Program Overview

MSc Public Policy

The MSc in Public Policy provides rigorous training in the analytical frameworks and methods required in the study of public policy. You’ll explore the various methodological tools and their connections to real-world problems facing governments and related organisations. You’ll also gain a range of key skills including:

• analytical and critical thinking
• research management
• data analysis
• report writing and presentation

The course is ideal for those wanting professional skills to become a policy practitioner, analyst or to proceed to a PhD.

Key Facts

• Start date: September
• Study mode and duration: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time

Course Content

The course is organised into core and optional classes. 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. In addition, you'll undertake a research project dissertation.

Work Placement

You may apply to do a client-based project as part of your dissertation research. Following a career workshop session, and on the advice of the School, you can contact host organisations including local, city, and national governmental organisations to arrange a work-based MSc dissertation.

Facilities

The School of Government & Public Policy have a number of research centres that relate to the topics covered and the content of the course. For example, the European Policies Research Centre is a leading hub for the study of regional development policy and collection of such data in Europe, a centre that is of increasing importance in the wake of Brexit.

Guest Lectures

Speakers at our weekly seminars include guest lecturers who come to Strathclyde as part of the Erasmus programme. They're also available for individual consultations with you as an MSc student here.

Learning & Teaching

All classes are taught in seminars, which combine theoretical discussion and a strong empirical or policy focus, as appropriate. Seminars consist of a variety of teaching techniques; including from small-group work, structured debates, presentations, and background lectures.

Assessment

Methods of assessment include written assignments, blogs, podcasts, practical team projects, presentations, individual projects, and exams. Most classes involve more than one method of assessment to help you realise your potential.

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements: First or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in social science.
• English language requirements: Please check our English requirements before making your application.

Fees & Funding

• Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland: Full-time: £8,700, Part-time: £4,350
• International: £19,600
• Additional costs: Poster presentation: £10, Visa & immigration: International students may have associated visa and immigration costs.

Careers

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

Course Structure

The course includes compulsory and elective classes. Compulsory classes include:

• Theories and Practices of Regulation and Governance
• Policy Analysis

Elective classes include:

• Qualitative Methods
• Political Behaviour
• Quantitative Methods 1
• Quantitative Methods 2
• International Institutions & Regimes
• European Governance
• Comparative Political Economy
• Contemporary Security Challenges and Responses

Research Areas

The School of Government & Public Policy has a number of research centres that relate to the topics covered and the content of the course, including:

• European Policies Research Centre
• Centre for Energy Policy
• Institute for Future Cities' City Observatory
• Fraser of Allander Institute

Student Testimonials

• Oluwakemi Onibalusi: "The highlight for me has been the lectures. I have learnt so much in a short while and as I mentioned earlier there is a huge improvement with my researching and essay-writing skills."
• Josh Box: "I feel that I reached a plateau in my work life. I needed a new challenge and wanted to equip myself with the skills to better understand the policy environments I was working within. University of Strathclyde appealed to me as the course content is very forward-thinking and relevant in the real world."
• Alison Paton: "The most enjoyable part of the MSc was the process of writing my dissertation. Having the freedom to research something that I was passionate about and being able to link it back to my career made the process very rewarding and I could see the real-world application of the research."