MSc POLICY RESEARCH

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MSc Policy Research

• What are the aims of the programme?
• Who is it for?
• What is different about this programme?
• Recognised training programme for the ESRC PhD Studentship Competition Social Policy and Social Work through the South West Doctoral Training Centre (SWDTC)
• How is the programme organised?
• What awards/degrees are offered?
• What does the programme cover?

What are the aims of the programme?

This programme aims to develop the student's interest in and knowledge and understanding of:

• The epistemological, methodological and ethical aspects of conducting social research;
• The essential skills (research design, data collection, data analysis, presentation of results and policy recommendations) for conducting high quality research on issues of concern to policy makers in statutory, voluntary and charitable sector organisations;
• The broader social, political and economic context in which policy research is carried out and applied in policy making processes;
• The requirements for effectively managing and commissioning research, including the utilisation and dissemination of research findings to policy makers.

Who is it for?

Researchers, research managers and policy advisers, as well as service planners, are all faced with a growing need for top quality research which is timely and relevant. This programme has been designed for people in these positions within statutory, voluntary and charitable sector organisations.

Those who have recently embarked upon a career in policy research or who hope to do so, will find the programme offers a unique combination of academic rigour, up-to-date policy content and relevant skills development.

What is different about this programme?

In contrast to many others, this programme builds on the links between research and policy in developing the particular skills and capacities needed by policy researchers. We believe this is vital if policy researchers are to maximise the impact of their work in addressing real issues of concern to policy makers.

The programme aims to develop the particular skills and capacities of policy researchers, but recognises that students will be joining with relevant, albeit varied, experience. There will, therefore, be opportunities for students not only to draw on their own experiences as researchers, managers and policy advisors but also to share these with other participants on the programme.

Recognised training programme for the ESRC PhD Studentship Competition Social Policy and Social Work through the South West Doctoral Training Centre (SWDTC)

The Masters in Policy Research is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a research training programme for the ESRC SWDTC Pathway in Social Policy.

The School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol is pleased to be able to offer PhD studentships in Social Policy or Social Work. Studentships cover maintenance and fees for UK residents for full-time or part-time beginning in October 2012.

All candidates must fulfil relevant ESRC academic and residential eligibility criteria.  Candidates who have already completed a programme of research training at Masters Level are eligible for a 3 year award (PhD only). Candidates who have not completed a programme of research training at Masters Level are eligible for a 4 year award (1 year MSC in Policy Research/Social Work Research + 3 year PhD).  Further information about the SWDTC is available at: http://www.bris.ac.uk/fssl/swdtc.html

Further details and application forms are available at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/studying/doctoral/phd/applying

Potential applicants are welcome to discuss these opportunities further with the Postgraduate Research Admissions Officers, Dr Patricia Lucas or Dr Anne Haase (sps-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk)

The criteria against which applications will be assessed are:

• Your previous experience/qualifications
• The quality of the research proposal
• The content and coherence of the proposal
• The proposed methodology and methods
• The School's capacity to provide appropriate supervision.

How is the programme organised?

The programme is delivered through a series of intensive block visits held in Bristol so as to be most accessible to busy policy professionals and practitioners.  Each unit is delivered during one of these visits, which usually last three days, allowing you to accumulate credits flexibly and organise the pattern of visits to suit your own needs and circumstances.

The programme consists of a combination of four (4) mandatory and two (2) optional units and a research-based dissertation (10-15,000 words, equivalent to three (3) units or 60 credit points) which is undertaken over a period of up to 12 months.  The programme is scheduled on an academic year cycle.  However, part-time students will still be able to take units at times which suit their circumstances and can take up to 5 years to complete the programme.

All programme units – mandatory and optional – run only if sufficient students express an interest in registering at any particular time. If less than eight students plan to register it is unlikely that the unit will run in any given academic year. In addition, elective units offered typically change from year to year based on student numbers.

What awards/degrees are offered?

The programme leads to one of three awards: MSc, PG diploma or PG certificate. The award of the MSc, diploma and certificate requires all assessed work to achieve a mark of at least 50.

MSc in Policy Research

The MSc is awarded for the successful completion of six units (four mandatory and two optional) plus a dissertation (10,000-15,000 words, equivalent to three units or 60 credit points) and can be taken in not less than one and not more than five years.  We anticipate most students will take between two and three years to gain the MSc.

Diploma in Policy Research

The diploma is awarded for the successful completion of six units (four mandatory and two optional) but does not require a dissertation.

Certificate in Policy Research

The certificate is awarded for the successful completion of three units.  Students should discuss with the Programme Director which set of units they would like to take, bearing in mind that at least two of the three should be selected from the mandatory units.

What does the programme cover?

Through the course of the programme you will be able to extend your knowledge of:

• wider theoretical issues and current academic debates in the epistemology and methodology of social research;
• various theoretical approaches to understanding the policy process in various settings;
• conceptual and methodological approaches to policy research;
• various models of the relationship between research, evidence, and policy making and implementation;
• practical and ethical issues in the design and conduct of policy research.

You will have opportunities to develop your skills in:

• critically evaluating research on policy making and implementation;
• designing research appropriate to the requirements and questions of policy makers;
• employing appropriate methods of data collection and analysis in a rigorous manner.

You will also have the opportunities to develop your skills in:

• designing challenging yet feasible policy research briefs for others to execute;
• designing research which recognises the resource constraints set by others in various policy making settings;
• appreciating and building into research an appropriate ethical framework for the collection, analysis, presentation and storage of data;
• carrying out introductory quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques, including use of relevant computer packages;
• effectively managing research projects commissioned from external bodies;
• effectively communicating the findings and recommendations from policy research to a variety of audiences.