MA Government, Policy and Society

Year 1

You will take the following compulsory courses:

• Social Policy and Society
• Understanding Public Policy
• Politics of the Welfare State

Social Policy and Society

In this course we will introduce key ways to analyse how government policies affect society.

We use a variety of important concepts like power and inequality to make sense of societal structures. This allows us to look at the impact of policy on different groups of people (for example, based on class, gender or race).

Understanding Public Policy

In this course you will develop the skills needed to analyse specific policies created by governments, with regard to their goals, structures and effectiveness.

You will engage with external practitioners to understand the practical implications of their academic knowledge to the world of real policy making.

Politics of the Welfare State

In this course we introduce you to the politics of welfare.

In many countries this area constitutes one of the largest sets of government expenditure. You will be confronted with debates about different ways of delivering welfare and the interplay between the state and the private sector.

Optional courses

You will take further optional courses from across the University to broaden your perspectives. These may include courses within social and political science, such as:

• social anthropology
• international relations
• sociology
• political science
• social work

You can also choose options from other disciplines, such as:

• economics
• philosophy
• history

Year 2

You will take three compulsory courses.

In the course Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives you will compare different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries.

In addition, you will take two social policy courses, which are likely to focus on research skills and the use of evidence in politics and the economy. Further details are subject to our current review of our pre-honours curriculum for Year 2 students.

Optional courses

You will take further optional courses from across the University to broaden your perspectives. These may include courses within social and political science, such as:

• social anthropology
• international relations
• sociology
• political science
• social work

You can also choose options from other disciplines, such as:

• economics
• philosophy
• history

Year 3

You will take three compulsory courses to help sharpen your analytical abilities and develop transferable research skills with applications in many professional areas:

• Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy
• Doing Survey Research
• Analysing and Communicating Social Policy

Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy

This course will introduce you to a wide range of qualitative research techniques and teach you how to carry out high-quality research yourself.

Doing Survey Research

This course will equip you to work with large-scale quantitative datasets.

You will analyse information from surveys of any unit, ranging from people to countries and firms.

Using real-life data, you will develop skills useful for many career paths.

Analysing and Communicating Social Policy

This course prepares students to translate their academic learning in social policy into real-world applications that address different audiences. The course builds on the various lenses students have been introduced to during their pre-honours studies (for example, sociological, political, economic and comparative perspectives).

You will also choose seven specialisation courses from a wide range of options which fall into two categories:

• policy-oriented courses, focusing on the specific areas of policy in your area of specialisation (for example, policy on labour markets, health, education, and poverty among others)
• process-oriented courses focusing on political decision-making and perspectives on government (such as government budgetary politics, practical political work, the governing of social affairs and many others)

Year 4

You will continue to take social policy courses and will complete an individual research project.

This may involve collecting and analysing data and information from sources such as:

• the European Commission
• UK Government
• Scottish Government
• local authorities
• voluntary organisations

Dissertation

You will also complete a major project and write a 10,000 to 15,000-word dissertation. This is a genuine, original piece of research that you will carry out over the course of a year. With guidance and mentoring from a member of staff, you will choose whether to work with quantitative and/or qualitative skills.

You will analyse existing data or conduct your own primary research, either in the UK or, as many of our international students do, in your home country. There is also the possibility to combine your dissertation research with external work in placement or volunteering contexts. Past students have combined practical interests with their research work to make their dissertation useful beyond the University.

Where appropriate, we will help you find ways to share your findings with the appropriate audiences.

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 (2024/25)

Our facilities

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

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of Social and Political Science and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Take a virtual tour of the School of Social and Political Science

Study abroad

You may apply to spend Year 3 abroad in one of many institutions where the University has special links, in locations such as:

• Europe
• North America
• Central and South America
• Australia
• Asia

We also have a dedicated European exchange scheme with Leuphana University Lüneburg in Germany.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars
• individual supervision

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a wide range of methods that will enable you to develop different academic and practical skills.

Our assessments range from traditional academic essays and exams, but also include:

• policy analyses and briefs
• policy blogging
• analyses of political actors
• project work
• seminar engagement

This programme opens up many exciting career pathways. Our graduates are well equipped to enter jobs in:

• the government
• the civil service
• third-sector organisations
• business, whether national or international

We ensure this through emphasis on:

• the development of critical thinking skills
• our commitment to rigorous methodological training

Our focus on analytical and research skills, and content knowledge, will make you a strong asset to many different organisations.

Many of our graduates have been successful in achieving high impact in their fields of work in national and international settings. Many also succeed in research after completing high-profile masters and PhD programmes.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAB by end of S5 or AAAA by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: AAA.
• IB: 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: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.
• A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

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

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

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
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at 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: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*

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

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

English language requirements

(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)

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

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

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