Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Public Policy MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Public Policy

"There are so many moments where you think: 'Of course, that's exactly how that works!' The programme throws new perspectives at you constantly and gives you the tools to evaluate them against one another. I feel I understand what goes on in and around government with far more nuance and clarity than I did before."

Sam Student - MSc Public Policy (2019-2020)

The MSc Public Policy covers both the theories and approaches to understanding and engaging with policy work, as well as applying these theories and approaches to policy making in a practice-oriented way through case study learning.

What are the factors that shape the policy decisions taken by governments at supranational, national and local levels? How do these decisions interact with and impact society and the economy?

Answering such questions effectively requires an interdisciplinary understanding of the field of public policy, drawing insights from politics, social policy, sociology and economics.

With a particular focus on the social and economic policy fields that are at the heart of modern welfare states, the MSc Public Policy offers an advanced understanding of the political, social and economic context of policy-making and government activity in modern societies.

This programme, based in the School of Social and Political Science, draws on the School's multi-disciplinary expertise across different fields of public policy, with a focus that ranges from the local to the global.

Why Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is a globally renowned cultural city, and is home to the Scottish Parliament and official residence of the First Minister of Scotland.

Our teaching is grounded in the use of cutting-edge social and political science to further an understanding of pressing matters of societal concern and the challenges of policy making and governing within, and outwith, the UK.

The social policy subject area includes both early career and more experienced staff with a wide range of research interests and teaching experience in academic and professional settings across social and public policy. We're proud to host colleagues working in the Global Health Policy Unit, in the Centre for Science, Knowledge and Policy (SKAPE), and in the School's Research Training Centre.

We're part of a large school, which creates opportunities for us to work closely with colleagues in Politics, Sociology, Social Anthropology, Social Work, International Development and Science and Technology Studies. It also gives our students access to a wide range of additional specialist courses, and to engage with students on a variety of parallel programmes.

The MSc in Public Policy is offered as a one-year full-time or two-year part-time programme.

The programme will be delivered through:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • group work
  • guided independent study

You will complete three taught courses per semester, one of which is compulsory, the other two optional.

Compulsory courses

  • Political Issues in Public Policy (Semester 1) This course introduces you to theories and concepts used to study and understand the policy-making process and why particular policies are pursued, or not.

  • Policy in Action (Semester 2) In this course groups of students work through a portfolio of materials to write a ministerial brief, in consultation with a key practitioner in the field.

Optional courses

In each semester you choose two further courses from a list of recommended options, though you may take others offered across the School. While the core courses support your working together as a programme cohort, option courses give you contact with students across topics and disciplines.

Your electives might explore:

  • a specific area of policy making, such as education, energy or the labour market
  • a specific policy mechanism, such as public engagement
  • a specific method of information-gathering and assessment, such as comparison or evaluation

We encourage you to make the programme your own at every stage, and your programme director will help you work out what it is you really want to do.

Dissertation

After successfully completing the taught modules you will work towards an independently researched dissertation.

You can undertake a standard dissertation or potentially a placement-based dissertation, which can be undertaken in the UK or abroad.

Placement-based dissertation

The aim of the placement-based dissertation is to provide students with the opportunity to work on their dissertation with an external organisation, subject to Programme Director and Placement Adviser approval.

The projects generally consist of eight weeks of research with a host organisation from our network of contacts which includes NGOs, charities, social enterprises, think-tanks and government bodies. Placements can either be in person, hybrid or undertaken remotely. Students are also able to source their own placements subject to university approval.

Please note that a placement-based dissertation is not guaranteed as part of this programme and are by competitive application during Semester 1.

Find out more about the placement-based dissertation option via our dedicated information pages:

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScPublic Policy1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2024/25
MScPublic Policy2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2024/25

By the end of the programme, you will have:

  • a firm grounding in a broad set of literatures on policy making and public policy
  • knowledge and understanding of core explanatory theories, concepts, and issues in analysing policy
  • an awareness of different models of the policy process
  • an understanding of the use of concepts and measures in analysing policy
  • skills to analyse and evaluate policy decisions and outcomes in a wide range of policy areas
  • the ability to draw on a variety of disciplinary paradigms in understanding policy and policy making

You will also develop a range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field.

The MSc in Public Policy can be used as a gateway to a range of employment opportunities and further study.

Graduates from the School's postgraduate Policy programmes have gone on to employment in:

  • social research organisations
  • local government
  • civil service
  • think tanks
  • voluntary and community sector organisations
  • political and policy advisor roles
  • work in other public and private sector bodies

Others have gone on to pursue further study at doctoral level or to take up internships.

Here are some texts that will give you a sense of the material our students may engage with:

  • Bandola-Gill, J. Grek, S. Tichenor, M. (2022) Governing the Sustainable Development Goals: Quantification in Global Public Policy, Palgrave.
  • Cairney, P. (2019) Understanding Public Policy: Theories and Issues, Policy Press.
  • Clegg, D. & Durazzi, N. (eds.) (2023) Handbook of Labour Market Policy in Advanced Democracies, Edward Elgar.
  • Crespy, A. (2022) The European Social Question: Tackling Key Controversies, Agenda Publishing.
  • Guy Peters, B. & Fontaine, G. (eds.) (2020) Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Comparative Policy Analysis, Edward Elgar.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, preferably in a social science or other relevant discipline.

Entrance to this programme is competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements. Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

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.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 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 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Application fee

This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.

  • £50

Your application will not be processed until we have received your application fee.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScPublic Policy1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScPublic Policy2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money

    • taking out a loan

    • family support

  • personal savings

  • income from work

  • employer sponsorship

  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Graduate School of Social & Political Science
  • Chrystal Macmillan Building
  • 15A George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9LD

Due to high demand, this programme operates a gathered field approach to admissions, with two application deadlines as noted below.

Each application round has a decision deadline, also listed below, but note that we may make offers to the strongest candidates on an ongoing basis, in advance of the published decision deadline.

We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible, especially if you intend to apply for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. If you are considering applying for our pre-sessional English Language programme, please make sure you apply in Round 1.

Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including academic transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements e.g. via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, please upload that evidence as soon as you have it.

Selection deadlines

Round Application deadline Places awarded by
1 13 January 2025 17 April 2025
2 29 May 2025 30 June 2025

Deadlines for UK/Scotland fee status

After Round 2, if there are still places available, applications will remain open only to applicants who are eligible for the UK/Scotland fee rate, including the EU/EEA Pre-settled Scotland fee status. Applications will remain open no later than 30 June 2025 and may close earlier than this if the programme becomes full, so we strongly recommend you apply as soon as possible.

If you apply with another fee status after 29 May 2025, your application will be rejected.

Application fee

You must have paid the application fee before the deadline for the round you wish to be considered in.

(Revised 17 October 2024 to add application deadlines and selection process information)

References are not usually required for applications to this programme.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Graduate School of Social & Political Science
  • Chrystal Macmillan Building
  • 15A George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9LD