories of, and innovations within, public management. You will explore the history of public management and consider how public administration has been revolutionised in the last 20 years. You will be equipped with the conceptual ideas, theoretical approaches and analytical research skills needed to study politics at postgraduate level.

You can then choose 2 option modules from a wide variety of topics including international security, American foreign policy, globalisation, political theory and sociology, nationalism and religion, and war and conflict. You will also learn research methods that will enable you to specialise and undertake the researching and writing of a dissertation on the subject that interests you most.

Our Department of Politics is a lively and distinguished centre of interdisciplinary research, with a strong reputation for the quality of our teaching. Some of the world’s most famous libraries are on our doorstep in Bloomsbury, central London, and you can walk down to Whitehall, where Parliament and the UK’s most influential and important think-tanks and centres of political research and analysis are located.

Our departmental building was once a key location for members of the Bloomsbury Group, so you could be studying in rooms that have hosted distinguished visitors, including T. S. Eliot, George Bernard Shaw and Maynard Keynes.

Why study this course at Birkbeck?

This Master's degree will equip you with an advanced knowledge and understanding of the central issues and current trends that face professionals working in public policy, whether as advisers, civil servants, managers or campaigners.
The programme allows you to follow your own interests, with a wide choice of option modules, while developing your research skills and undertaking a dissertation in an area that interests you.
Our location in central London puts us at the heart of the UK’s political life and at the centre of academic London. You can walk down to Parliament and Whitehall, while Bloomsbury contains some of the world’s most famous libraries and centres of research.
You can take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including Senate House Library, which is right next door to Birkbeck, the British Library, which is 5 minutes’ walk away, and the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics, which is walkable from Birkbeck.
Our Department of Politics was ranked 12th in the UK in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results and is a world-renowned centre of original, influential research.
The department organises a lively programme of seminars and conferences and is home to affiliated research centres, such as the Centre for the Study of British Politics and Public Life, which run seminars, conferences and other events where some of the world's best scholars present their latest research.
Our academic staff are international authorities in their respective fields, publishing and delivering stimulating teaching in a wide range of political topics including civil society and the state, public policy, development, gender, international security and terrorism, and social and political theory, among others.
Birkbeck Library has a large politics collection, including the major specialist journals, and provides you with access to an extensive range of online materials.

Our research

Birkbeck is one of the world’s leading research-intensive institutions. Our cutting-edge scholarship informs public policy, achieves scientific advances, supports the economy, promotes culture and the arts, and makes a positive difference to society.

Birkbeck’s research excellence was confirmed in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, which placed Birkbeck 30th in the UK for research, with 73% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), Politics at Birkbeck was ranked 17th in the UK.

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