Social and Public Policy

Our MA Social and Public Policy takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the urgent challenges facing communities and policymakers around the world. It equips students to critically understand how social and public policy is made and how welfare states are governed. It also provides rich insights into the social, economic, cultural and technological factors driving global change and how these factors shape inequalities and struggles over welfare rights. We explore social policy as a space in which multiple actors – e.g. state bureaucracies, community groups, political parties, NGOs, corporations – intersect to frame, address or marginalise different social needs and problems.

Student experience and achievement is at the heart of our teaching, which is informed by leading research and collaboration with external organisations. The interdisciplinary and practical nature of the course design supports students in acquiring content specific knowledge as well as in developing of a strong portfolio of skills that would enable graduates to remain competitive in the global work market.

The programme encourages active student participation and co-creation of knowledge through curricular and extra-curricular activities such as policy analysis and development, networking with leading academic and practice-based guest speakers, as well participation in and co-organisation of relevant events. Teaching on the programme employs innovative and inclusive methods such as simulations and role-play, problem-solving tasks, and collaborative real-life projects. Students will develop nuanced expertise in the field, confident knowledge of relevant research methods, and strong critical, analytical, communication, creative and digital skills.

What you should know about this course