MSc International Public Policy Analysis

Qualifications and durations

• Full-time MSc (90 credits - 1 year)
• Full-time Postgraduate Diploma (60 credits - 9 months)
• Full-time Postgraduate Certificate (30 credits - 4 months)
• Part-time MSc (90 credits - 2+ years)
• Part-time Postgraduate Diploma (60 credits - 21 months)
• Part-time Postgraduate Certificate (30 credits - 16 months)

Overview

The MSc International Public Policy Analysis is designed to meet the increasing demand for expertise in international and comparative analysis of public policies. The programme offers;

• a rigorous, multidisciplinary understanding of social and public policy in international and cross-national contexts,
• advanced training in key techniques of policy analysis and policy evaluation in national, cross-national and international settings,
• opportunities for student-driven research in substantial social and public policy areas (such as, welfare and social security, family policy, migration policy, employment and labour market policy, health policy, environmental policy, international development), in a large number of national, regional (e.g. European Union, Asia, Africa, Latin America) and global (e.g. UN) settings.

The programme is designed for:

• Social science graduates or mid-career professionals pursuing careers in, national social and public administration, European or international organisations as well as national or international non-governmental organisations and agencies.
• Social science graduates who aspire to pursue an academic career related to the academic study of social and/or public policy.

The excellence of the research undertaken within the Department of Social & Policy Sciences has been recognised most recently by the award of the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2011. We were also ranked 2nd in the country in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.

Programme structure

Core Units

• Advanced Policy Analysis: approaches and techniques
• Policy Evaluation: methods and techniques
• The Politics of Policy: actors and arenas and conflict in international perspective
• Research for Policy: concepts, methods and values
• Dissertation

Optional Units (indicative):

• Comparative European Social Policy
• Comparative Research Methods
• International Family Policy
• Politics and Policy in Developing Countries
• Wellbeing and Human Development 1: concepts, measurement & policy
• Economics for Development
• Business Society and States: corporate power and accountability
• Wellbeing assessment in public policy and development practice,
• World Politics: conflict, security and development
• Political economy of globalisation
• Well-being, Welfare Regimes and Social Policy: a global perspective,
• Globalisation and Economic Insecurity
• Regional research specialisms (South Asia, Africa, Latin America and South East Asia; subject to staff availability)

View Programme & Unit Catalogue for further information.

Please note:

• The programme catalogue and units listed above are applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only and should be treated as an example of the programme content. Students beginning or continuing their studies in 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that later years of a programme will be in the format displayed here.
• Programmes and Units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
• Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.

Learning and teaching

Our programmes are modular, consisting of self-contained units, taught and assessed on a semester basis. As you progress through each semester and successfully pass the examinations, you will receive credit for the units, thus providing you with a clear indication of your academic progress.

Teaching takes the form of lectures, classes and seminars. Lectures are quite formal, whereas classes and seminars involve interaction between the lecturer and a small number of students for study skills and discussion.

Core teaching staff

• Dr Emma Carmel
• Dr Aurelie Charles
• Dr Séverine Deneulin
• Dr Ana Cecilia Dinerstein
• Prof Paul Gregg
• Dr Theo Papadopoulos (Director of Studies)
• Prof Graham Room
• Prof Guy Standing

Methods of assessment

Assessment consists of a combination of coursework essays, class exercises, projects, oral presentations and examinations.

We also place strong emphasis on developing presentation and discussion/communication skills, which in many units is part of the assessed work.

Careers

The Social & Policy Sciences department is committed to ensuring that postgraduate students acquire a range of subject-specific and generic skills during their training.

Our graduates generally go on to work in a wide variety of organisations, such as:

• Social research in universities and research institutes, government, business, voluntary organisations and international organisations.
• Public policy analysis at local, national and international levels.
• Public information and campaigning within organisations concerned with wellbeing, sustainability and social justice.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• First or 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject, from a recognised university. or
• an equivalent degree in another subject, together with substantial relevant work experience.

Professional requirements

• You should normally have prior experience of working in international policy (although this is not essential).

English Language requirements

Certificates must be dated to within two years of the start of the programme of study.

• IELTS 7.0 (with not less than 6.5 in each of the four components)
• TOEFL 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test) with a score of not less than 4 in TWE or 100 (internet-based test) with not less than 24 in each of the components.

If you wish to improve your English proficiency before commencing your studies, pre-sessional language training can be arranged through the English Language Centre.

References

• Two references are required. At least one of these must be an academic reference.

Read details for how to apply to study.

Financial information

Costs

• Tuition fees

Potential sources of funding

• Studentships and Scholarships

Deadlines

We suggest you apply before the following dates if you wish to study this programme:

• 30 June 2013 for International Students (who need to apply for a UK Visa).
• 31 August 2013 for Home/EU students.
• Funding deadlines for Studentships and Scholarships

Contact

Email: sps-pgt-admissions@bath.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 38 6634

Related links

• Department of Social & Policy Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Graduate School