Public Policy & Management

Program Overview

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Postgraduate Taught

Study

Postgraduate Taught

The MSc in Public Policy & Management is a truly unique and special degree programme delivered in the heart of London by a dedicated international team of academics who share a deep passion for evaluating and improving public policymaking and management. Whether you are a recent graduate or a working professional, this programme will provide the skills you need to evaluate and develop policy options for public and non-profit services at local, national and international levels. It equips you to understand and evaluate policy options for organising and delivering contemporary public services.

Key information

Study mode:

• Full time
• Part time

Duration:

• One year full-time, September to September, two years part-time

Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent):

• UK 180 / ECTS 90

Application status:

• Open

Start date:

• September 2025

Key benefits

• Comparative approach - we take a comparative approach to policy & management studies, emphasising comparisons between both the UK and international systems of government.
• We are ranked 10th in the world for Global Ranking of Public Administration (ShanghaiRanking 2024).
• Regular and senior speakers from UK-based government departments, public sector bodies, NGOs, social enterprises and policymaking units who discuss the implementation and evaluation of public services policy.
• Opportunities for internships and the chance to study different public service areas in-depth, drawing on King’s-wide expertise.
• Combines in-depth treatment of underlying principles with practical applications including policy making and analysis.
• Unrivalled location in the centre of London.
• Scholarships of up to 50% tuition fees or £10,000 for our full-time postgraduate courses available.

Course essentials

Our course is designed to teach you how to use social science skills to analyse public service organisations, funding & management, and professional practice in the public services. You will also develop a comparative and international perspective on the political & historical origins of the contemporary public & social services sector. Our course provides an advanced interdisciplinary programme covering the management, organisation, funding, administration, and delivery of public services, with a focus on how policies are designed, developed, and implemented. You will develop key analytical skills and learn how to identify, tackle and solve problems relating to public service management, using appropriate methodologies and research techniques. This MSc offers the chance to explore key public service policy functions, such as public service organisation, health policy, economics, social entrepreneurship and leadership. We focus not just on political theory and economic analysis, but also on people management and organisation within public services, giving students a thorough and diverse base of knowledge and skills.

Base campus

• Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating bodies

• King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

UK applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
• Programme-Specific Requirements: Undergraduate degree with minimum 2:1 honours is usually required in social science related area e.g., management, economics, sociology or relevant experience in public sector management.

International applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view the equivalent qualifications
• English language requirements: English language band: B

Teaching & structure

Teaching methods - what to expect

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Self-Study
• Workshops

This MSc offers the chance to explore key public service policy functions, such as the organisation and economics of public services, regulation, health policy, managing non-profits, strategy, managing change, policy evaluation and leadership.

We draw upon varied teaching approaches – including lectures, workshops, case-studies, tutorials – delivered in excellent facilities. You will develop your group working skills through collective projects as well as individual study through innovative assessment.

We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

The total contact time for each 15-credit taught module is typically 20-30 hours. These sessions will include lectures, teacher-led and student-led group discussions based on the main areas of study. Each 15-credit taught also module has approximately 120-130 hours of self-guided learning time.

Dissertation module are done in seminars and one-to-one supervision. Dedicating approximately 582 hours of self-study and project work.

Part-time study

Students are required to be on campus one day per week in terms 1 and 2, and in both year 1 and year 2.

Assessment

Throughout the degree students are assessed by a variety of methods, which include written examinations, coursework and individual or group projects and presentations for the taught modules. The dissertation submitted in September each year is worth 60 credits. Assignment feedback is provided within four working weeks of submission.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Required modules

• Organisation & Management of the Public Services (15 credits)
• Economics of Public Management (15 credits)
• Research Methods in Public Policy & Management (15 credits)
• The Public Policy-Making Process (15 credits)
• Dissertation (60 Credits)
• Short refresher courses in Mathematics & Economics (0 credits) – taken during Reading and Induction weeks

Optional modules

• Leadership in the Public Services (15 credits)
• Regulating Business and Society (15 credits)
• People Management in the Public Services (15 credits)
• Key Issues in Health Policy (15 credits)
• People Management in the Public Services (15 credits)
• Practical and Theoretical Evaluation of Public Policy (15 credits)
• Changing Public Services Organisations (15 credits)
• Social Entrepreneurship (15 credits)
• Internship Analytic Report (15 credits)
• PPM Consulting Module (15 credits)

Careers

Employability

Our course is designed to give students a range of options with regards to their career once they graduate. Many students are focused on careers within the public & social sectors, and the combination of both applied and theoretical study throughout the MSc gives you a lot of tools to succeed in the job market.

Many of your peers on this course will be professionals within the public & social sectors, so you will have excellent opportunities to expand your network. We also have a thriving and engaged alumni community, further increasing your opportunity to network and learn from our past students.

We also have a dedicated careers consultant for this course, who can provide support and help you define your potential career options throughout your studies. There are also a wide range of careers resources available to all our students, giving you the best possible chance of accessing the career you want once you graduate.

You will receive excellent careers support and guidance from our KBS careers team to help you develop your employment potential whilst at King’s and after graduation.

The career destinations of former successful graduates of the programme include senior positions in government departments and public sector organisations across the world, as well as international NGOs such as the UN and major consultancy firms.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK: Full time: £16,950 per year (2025/26), Part time: £8,475 per year (2025/26)
• International: Full time: £30,000 per year (2025/26), Part time: £17,900 per year (2025/26)

Deposit

• If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
• The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

Additional Costs

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• Graduation costs

Funding

• To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.