University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School for Policy Studies > Public Policy (MSc) > Specification
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
Programme code | 9SPOL026T |
---|---|
Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Caryn Peiffer
|
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
This programme aims to develop the student's interest in and knowledge of public policy from an international perspective. It considers the global political economic context of public policy, the range of institutional actors and models of public policy-making. It gives students a grounding in the techniques for appraising policy outcomes as well as methods and evaluation of research evidence that informs public policy. It gives students the opportunity to develop this generic understanding from a choice of policy areas all with an international perspective including health and health care in a global context, gender and public policy; gender violence; migration, asylum and human rights in the EU; poverty, inequality and social exclusion; penal policy: issues and influences; cities, housing and public policy. It aims to develop students' knowledge of comparative issues in public policy (and policy research). The scope is international but with particular reference to Europe and East Asia.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
---|---|
|
Tutor-led seminar discussions, whole class and small-group exercises on policy case studies (involving team work). Independent learning is achieved through written assignments and the dissertation |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Units are assessed by essay or an equivalent piece of written work. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
---|---|
|
Oral and written analytical skills and bibliographic skills are developed over the course of the programme. The skills developed are assessed in the credit bearing units. Research design, method, analysis and evaluation are dealt with in the Policy Appraisal and Evaluation and Informing and Evaluating Policy units. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Analysis and reasoning are assessed in the unit written assessments and dissertation. Oral communication is assessed formatively in core units where presentations are required. Evaluating research evidence is assessed in the core unit Informing and Evaluating Policy and in all others as this a key element of assessments on the programme. Self directed research skills are assessed in the dissertation. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
---|---|
|
Reading, writing, note taking and bibliographic skills are assessed in the unit assessments. Research management is taught and discussed in the Informing and evaluating policy unit and developed through the dissertation. Dissemination is taught through class exercises and in core assessments. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Core reading, writing, note taking and bibliographic skills are assessed in the terms of the clarity and structure of the unit assessments and the dissertation. Research management is assessed in the unit assessments for Informing and Evaluating Policy, and through the dissertation. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
Students who have successfully completed the post-graduate certificate will gain an understanding of the key generic issues relating to public policy from an international perspective. |
---|---|
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
Students who have successfully completed the post-graduate diploma will develop their generic learning from stage 1 in the context of substantive policy areas. They will be expected to gain knowledge of these areas with greater critical abilities based on their prior learning in stage 1. Students choose 3 from a range of elective units: children and international policy; health and health care in a global context; gender and public policy; gender violence; crime and punishment: contemporary issues in penal policy; human settlements and public policy; 'culture', citizenship and public policy; poverty, inequality and social exclusion. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
The dissertation is the culmination of the student's progress through the degree programme and s/he applies the appropriate technical, methodological and intellectual skills that have been developed to a piece of research supervised by one or more members of staff. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
SPS PG Admin Team - sps-pgadmin@bristol.ac.uk
All mandatory units in this year of study are must pass. For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Governance, Institutions and the Global Political Economy | SPOLM1073 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Power, Politics and the Policy Process | SPOLM1060 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Informing and Evaluating Policy - Research Methods and Analysis | SPOLM1061 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Dissertation (MSc in Public Policy) | SPOLM1010 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Students from SNU must take SPOLM0063 in place of SPOLM1010 | ||||
Dissertation (MSc in Public Policy SNU) | SPOLM0063 | 60 | Optional | TB-4 |
Students take 60 credit points from the following (availability depending on demand): | ||||
The Economics of Public Policy | SPOLM1062 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Digital Public Services | SPOLM0062 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Health and Health Care in a Global Context | SPOLM1066 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Gender and Violence: International and Global Perspectives | SPOLM1067 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Public Management and Organisations | SPOLM1074 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
The International Analysis of Poverty and Social Exclusion | SPOLM1068 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Migration, asylum and human rights: EU and global policy perspectives. | SPOLM0042 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Cities, Housing and Public Policy | SPOLM1072 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Disabled Childhoods | SPOLM0050 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Policy Analysis | SPOLM0058 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Corruption and Public Policy | SPOLM0055 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
MSc Public Policy | 180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
For the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Public Policy students should pass at least 60/120 credit points respectively, which must include two of the mandatory units.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
University of Bristol,
Senate House,
Tyndall Avenue,
Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000