Public Policy

Programme Structure

Students taking the MSc in Public Policy take 120 taught credits and complete a 60 credit dissertation.  There are three core courses:

• Contemporary Government and Government (20 credits)
• Policy Analysis (20 credits)
• Policy Design and Delivery (20 credits)

Students can then choose options from amongst a range of optional courses:

• Economic Development and Employment (20 credits)
• Regenerating Cities: Strategies and Evaluation (20-credits)
• Public Policy & Fiscal Austerity (10 credits) 
• Crime and Community Safety A (10 credits)
• Crime and Community Safety B (10 credits)
• Evaluation of Public Policy (10 credits)
• Community Planning & Partnership (10 credits)
• Remaking Urban Neighbourhoods (10-credits)
• Researching and Evidencing the Policy Process (10-credits)
• Strategic Management and Decision Making (10-credits)

The timetable is very flexible. Students studying on a part-time or modular basis are not required to complete core courses before optional courses, for instance.

Some students choose to take a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip - 120 credits). This covers the same taught modules but does not include the dissertation. It is also possible to enrol for the short Postgraduate Certificate in Public Policy (PGCert - 60 credits).

To complete the MSc, students need to achieve a higher standard on the taught modules than is required for the PGDip or PGCert qualifications. Students who fail to achieve this standard will not be permitted to undertake the dissertation and progress to an MSc.