Program Overview

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Education, Public Policy & Equity MSc

The Masters in Education, Public Policy & Equity provides the broad preparation needed for work in education policy. The teaching methods emphasise dealing with applied issues and facilitate your development as a critical thinker through engaging with real life issues.

Programme Overview

• The programme draws on sociology, political science, and economics to provide a rigorous and broad grounding in theory for studying education as a vital component of public policy.
• It places joint emphasis on qualitative and quantitative analytical methods, which are reinforced through application to real policy issues under the guidance of experienced tutors.
• The teaching and assessment methods emphasise working critically with complex arguments, preparing you for the normative judgements required by decision makers once the limits of positive analysis have been reached.
• The programme was developed by the Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change to address the increasingly wider range of contemporary challenges in education policy, particularly public policy aims relating to equity, health, social policy, and the economy.
• You will explore how equity in education influences equity in society and vice versa, as educational disadvantage and inequity do not exist in isolation from other forms of disadvantage.

Programme Structure

You will take four core courses and two optional courses, as well as complete a dissertation on a chosen topic.

Core Courses

• Education and Public Policy
• Education Policy in Action
• Equity, Social Justice and Change
• Policy Enquiry And Decision-Making

Optional Courses

• Advanced Policy Enquiry
• Economics for Education and Public Policy
• Education and International Development
• Educational Change for Collaborative Improvement
• Higher Education as a Field of Research, Policy and Practice

Career Prospects

Employment: Past graduates have found employment across the globe; they are working as administrators, lecturers, and researchers in Higher Education; as teachers, of all subjects, in primary and secondary schools; as advisors in education and policy making relating to a variety of topics, including privatisation, marketability, sustainability; and there are those who are developing their own initiatives utilising the skills they gained in this programme.

Opportunity: Education is increasingly part of a broader spectrum of public policy issues relating to health, social policy, and the economy. Experience in this growing field, particularly as it relates to an ever-widening range of objectives and policy discourse on an international scope, will be invaluable. This programme is designed to provide individuals with that necessary skillset and international outlook.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

• MSc (Full-time): Ł11,367 for Home & RUK, Ł27,720 for International & EU
• MSc (Part-time): Ł1,263 per 20 credits for Home & RUK

Fee Status

• Fee status guidance is available.

Deposits

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of Ł2,000 when an offer is made.

Additional Fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): Ł370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: Ł350
• Registration/exam only fee: Ł170

Funding Opportunities

• Little Helpers Scholarship: 1000 for students studying nutrition, food science, chemistry, biology, public health, dietetics, or any field related to digestive health or gluten research.
• Banco de Mexico: Special loans for students who wish to undertake a programme of postgraduate study.
• The Snowdon Trust Masters Scholarship: For exceptional Disabled Students.
• CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement: A non-refundable scholarship, a monthly stipend, and medical insurance.
• ANID (la Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo): A 25% discount to all successful ANID scholars.
• University of Glasgow African Excellence Award: A full tuition fee waiver for International students from Africa.
• University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award: A full tuition fee waiver for International students from the Caribbean.
• World Changers Glasgow Scholarship: A Ł5,000 tuition fee discount.
• Glasgow Excellence Award (UK): For UK students.
• Postgraduate Access Scholarship: Ł4,000 for Home students.
• World Changers Glasgow Scholarship PGT (EU): A tuition fee discount of Ł5,000 for every year of study.
• Global Leadership Scholarship: A tuition fees discount.
• GREAT Scholarships 2026: Ł10,000 for students from Greece, Spain, Pakistan, Kenya, and Bangladesh.
• The Humanitarian Scholarship: A full tuition fee waiver, a living stipend, accommodation, and travel support.
• Chevening Scholarship: For outstanding scholars with leadership potential.
• India Excellence Award: A tuition fee waiver of Ł12,500.
• Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans: EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms.
• Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU): A tuition fee loan up to a maximum of Ł7,000.
• Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students: A student loan for Welsh students.
• Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL): A non-means tested Postgraduate Masters Loan of up to Ł11,570.
• Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia: Discounts for successful Colfuturo scholars.
• Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes: For citizens from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries.
• DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Masters grant: A full tuition waiver.
• Sanctuary Scholarships: For applicants with Refugee or Asylum Seeker status.
• Alumni Discount: A 20% tuition fee discount for eligible self-funded alumni.
• The Clan Gregor Society Prize: For incoming students who descend from Clan Gregor.
• Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants: To assist with public transport travel costs.
• The Dima Alhaj Scholarship: For undergraduate and postgraduate taught applicants.
• Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship: Grants of up to Ł500.

Entry Requirements

• 2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Education, Social Sciences, Business, Law, Public Administration, or other related subjects.
• English language requirements:
  • IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
  • TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome): 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
  • Pearsons PTE Academic: 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
  • Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
  • Oxford English Test: 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
  • LanguageCert Academic/Academic Online: 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
  • Password Skills Plus: 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
  • Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II: Two subtests at 96 or higher, and two subtests at 80 or higher
  • Kaplan Test of English: Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
  • University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses: Accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
• Alternatives to English Language qualification:
  • Degree from majority-English speaking country.
  • Undergraduate 2+2 and 3+1 degrees from majority-English speaking country.

How to Apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree, you must apply online. 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)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s)
• 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
• A copy of the photo page of your passport

Application Deadlines

International & EU Applicants

Due to demand for degree places on this programme, the University has an application process with application rounds.

Round 1 Application Dates: 1 October 2025 to 5 November 2025

All International and EU applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 16 January 2026.

Round 2 Application Dates: 6 November 2025 to 17 December 2025

All International and EU applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 4 March 2026.

Round 3 Application Dates: 18 December 2025 to 4 February 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 15 April 2026.

Round 4 Application Dates: 5 February 2026 to 25 March 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 6 May 2026.

Round 5 Application Dates: 26 March 2026 to 13 May 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 17 June 2026.

Round 6 Application Dates: 14 May 2026 to 8 July 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 29 July 2026.

Home Applicants

• 21 August 2026