MSc Public Policy and Management
Is this programme for me?
Successful civil servants, NGO workers, politicians and their advisers all need to have a wide range of skills and knowledge to equip them to meet the constantly changing challenges of public policy and management. This includes the evolving dynamic between public agencies and the private and voluntary sectors.
The MSc Public Policy and Management will equip you to manage programmes and advise on policy in a variety of settings. Because you are free to choose eight courses in any combination, you can select a path that is best suited to your specialism, skills and objectives. You also have the option to study research methods and write a dissertation under expert supervision, based on your interests or on issues in your place of work.
Programme aims
This programme will provide you with an understanding of the principles and methods of modern public policy and management, and will enable you to make financial decisions and policy choices in the financing and management of infrastructure and services in the public sector
Programme summary
| You study | Study period | Cost (2010-2011) | |
| MSc | 8 courses | 2-5 years | £9,280 |
| Individual Professional Courses | You can take up to three individual courses from this distance learning programme. Each course lasts eight weeks and you are registered for two years. The fee per course is £1,160. | ||
Prestige
The programme has been developed by academics at the Centre for Financial and Management Studies (CeFiMS), a postgraduate research and teaching department within SOAS, University of London. Staff at CeFiMS have international reputations and are involved in researching their subjects at the very limits of current knowledge.
Career progression
As a graduate of this programme you will be well prepared for high positions in government, public service, international organisations and NGOs. Politicians, both national and local, in various countries are already studying with the programme.
Comprehensive study materials and support
You will be sent all the study materials that you need to complete the programme, which may typically include:
- A core text specially written for the course. This is the backbone of the course and is comparable to a series of lecures. It is organised into eight study units, each of which lasts one week.
- Textbooks and collections of readings.
- Online and multimedia tools. Some courses provide video lectures on DVD. These expand on issues that have been raised in the course and relate the material to 'real world' examples. The Online Study Centre (OSC) provides instant access to course materials and also offers academic, administrative and technical support.
- A study calendar for each course to help you organize your time. This sets out a schedule for coursework and assignment deadlines.
- A Welcome Pack is available online, which provides you with resources and tips on effective distance learning. We will also send you a Study Skills textbook to help you manage your studies.
Your time commitment
This will depend partly on choices you make, but most students take three years to complete an MSc. The study calendar consists of five sessions per year. Each session is devoted to a specific course and lasts eight weeks (with the exception of the first session which runs for 10 weeks). During each session you will need to allocate between 15-20 hours per week to complete the programme.
Summary of key dates
| Application deadline | 6 September 2010 | 22 November 2010 | 1 April 2011 |
| Programme starts | November 2010 | January 2011 | June 2011 |
| Examinations | October |
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