MA Government, Policy and Society with Quantitative Methods

Year 1

Students take three compulsory courses:

• Social Policy and Society
• Understanding Public Policy
• Evidence, Policy and Politics

You will also take our Fundamentals course in year 1, developing the analytical skills to discuss contemporary policy issues and produce relevant outputs. In year 2 you will take a course on research skills and design in which you will learn how to create the foundations for high quality social research yourself.

You will take a further six options from across the University to broaden your perspectives. These options may include courses within social and political science (such as social anthropology, international relations, sociology, political science or social work) or could be from other disciplines (such as economics, philosophy, history and many others).

Social Policy and Society will introduce you to core concepts in the analysis of key government policy areas by contrasting policy models based on classic economic perspectives with models based on a social policy approach. The course allows you to explore the consequences of different policy decisions by governments on different parts of society.

In addition, you must take two quantitative methods courses: Mathematics for Social Science and Introduction to Statistics for Social Science.

You will take a further one or two options from across the University to broaden your perspectives. These options may include courses within social and political science (such as social anthropology, international relations, sociology, political science or social work) or could be from other disciplines (such as economics, philosophy, history and many others.

Year 2

There is one compulsory course in social policy during Year 2: Evidence, Politics and Policy.

In addition, you must take one quantitative methods courses: Doing Social Research with Statistics.

For your remaining two or three courses in Year 1, you may choose freely from a wide range across the University.

Year 3

You must take three core courses:

• Designing and Doing Social Research
• Analytical Perspectives in Social Policy
• Statistical Modelling.

During Years 3 and 4, two or three courses must be in advanced quantitative methods and the remainder in a variety of topics in public policy, such as:

• Social inequality
• Labour markets
• Childhood
• Health policy
• Education policy

Year 4

You will write a dissertation in Year 4.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2020/21)

Our facilities

Most of the teaching takes place in the University's Central Area. You will also have access to the University's computer facilities and libraries.

Placements

Opportunities are offered to undertake an eight-week work placement with a local employer, concentrating on the use of statistical evidence in policymaking.

Study abroad

You may apply to spend Year 3 abroad in one of several universities in North America, Central and South America, Australia and Asia with whom the University has special links.

In addition, we have European exchange schemes with Leuphana University Lüneburg and Jacobs University Bremen (Germany).

You can also apply to university-wide exchanges in Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dublin (Ireland) and Lund (Sweden).

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials/seminars and individual supervision.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a combination of exams and coursework, and through a Year 4 research project.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2020/21)

Quantitative skills in social science are in very short supply in the UK and further afield. Graduating from this programme can thus open up a very wide range of fulfilling careers, in government, voluntary organisations, pressure groups or commercial organisations.

The programme also equips you with skills and knowledge that could be applied to careers in teaching or to the management and delivery of services, whether public or commercial.

You will have access to bespoke careers advice in recognition of the strengthened employability that arises from quantitative expertise.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA-AABB by the end of S5 or AAAA-AAAB by the end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.(Revised 09/04/2020 from AAAA-AAAB and to include alternate grades to be achieved by end of S6.)
• A Levels: AAB - ABB.
• IB: 43 points with 776 at HL - 37 points with 666 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: Mathematics at B. National 5s: English at C.
• A Levels: Mathematics at B, or AS Mathematics at A (if A Level not taken). GCSEs: English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: Mathematics at 5. SL: English at 5 and Mathematics at 6 (if not at HL). Mathematical Studies is not accepted for any of our Quantitative Methods degrees.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

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.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 at A
• SQA Intermediate 2 at C
• GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate Grade C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

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

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components.

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

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

English language requirements

*(Revised 27 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Government, Policy and Society with Quantitative Methods

Additional costs

None.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• Enquiry Management Team
• Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk