Home

Public Policy MSc

London, Bloomsbury

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.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£19,300
£9,650
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£31,100
£15,550
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 05 Apr 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; Applicants should ideally have a background in political science, international relations, law, European studies, history, philosophy, economics, or a related subject. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


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, sociology, psychology, public management and public health. You will learn how to conduct research, acquiring a number of policy analysis skills, in addition to substantive knowledge about the policymaking process. You will have a chance to demonstrate your combination of skills in the independently researched and written dissertation or policy proposal project.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students who wish to develop the skills necessary for a career in public policy, or for further academic research in the field. Applicants should ideally have a background in economics, European issues, international relations, law, philosophy, politics, political science or sociology.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

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.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

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.

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 or policy project, enables students to think critically about policy problems and devise innovative solutions to such problems. Finally, public workshops and seminars, as well as careers events enable students to network with alumni and meet policy practitioners.

Networking

As part of both programme-level activities and module-level activities, students will be given access to public workshops and seminars, as well as careers events to enable them to network with alumni and meet policy practitioners.

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. There are a number of different types of assessment, including essays, research design essays, policy memoranda, unseen examinations and the dissertation or policy proposal project.

You will be assessed in a number of different ways. In some modules, there are unseen examinations; across modules, there are a number of different types of writing assignments, including essays, research design papers, policy memoranda assignments. Students will complete either a dissertation or policy proposal project. You will also be assessed by written presentations, given verbally in class or submitted as videos.

150 hours is allocated to each 15 credit module. This includes 20 contact hours and 130 study hours.

Modules


Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits comprising core modules covering key substantive and methodological concepts and skills (90 credits) as well as a dissertation or policy proposal project (60 credits).

1. You are required to take the following five compulsory modules: 

  • PUBL0040: Theories and Actors of the Policy Process (30)
  •  PUBL0011: Public Policy Economics and Analysis (15)*
  • Dissertation or Policy Proposal Project (60)

one qualitative methods module from:

  • PUBL0010: Qualitative Methods: Interviews, Observations and Mixed Methods (15) OR 
  • PUBL0085: Qualitative Methods: Texts and Images (15) OR 
  • PUBL0086: Qualitative Methods: Case Studies and Comparative Analysis (15)

one quantitative methods module from:

  • PUBL0055: Introduction to Quantitative Methods (15) OR 
  • PUBL0050: Causal Inference (15)

* students with pre-requisite backgrounds including majors in economics or pure economics degrees may with the permission of the module tutors select a different module of their choice
 
2.  Choose one of the following 15 credit modules (if you wish, you may select additional modules from this list as part of your elective modules - see step 3 below). Please note that the list of modules may vary year on year:

  • PUBL0031: Law and Regulation (15)
  • PUBL0008: Public Management: Theories and Innovations (15)
  • PUBL0027: Agenda Setting and Public Policy (15)
  • PUBL0017: Making Policy Work (15)
  • PUBL0064: Impact Evaluation Methods (15)
  • PUBL0028: Policy Implementation (15)

3.  Choose optional modules up to a value of 30 credits in total.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. We do encourage our part-time students to distribute their study evenly between the two years of study. The majority of part-time students opt for one of the following patterns:

  • 75 credits in year one and 105 credits in year two;

Or

  • 90 credits in year one and 90 credits in year two.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits comprising core modules covering key substantive and methodological concepts and skills (90 credits) as well as a dissertation or policy proposal project (60 credits).

1. You are required to take the following five compulsory modules: 

  • PUBL0040: Theories and Actors of the Policy Process (30)
  •  PUBL0011: Public Policy Economics and Analysis (15)*
  • Dissertation or Policy Proposal Project (60)

one qualitative methods module from:

  • PUBL0010: Qualitative Methods: Interviews, Observations and Mixed Methods (15) OR 
  • PUBL0085: Qualitative Methods: Texts and Images (15) OR 
  • PUBL0086: Qualitative Methods: Case Studies and Comparative Analysis (15)

one quantitative methods module from:

  • PUBL0055: Introduction to Quantitative Methods (15) OR 
  • PUBL0050: Causal Inference (15)

* students with pre-requisite backgrounds including majors in economics or pure economics degrees may with the permission of the module tutors select a different module of their choice
 
2.  Choose one of the following 15 credit modules (if you wish, you may select additional modules from this list as part of your elective modules - see step 3 below). Please note that the list of modules may vary year on year:

  • PUBL0031: Law and Regulation (15)
  • PUBL0008: Public Management: Theories and Innovations (15)
  • PUBL0027: Agenda Setting and Public Policy (15)
  • PUBL0017: Making Policy Work (15)
  • PUBL0064: Impact Evaluation Methods (15)
  • PUBL0028: Policy Implementation (15)

3.  Choose optional modules up to a value of 30 credits in total.

Compulsory modules






Optional modules











Impact Evaluation Methods


Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Public Policy.

Fieldwork

There is no specific placement or fieldwork scheme, but students can do this through university-wide initiatives such as CRIS

Placement

n/a

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Social and Historical Sciences

—

Join us at our Bloomsbury campus to discover where a postgraduate degree with UCL Social & Historical Sciences will take you. At this in-person event, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about our departments and our wide breadth of degree programmes. You'll have the chance to hear from academic staff and current students, and ask any questions you might have about the department, your chosen course and studying at a world-leading university.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £19,300 £9,650
Tuition fees (2024/25) £31,100 £15,550

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (equivalent to 1yr full-time) (1yr)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

GREAT Scholarship

Deadline: NOW CLOSED FOR 2024/25 ENTRY
Value: £10,000 towards tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Public Policy at graduate level
  • why you want to study Public Policy at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

When it is necessary to calculate a final average mark, the department will calculate all years of undergraduate study.

As we typically receive a large number of applications for this programme it is necessary to consider applications in two discrete rounds. After the department has looked at your application, we will contact you by email to tell you which round you are in, if applicable. The email will detail when you can expect to receive a decision or update from us.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

Political Science
Political Science

polsci.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.