MA Public Policy and Public Management
Course
options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
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Course Overview
Is democracy backsliding around the world? How should governments tackle the cost-of-living or climate crises? What governments do and why they do it are perennially important questions. In today’s complex and ever-changing world, a critical understanding of these processes and their results is more vital than ever before.
On our dynamic MA in Public Policy and Public Management course, you’ll gain a rich appreciation of the many ways that policy is made and the factors that influence it. You’ll emerge with an in-depth understanding of public policy and management at both national and international levels. Flexible and multidisciplinary, this course is ideal if you have a social science degree and hope to specialise, a degree in environmental studies or geography and seek wider applications of your subject knowledge, or if you’re a professional interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the processes you deal with every day.
You’ll gain a strong foundation in both theory and practical problem-solving. You’ll also be able to tailor your studies to your interests by choosing from a range of optional modules on a wide variety of topics such as elite power, the environment, or foreign policy. You’ll develop your interests even further through your dissertation, in-depth independent research which you’ll complete with the supervision of an academic expert.
Beyond the classroom, we offer a huge array of activities for you to get involved in, including internships, placements, staff-student debates, and opportunities to contribute to our blog and podcast series. We also host a regular speaker series featuring academics and politicians who debate and discuss the hottest political topics of the day.
You’ll develop transferable skills applicable to many careers, including the ability to think critically and constructively question received wisdom. You'll also enhance your presentation and teamwork skills, engage in project work, conduct critical analysis and synthesis of arguments, perform independent research, and apply theory to real-world cases. As a result, you’ll be well-prepared for careers in government and the Civil Service, NGOs, media and journalism, or you could choose to pursue further academic study.
Study and Modules
Structure
As a full-time student you’ll have classes during your first two semesters, then over the summer you’ll work on your dissertation.
You’ll gain an advanced understanding of the main theories, models and concepts of both public policy and public management. You can then choose to specialise in a number of different policy areas through a wide range of optional modules, including those on electoral management, rural policies, policy elites, the environment, digital media, foreign policy, and much more.
Finally, you’ll complete your Master’s by writing your dissertation, which is a fantastic opportunity to conduct independent research into a subject area that stimulates you. You’ll be assigned an individual supervisor from the faculty to advise you.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 60)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our teaching is research-led, in that we ask the same questions of our students as we do in our research. So you can be sure your learning will be at the cutting-edge of the discipline. You’ll be taught by leading experts in public policy and management, political philosophy, political communications and media studies.
We take an interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approach to our work, linking theory to practice, to create a distinctive programme of research. We combine teaching methods, such as lectures, which will provide you with an overview of the topic, and small-group seminars, where you’ll debate the work you’ve been reading that week. Our teaching is focused, interactive, and up to date with current events.
Many of our modules use small-group seminar teaching, encouraging you and your peers to communicate and inspire each other with your own unique insights. Our postgraduate community includes students from across the globe, adding many different perspectives on – and approaches to – the subjects we study. Our rich programme of research seminars, visiting speakers, panel debates and high-profile public events all contribute to making UEA a stimulating environment within which to study.
How you'll spend your time during semesters one and two:
- Teaching: 25%
- Independent Learning: 75%
Assessment
You’ll be assessed based on the module work you complete across the year and on your dissertation which you’ll hand in at the end of the year.
We use a range of assessment methods across our modules, but you can expect to undertake essays, project reports, examinations, group work and presentations.
Employability
After the Course
The flexibility and breadth of our Master’s course will open up a wide range of career opportunities. If you have a specific profession in mind, you can specialise; alternatively, if you’re looking for a broader understanding, you can take a wider focus.
Recent graduates have gone on to pursue high-level careers in the media, local and national government and non-governmental organisations, taking up roles such as business executive, policy analyst, consultant, subject specialist, lobbyist, adviser, NGO staff and civil servant. Some have gone on to research in a university or institute, having pursued further postgraduate study like a PhD.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- Policy analyst
- Lobbyist
- NGO staff
- Civil servant
- Researcher
- Consultant
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in Writing and Speaking and 5.5 in Listening and Reading
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,675
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International Students: £22,700
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.