Program Overview

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MSc Public Policy and Management

Providing you with the skills and knowledge to shape public policy, and preparing you for leadership roles.

Overview

The MSc in Public Policy and Management combines insights and skills from public policy analysis and public management studies, equipping you with the key theoretical and analytical tools to shape public policy and be an effective public manager.

Course Details

• Year of entry: 2026 (September)
• Start date: September 2026
• Length: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
• School/department: Department of Politics and International Relations, School for Business and Society

Course Content

The course offers opportunities to explore in more detail those issues that are of most interest to you. At the end of your studies, you'll have the opportunity to apply the skills that you have learned into practice through the Independent Study/Applied Policy Project, under the guidance of an individual supervisor.

Core Modules

• Advanced Policy Analysis
• Investigating Contemporary Policy Problems
• Public Management and Delivery
• Principles of Policy Advice
• Policy Masterclass
• Independent Study/Applied Policy Project

Option Modules

• Leading and Managing Change OR Leadership: Theory and Practice
• Social and Ethical Leadership
• Public Finance: Principles, Politics and Contemporary Issues
• Social Policy in Global Context
• Management, Society and Artificial Intelligence
• The Changing Nature of Work

Learning Outcomes

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers.

• Critically apply theoretical frameworks to the analysis of complex policy processes and competing responses to real-world public policy problems.
• Recognise, analyse and evaluate the multi-level intersections of policy-making with the distribution and operation of power and resources in diverse socio-economic and political contexts.
• Analyse and address challenges surrounding the formation, implementation and evaluation of public policy.
• Assess the evolution of public management approaches and related challenges in public sector operations and management.
• Apply leadership theories to organisational structures and processes in public management.
• Communicate in ways that can engage specialist and policy-interested audiences, balancing academic rigour with accessible presentation of complex material.
• Design rigorous policy-focused research, drawing from a range of theories, methods and types of evidence within appropriate ethical codes of research conduct.
• Critically apply knowledge, understanding and skills to the shaping of social progress, both within and beyond the academic context.

Fees and Funding

Annual Tuition Fees for 2026/27

• Study mode:
  • UK (home): £12,000
  • International and EU: £26,900

Additional Costs

There are no mandatory additional fees but we do recommend that you set aside some money for photocopying. Course books will be available to you from the Library either in print or online format but you may wish to buy your own copies (book prices vary, with new books usually costing between £20 and £60).

Funding Opportunities

• UK government Masters loans
• Funding for UK students
• Funding for international students
• Chevening Scholarships

Teaching and Assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching Format

The modules for this course have been specifically developed for postgraduate study. You'll be taught through a combination of hands-on workshops, lectures and seminars.

Assessment and Feedback

Your assessment will be continuous and based mainly on essays and reports. You'll receive written feedback on all assessed work.

Careers and Skills

The MSc in Public Policy and Management develops the skills that employers need in a number of areas, especially policy analysis and research. You'll also find you develop transferable skills that will allow you to progress to different career areas or to continue your studies at PhD level.

Career Opportunities

• Civil servant
• Government officer
• International organisation officer/consultant
• Public management consultant
• Campaign assistant for a political party
• Research manager
• Policy analyst
• Academia

Transferable Skills

• Communicate effectively, drawing on a range of skills and presentation techniques for different settings and audiences.
• Manage time effectively to work independently to deadlines.
• Work effectively in a group and as a member of a team in a variety of roles, including taking on leadership responsibilities.
• Evaluate, analyse and design effective policy delivery and outcomes
• Retrieve and interpret data from a variety of sources, including electronic databases.
• Use computer skills to present and analyse data.

Entry Requirements

• Qualification: Undergraduate degree
• Typical offer: 2:2 or equivalent
• English language: IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component

English Language Requirements

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

• IELTS (Academic and Indicator): 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
• Cambridge CEFR: B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
• Oxford ELLT: 7, minimum of 6 in each component
• Oxford Test of English Advanced: 136, minimum 126 in each component
• Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all other components
• LanguageCert SELT: B2 with 33/50 in each component
• LanguageCert Academic: 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
• Kaplan Test of English Language: 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components
• Skills for English: B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
• PTE Academic: 61, minimum 55 in each component
• TOEFL: 87, minimum of 21 in each component
• Trinity ISE III: Merit in all requirements

Pre-Sessional English Language Courses

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer. The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.