MPP Openbaar beleid

This course is extremely flexible, and you can tailor it to fit your particular interests. Core modules on Policy Theory and Practice are combined with optional modules in Social Research and policy-relevant disciplines. If you want to pursue an interest in other policy-relevant disciplines, you can also combine a focus on policy and research with options in areas such as:

• Law;
• Economics and Behavioural Science;
• Strategic Communications;
• International Politics.

You can also use this degree as a Pathway to pursue research to PhD level by taking three modules in Applied Social Research.

As part of the Masters course, you must complete a dissertation. You’ll also have the potential to gain practical experience by pursuing a placement with a relevant organisation (with our help) – allowing you to tailor your research to a policymaker or policy-influencer audience.

Our staff have a wide range of connections with organisations in the public, private and third sectors. These can be used not only to pursue your placement-based coursework, but also build your own personal networks.

Work placements

To gain your Masters degree, you must produce a dissertation of around 12,000 words that applies intellectual rigour to a real-world policy problem. You’ll have the option to pursue a placement with a relevant organisation, enabling you to tailor your research to a policymaker or policy-influencer audience.

Teaching

Each of the core modules on this course are delivered through weekly seminars on campus (with the option of online/hybrid attendance).

The first semester core module ‘The Politics of Policy Analysis’ includes a two-hour seminar each week. The second semester core module ‘Policymaking: Theories and Approaches’ includes a four-hour seminar each week – which combines weekly political science theory discussions with weekly guest seminars from practitioners and other policy-relevant disciplines.

Many applied social research modules are delivered through a series of half-day, one-day or three-day blocks. The majority of policy-relevant options follow the same format as your core modules - weekly seminars and one piece of coursework.

The applied social research component of your course is provided by the Faculty of Social Sciences, which is an ESRC-recognised postgraduate research training centre.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed through a wide range of various coursework as part of your taught modules. That coursework includes blog posts, policy analysis, essays on practical lessons from policy theory, and the research dissertation.

There are no exams.

Inzetbaarheid vaardigheden

Wij bieden een uitgebreid inzetbaarheids- en vaardighedenprogramma om u te helpen uw tijd op de universiteit te maximaliseren en de afgestudeerde eigenschappen te ontwikkelen die werkgevers vereisen. We hebben een toegewijde Faculty Employability and Skills Officer en een Careers Service die samenwerken met academisch personeel om ervoor te zorgen dat u het beste uit uw universitaire ervaring haalt en de juiste kansen krijgt om u klaar te stomen voor de arbeidsmarkt.

Studenten hebben toegang tot advies, informatie en carrièremogelijkheden, niet alleen in het Verenigd Koninkrijk maar wereldwijd.