Program Overview

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Public Policy MSc

The Masters in Public Policy aims to develop future public policy makers who understand the contexts and challenges facing governments and public agencies, and the processes and politics of policy formation and delivery. Public policy shapes the way societies function, from economic development and social justice, to sustainability and urban planning.

Why this programme

• This programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge to make an effective contribution to the formation and evaluation of policy.
• You will become an independent critical thinker able to work in a wide range of organisational contexts and roles.
• A key strength of the MSc are our three pathways, which will help you develop specialist knowledge and skills, and deepen your understanding and confidence within the field of public policy.
• Choose from General Pathway, Sustainability Pathway, and Data Analytics Pathway.
• Develop the knowledge and skills needed to make a real and positive difference to the formation and evaluation of public sector policy.
• Our teaching is both research-informed and research-led.
• Benefit from world class expertise in public policy, sustainability, and data analytics.
• By the end of the programme, you will have acquired skills as independent critical thinkers, enabling you to work in a wide range of organisational contexts and roles.
• Join a diverse student cohort and meet people from all around the world, allowing you to build an international network to take into your career and life after university.

Programme structure

You will take a mix of core and optional courses, taught across two semesters, followed by an independent dissertation. The dissertation provides an opportunity for you to research a topic of specific interest to you, and allows you to conduct in depth critical exploration of this topic. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor who will guide and support them through the process of undertaking a dissertation.

Pathways

General Pathway

The General Pathway enables you to develop a systematic and wide-ranging overview of public policy in a global context of socio-economic inequality, significant migration, health challenges, political transitions, the climate crisis, and technological change.

Core courses

• Evidence, Evaluation and Policy
• Researching Public Policy
• Understanding Public Policy

Optional courses

Choose 60 credits from:

• Data & AI in Policy & Society
• Global Urban Challenges (10)
• Inclusive Cities
• Housing, Inequality and Society (10 credit)
• Inclusive Cities
• Migration Policy Making
• Participatory & Administrative Data Analysis
• Place Adaptation and Green Infrastructure
• Planning for Just Transitions
• Principles and Applications of GIS (10 credits)
• Smart Cities and Infrastructure
• Southern Urbanism
• Sustainable Energy Landcapes
• Sustainable Housing Development (10 Credits)
• Sustainable Urban Futures (10)
• Urban Conservation
• Understanding Health Policy (10 credit)
• Understanding Health Policy
• The Wellbeing Economy

Sustainability Pathway

The Sustainability Pathway focuses on the broad range of policies, politics, and institutions which shape sustainable outcomes to achieve environmental social justice. It enables you to develop specialist understandings of sustainability regarding policy making, and equips the next generation of public managers, policymakers, and public administrators with the knowledge, skills, and values required for realising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Core courses

• Evidence, Evaluation and Policy
• Researching Public Policy
• Understanding Public Policy
• Sustainable Urban Futures (10)

AND minimum 30/maximum 50 credits from:

• Place Adaptation and Green Infrastructure
• Planning for Just Transitions
• Sustainable Housing Development (10 Credits)
• Sustainable Energy Landcapes

Optional courses

If you have taken fewer than 50 credits of courses listed above, you can choose a maximum 20 credits from:

• Data & AI in Policy & Society
• Global Urban Challenges (10)
• Housing, Inequality and Society (10 credit)
• Inclusive Cities
• Migration Policy Making
• Participatory & Administrative Data Analysis
• Principles and Applications of GIS (10 credits)
• Quantitative Data Analysis (Semester 1)
• Smart Cities and Infrastructure
• Southern Urbanism
• Sustainable Energy Landcapes
• Sustainable Housing Development (10 Credits)
• Sustainable Urban Futures (10)
• Urban Conservation
• Understanding Health Policy (10 credit)
• Understanding Health Policy
• The Wellbeing Economy

Data Analytics Pathway

The Data Analytics Pathway enables you to develop expertise in data-driven policymaking and the responsible use of data. It provides you with the critical skills needed to combine policy studies with data analytics and, upon graduation, you will have the ability to critique and analyse complex data to inform policy decisions and processes and use GenAI technologies in an ethical and responsible manner.

Core courses

• Data & AI in Policy & Society
• Evidence, Evaluation and Policy
• Researching Public Policy
• Understanding Public Policy

AND minimum 20/maximum 40 credits from:

• Big Data, AI & Urban Analytics
• Participatory & Administrative Data Analysis
• Principles and Applications of GIS (10 credits)
• Programming Tools for Urban Analytics
• Quantitative Data Analysis (Semester 1)
• Statistical Methods for Transport Planning
• Urban Analytics Group Project.

Optional courses

If you have taken fewer than 40 credits of courses listed above, you can choose max. 20 credits from:

• Global Urban Challenges (10)
• Housing, Inequality and Society (10 credit)
• Inclusive Cities
• Migration Policy Making
• Participatory & Administrative Data Analysis
• Place Adaptation and Green Infrastructure
• Planning for Just Transitions
• Smart Cities and Infrastructure
• Southern Urbanism
• Sustainable Energy Landcapes
• Sustainable Housing Development (10 Credits)
• Sustainable Urban Futures (10)
• Urban Conservation
• Understanding Health Policy (10 credit)
• Understanding Health Policy
• The Wellbeing Economy

Career prospects

This interdisciplinary programme will help prepare you for a wide range of careers, giving you a diverse set of skills and knowledge.

Career opportunities and pathways

Following completion of the Public Policy MSc, you will be well placed to enter a diverse range of careers in workplaces globally which could include:

• National and local government
• Non-governmental organisations
• Consultancy
• International organisations specialising in public policy, sustainability and data analytics
• Third sector organisations.

Professional development

Our programme embeds professional development into your learning, with assessments structured to allow you to design, execute and document in-depth analytical and critical research. Youll also be developing key workplace skills such as self-organisation, time management, working collaboratively and presenting complex ideas clearly.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for

MSc

Home & RUK

• Full-time fee: Ł11,367
• Part-time fee: Ł1,263 per 20 credits

International & EU

• Full-time fee: Ł29,355

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
• University of Glasgow African Excellence Award
• University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award
• World Changers Glasgow Scholarship
• Postgraduate Access Scholarship
• World Changers Glasgow Scholarship PGT (EU)
• Global Leadership Scholarship
• GREAT Scholarships 2026
• The Humanitarian Scholarship
• India Excellence Award
• Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans
• Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)
• Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students
• Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)
• Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia
• Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes
• DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Masters grant
• Sanctuary Scholarships
• Alumni Discount
• The Clan Gregor Society Prize
• Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants
• The Dima Alhaj Scholarship
• Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship

Entry requirements

• 2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Politics, Sociology, Geography, History, Economics, Environmental Studies, Law, Business, and other Social Sciences and Humanities subjects.
• We may also accept degrees in other subjects not listed above.
• We may sometimes accept degrees at 2.2 Hons or non-UK equivalent.
• Extensive work experience (e.g. in Government) may be considered along with a lower degree. Please provide a CV.
• All applicants are required to complete and submit a question-based personal statement explaining why you want to undertake this programme at Glasgow.

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training): 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
• TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome): 93 overall with no subtest less than Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24
• Pearsons PTE Academic: 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 62; Listening 62; Speaking 75; Writing 68
• 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 7
• LanguageCert Academic/ Academic Online: 70 overall with no subtest less than 70
• Password Skills Plus: 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
• Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II: No subtest less than 96
• Kaplan Test of English: No subtest less than 480
• University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses: Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

• Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
• Undergraduate 2+2 and 3+1 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online.

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) (if you have already completed your degree)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
• 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 which recognises that different geographical areas complete and submit their applications at different times of the year.

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