Course description
Public Policy (MA)
Duration: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Course Content
This course requires you to take the following core modules:
Making Public Policy
Policy Analysis and Evaluation
Research Methods and the Dissertation
Comparing Public Policy
Globalisation, Europeanisation and Public Policy
Public Management and Governance
Public Sector Economics
You will also be able to take 20 credits’ of elective modules from the following list:
Constitutional and Public Law
Developments in UK Health and Social Care Policy
Developments in UK Public Policy
Information Age Management in Government
International Social Policy
Leadership, Strategy and Performance in the Public Sector
Management of Change
Managing People
Public Administration in Developing and Transitional Countries
Public Sector Financial Management
Regeneration Management and Policy
Please note that modules may be subject to change.
In addition, you will complete a dissertation, which will afford you the opportunity to conduct independent research on a topic of your choice. You will prepare a dissertation proposal and work closely with a supervisor internationally known for their expertise in Public Policy.
Course Structure
The MA in Public Policy can be taken on a full-time basis over 1 year or part-time over 2 years.
You must take 180 credits of modules, including a 60-credit dissertation, three 20-credit core modules, four 10-credit core modules, and either two 10-credit elective modules or one 20-credit elective module.
Teaching on this programme is cutting edge, research-informed, multidisciplinary, and internationally-focused. Modules are normally taught by a mix of lectures, group-work, and class discussion. Most modules are taught weekly over one semester; a few modules are taught over three consecutive days.
Nearly all modules are timetabled to take place on one or two days in the week. Part-time students need to come into the University for about 30 days per academic year.
Taught modules are normally assessed by a 3,000 to 5,000-word essay (or equivalent).
You will complete the course by undertaking a supervised 15,000-word dissertation (worth 60 credits) on a relevant topic of your choice. You will be required to submit an assessed dissertation proposal in advance of starting your dissertation.
We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy, which does not require you to complete a dissertation.
You may also be interested in the Masters in Public Administration or Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration.
Key facts
In addition to the contact you will have with academic staff through the various modules, you will also have the support of a specialist supervisor with whom you will meet regularly to discuss your dissertation and to receive feedback on draft chapters.
This course is supported by work taking place in the International Centre for Public and Social Policy. Based in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, this is a recently established and expanding multidisciplinary centre of research and postgraduate teaching
