Comparative Public Policy MSc

The MSc in Comparative Public Policy is offered as one-year full-time or two-year part-time programme.

Teaching combines:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• essays
• assessed coursework

You will complete six taught courses - three in each semester. Two of these will be compulsory core courses.

Dissertation

From May to August you will complete either a work-based project or a standard research dissertation.

The dissertation represents a chance to get to grips with a topic of the student's own choosing, supervised by an appropriate member of academic staff.

Placement-based dissertation

The aim of the placement-based dissertation is to provide students with the opportunity to work on their dissertation within the context of a workplace of their choosing. This could be within a public sector, a voluntary, a charitable or a private organisation, subject to the approval of the Programme Director.

• Placement-based dissertation information

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

• Comparative Public Policy (MSc) (Part-time) - 2 Years
• Comparative Public Policy (MSc) (Full-time) - 1 Year

More specifically, the programme aims to:

• provide an introduction to methods and theories of comparative analysis and knowledge of the different forms and purposes of comparison in comparative policy related research
• provide you with an understanding of the political, economic and social contexts of policy-making
• equip you with the skills required to research and analyse policy decisions and outcomes within and between countries in a wide range of policy areas
• foster an educational setting where students from diverse backgrounds engage in mutually beneficial discussion and debate, learning from a variety of different standpoints and experience
• enable you to develop the knowledge and skills that support attainment of a qualification relevant to social and public policy research and progression to higher level academic study or professional work

This degree is highly relevant to anyone who works or intends to work in policy-relevant professions in the public, private or non-governmental sectors.

It will provides you with a recognised qualification that can lead to an enhanced range of employment opportunities and further study.

Past students have gone on to employment in:

• the civil service of various national governments
• international agencies
• social research
• NGOs
• local government
• other public and private sector bodies, both locally and internationally

You will develop a range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field.

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

Entrance to this programme is competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements. Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Application fee

A non-refundable application fee of £50 must be paid after you submit your application. Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.

• Application fee information

Tuition fees

• Comparative Public Policy (MSc) (Full-time) - 1 Year
• Comparative Public Policy (MSc) (Part-time) - 2 Years

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your residency status.

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding