Postgraduate taught 

Public Policy MSc

Our Masters in Public Policy aims to develop future public policy makers who understand the contexts and challenges facing governments and public agencies, and the processes and politics of policy formation and delivery. Public policy shapes the way societies function, from economic development and social justice, to sustainability and urban planning.

Why this programme

  • This programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge to make an effective contribution to the formation and evaluation of policy. You will become an independent critical thinker able to work in a wide range of organisational contexts and roles.
  • A key strength of the MSc are our three pathways, which will help you develop specialist knowledge and skills, and deepen your understanding and confidence within the field of public policy. Choose from General Pathway, Sustainability Pathway, and Data Analytics Pathway.
  • Develop the knowledge and skills needed to make a real and positive difference to the formation and evaluation of public sector policy.
  • Our teaching is both research-informed and research-led. With our research-based analysis in the classroom, you will become skilled in research and prepared to take a social science perspective on society.
  • Benefit from world class expertise in public policy, sustainability, and data analytics.
  • By the end of the programme, you will have acquired skills as independent critical thinkers, enabling you to work in a wide range of organisational contexts and roles.
  • Join a diverse student cohort and meet people from all around the world, allowing you to build an international network to take into your career and life after university.

Programme structure

You will take a mix of core and optional courses, taught across two semesters, followed by an independent dissertation. The dissertation provides an opportunity for you to research a topic of specific area of interest to you and allows you to conduct in depth critical exploration of this topic. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor who will guide and support them through the process of undertaking a dissertation.

Pathways

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General Pathway

The General Pathway enables you to develop a systematic and wide-ranging overview of public policy in a global context of socio-economic inequality, significant migration, health challenges, political transitions, the climate crisis, and technological change.

Core courses

Optional courses

Choose 60 credits from:

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Sustainability Pathway

The Sustainability Pathway focuses on the broad range of policies, politics, and institutions which shape sustainable outcomes to achieve environmental social justice. It enables you to develop specialist understandings of sustainability regarding policy making, and equips the next generation of public managers, policymakers, and public administrators with the knowledge, skills, and values required for realising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Core courses

AND minimum 30/maximum 50 credits from:

*It is anticipated that courses taught by staff from the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability will be delivered at Gilmorehill Campus in Glasgow.

Optional courses

If you have taken fewer than 50 credits of courses listed above, you can choose a maximum 20 credits from:

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Data Analytics Pathway

The Data Analytics Pathway enables you to develop expertise in data-driven policymaking and the responsible use of data. It provides you with the critical skills needed to combine policy studies with data analytics and, upon graduation, you will have the ability to critique and analyse complex data to inform policy decisions and processes and use GenAI technologies in an ethical and responsible manner

Core courses

AND minimum 20/maximum 40 credits from:

Optional courses

If you have taken fewer than 40 credits of courses listed above, you can choose max. 20 credits from:

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Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

This interdisciplinary programme will help prepare you for a wide range of careers, giving you a diverse set of skills and knowledge.

Career opportunities and pathways

Following completion of the Public Policy MSc, you will be well placed to enter a diverse range of careers in workplaces globally which could include:

  • National and local government
  • Non-governmental organisations
  • Consultancy
  • International organisations specialising in public policy, sustainability and data analytics
  • Third sector organisations.

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Professional development

Our programme embeds professional development into your learning, with assessments structured to allow you to design, execute and document in-depth analytical and critical research. You’ll also be developing key workplace skills such as self-organisation, time management, working collaboratively and presenting complex ideas clearly.

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Career support from the University of Glasgow

As a postgraduate student at the University of Glasgow you will have access to our Careers, Employability and Opportunity service. This service offers students the opportunity to network through organised events, help with finding employment, internships and work experience, and career development masterclasses. Learn more about Careers, Employability & Opportunity.

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Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2025-26

MSc

Fees for this programme will be confirmed soon.

Fee status

Additional fees

  • Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
  • Registration/exam only fee: £170

Entry requirements

2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Politics, Sociology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Economics, Business, Law, Social Science, Humanities. 

Extensive work experience (e.g. in Government or a policy related field) may be considered along with a lower degree or non-relevant degree background. 

Applicants will be required to complete and submit a question-based personal statement explaining why they want to undertake this programme at Glasgow.

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

  • 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
  • IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme

TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)

  • 93 overall with Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

  • 59 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 59; Speaking 59; Writing 74
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

  • 176 overall, no subtest less than 169
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Oxford English Test

  • 7 overall with no subtest less than 7
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall with no subtest less than 70
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Password Skills Plus

  • 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Trinity College Tests

  • Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

  • Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
    • students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
  • Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
    • students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

  • direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
  • essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
  • flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

  • Heriot Watt
  • Kingston Upon Thames
  • Middlesex University
  • Manchester University
  • Reading University
  • Edinburgh University
  • ST Andrews University
  • UCL
  • Durham

 

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

  • A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
  • Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
  • One reference letter on headed paper
  • Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
  • Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
  • A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

  • Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
  • Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
  • Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
  • Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
  • Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Related programmes

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Related links

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