Political Science - Governance and Public Policy

Entry requirements

We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Study the MA Political Science Governance and Public Policy course and explore some of the key political science and public policy issues of the 21st century.

These include:

• an examination of the nature and problems of policy making in the contemporary world;
• how in a globalised world public decision-making can be constructed in a way that delivers legitimacy and effective capacity to act;
• the impact of governance arrangements on policy outcomes and the relationship between the state and citizens.

It also involves in the course units on offer, an opportunity to apply insights gleaned in a variety of contemporary settings.

The course will appeal to those interested in governance and policy making at any level: neighbourhood, local, national, European and global. It provides a base for employment in a range of sectors from public service employment at the cutting edge, through corporate responsibility units in the private sector to a variety of non-profit organisations.

You will also benefit from a close connection to the Institute of Political and Economic Governance. The University established the institute in 2002, and its aim is to provide a major focus for research as well as practitioner and academic exchange over governance issues.

You'll take two core course units:

• Understanding Governance;
• Governance and the Welfare State.

Alongside two compulsory course units:

• Advanced Research in Politics;
• Dissertation Research Design.

In addition, you will be able to choose a minimum of two course units from the pathway specific unit choices and a maximum of two units from the politics-wide optional units.