This section describes which Units you will take in which year of study. It indicates which units are mandatory and where you will be able to choose. The overall pass marks you will need to achieve in order to progress or achieve an award are shown. The full regulations concerning progression and completion are held in the University's Regulations and Code of Practice. Any particular aspects of your programme that are unusual will be highlighted. If any Units are must pass this will be shown below. The linked unit specifications detail any additional requirements.
What do the teaching blocks (TB) mean?
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 | Teaching Block |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
