Skip navigation
Public Policy at University of Warwick - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 2025
Apply

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Warwick's Public Policy MA provides you with an interdisciplinary understanding of theories and concepts of policy making, combined with the practice of policy analysis and evaluation, to build an understanding of how governments respond to global challenges such as pandemics and climate change. Why do some issues grab the attention of policy-makers and others do not? How do governments decide which problems to focus on? Why do bad ideas become policy and good ideas languish for years? Why do governments respond differently to global policy challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic? Governments are facing more complex demands every day. If you want to make a difference in the world, you need to understand the limits and possibilities of how policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated. This programme will give you an advanced understanding of the major theories and concepts of governance, public management, and public policy. You will work with world leading experts on transnational policy making and gain a practice focused understanding of why and how ideas are turned into public policy; whose interests make the biggest impact and how; and why some policies are more difficult than others to implement. Double Degrees Our Double Degree programmes enable you to combine the study of this MA programme in PAIS with a Master’s programme at any one of our partner universities:

  • American University, Washington DC, USA
  • University of Waterloo, Canada
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
  • University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
  • Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.

Modules

Core modules Theories and Traditions in Public Policy Public Policy has undergone rapid transformations as a field of study over the past two decades. It was once seen as the preserve of national and local governments. Today, however, we talk of policy made by networks that transcend national borders, government departments, and traditional hierarchies. This module introduces you to the interdisciplinary field of policy studies. It provides you with a grounding in the key theoretical approaches to public policy. It is focused on the practical application, giving you the opportunity to apply techniques of policy analysis to some of the most pressing global challenges. Dissertation The Dissertation is an opportunity to study a topic of your choosing, in autonomy and in-depth, under the guidance of an advisor selected among the many experts in the Department. The Dissertation topic should be related to your course. It is an original empirical and/or theoretical investigation, led over terms 2 and 3, that takes further the work done in regular seminars in terms 1 and 2. The Dissertation is the closest you will get to real research during your degree. It is a key experience if you have a PhD in view, or extra-academic research, or any future employment that will require the ability to lead investigations and write reports in autonomy. Optional modules Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

  • The EU as an International Actor: Engaging with the Neighbourhood
  • East Asian Development Policies
  • Issues and Actors in Global Economic Governance
  • Comparative Politics
The optional module lists on our website are updated regularly. You may select up to 40 CATS (normally two modules) from a list of specialist modules for this course, and a further 40-80 CATS from our extensive range of optional modules for a total of 120 CATS of taught modules.

Assessment method

Assessment methods include research essays and other (written) assignments throughout the year, culminating in a 10,000 word dissertation at the end.

Entry requirements

Minimum requirements 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject. Visit our PAIS web pages for department-specific advice on applying to ensure your application has the best chance for success. English language requirements You can find out more about our English language requirements. This course requires the following: Band B IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above. International qualifications We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Please visit the University of Warwick website for the tuition fees for postgraduate courses: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/funding/fees

Sponsorship information

We offer a variety of postgraduate funding options for study at the University of Warwick, from postgraduate loans, university scholarships, fee awards, to academic department bursaries. It's important that you apply for your postgraduate course first before you apply for a University of Warwick scholarship. Please visit the University's scholarship webpages.

Public Policy at University of Warwick - UCAS