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Politics and International Relations at UEA
Find out more about studying Politics and International Relations at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMA Public Policy and Public Management with Applied Area Studies (Two Years)
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Start Dates
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14th
UEA is ranked 14th overall for research quality Politics and International Studies
Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisTop 20
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research Quality
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityTop 51-75
institutions in the world for Public Administration
Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2024Course Overview
This two-year Master’s course is designed to empower you to take your career in public policy or government to the next level.
In your first year, you’ll undertake our MA in Public Policy and Public Management. You’ll explore the critical forces shaping policy today, from digital transformation and environmental crisis to migration, healthcare and an emerging multipolar world. Closely linked to our MA in International Relations, this course offers a distinctly global perspective, culminating in a dissertation where you’ll carry out in-depth policy research aligned with your professional ambitions.
You'll then spend your second year (September-June) further applying your ideas in real-world contexts. You’ll work closely with UEA’s world-leading specialists in New Area Studies, an innovative field operating at the intersection of global studies and cutting-edge methodologies in the social sciences and humanities. UEA’s research in this area was ranked 5th in the UK by the Times Higher Education analysis of the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021).
This experience will enable you to analyse governance and policy contexts comparatively, empowering you to effect real-world, data-driven change. You’ll be part of a vibrant environment of specialist interdisciplinary seminars and policy workshops, where ideas are tested and refined.
Beyond the classroom, and throughout your MA, you’ll also benefit from enriching opportunities including internships, placements and a popular speaker series featuring leading academics, policymakers and politicians discussing contemporary policy challenges. You’ll join a dynamic community where theory meets practice, preparing you to navigate and influence the complex world of global public policy.
Note that you may prefer the one-year version of the course (available for both September and January starts), which welcomes students from a diverse array of academic and professional backgrounds.
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Careers
Career Pathways
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
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Civil Service and governmental roles in policy and public administration.
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Roles in international organisations e.g. UN-affiliated bodies.
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Roles in NGOs e.g. managing Climate Change policy.
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Researcher or analyst in a policy institute or think tank.
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Policy and regulation in the corporate/tech sector.
Study and Modules
Structure
The first year of your Master's begins with core modules that establish a sophisticated understanding of key theories and frameworks in public policy. You'll explore fundamental concepts in public policy formation and analysis, examining how political, economic, and social factors interact to shape governance approaches. Alongside this, you'll develop critical insights into public management principles, from strategic leadership to organisational behaviour within public institutions.
In the second semester, depending on your interests and career aspirations, you might choose to delve into electoral management systems, examine rural policy challenges, analyse the influence of policy elites, explore environmental governance, investigate digital media impacts on policymaking, or study foreign policy development. This flexibility allows you to build a personalised curriculum that aligns with your professional goals.
Over the summer of your first year, you'll complete your Master's dissertation. This independent research project allows you to explore a topic that's closely relevant to your career or professional aspirations. You'll be matched with an academic supervisor whose expertise aligns with your research area, providing personalised guidance throughout the process. This project offers an invaluable opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world policy challenges, develop advanced research skills, and potentially contribute meaningful insights to your chosen field.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 60)Important Information
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.
Structure
In the second year, you'll master the methodologies of the New Area Studies. You'll experience the benefit of UEA’s sector-leading strengths in Area Studies and its formidable expertise in the field.
You may choose to continue to advance your dissertation research and develop its practical applications. For instance, you may make a project management and implementation plan to apply the findings of your dissertation research in real-world contexts relevant to your own career or governance context.
You could participate in the thriving network of research seminars, conferences , and policy workshops, that constitute the interdisciplinary environment of New Area Studies Research Centre (NASRC) at UEA. You'll be able to share your ongoing work as peers in this collaborative environment. These will also offer ideal networking opportunities to enhance your contacts book as well as your
You’ll encounter first-hand the policy and governance environment of the UK, learning how the UK is responding to challenges such as digitalisation or healthcare provision. This first-hand, applied experience will directly inform both your ongoing work and your professional development.
You may also choose to participate in the running of our international, peer-reviewed and open access journal, New Area Studies, learning what it takes to coordinate research publications that operate at the intersection between academia and policy application.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
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, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
At the heart of our programme is research-led teaching that places you at the cutting edge of public policy and management. Our academics are leading experts in their fields, bringing specialised knowledge in policy, Area Studies, communications, and global governance directly into the classroom.
We've designed a dynamic learning environment that blends theoretical depth with practical applications. Our distinctive interdisciplinary approach connects diverse perspectives, ensuring you develop a comprehensive understanding of complex policy challenges. You'll experience a thoughtful mix of teaching methods—from lectures that provide conceptual foundations to interactive seminars where ideas are vigorously debated and tested against real-world scenarios.
Small-group teaching forms a cornerstone of our approach, creating spaces for meaningful engagement with both academic staff and fellow students. Our diverse postgraduate community includes students from across the globe, enriching discussions with international perspectives and varied approaches to policy questions. This collaborative learning environment helps develop the communication and analytical skills essential for professional success.
Beyond scheduled teaching, you'll benefit from our vibrant intellectual community. Our programme of research seminars, visiting speaker events, panel debates and high-profile public lectures creates numerous opportunities to engage with leading practitioners and thinkers in the field. These events provide valuable networking opportunities while keeping you connected to current developments in policy and governance.
In your second year, 60 credits of learning are spread over two semesters. You'll therefore have approximately 3 hours of contact term per week. This may take a variety of forms. There will be regular teaching seminars aimed at introducing you to core concepts, practices, and applied possibilities of New Area Studies. In some weeks, these will be replaced by tutorials which will help you frame your ambitions for your summative assessment portfolio. Tutorials will be held with your Applied Area Studies mentor, who will be a member of our New Area Studies Research Group. In addition, contact hours will also take a variety of innovative forms, as appropriate for the more Applied Studies framework. These will include professional policy and academic seminars within the New Area Studies Research Centre, as well as opportunities to visit and experience local government and policy settings.
Assessment
Your assessments are designed to enable you to develop and demonstrate your professional skills.
Throughout the academic year, you'll complete module assessments including analytical essays, policy briefings, project reports, and presentations. These varied formats mirror the diverse communication demands of policy careers. Group work develops your collaborative abilities, while independent projects build research capabilities.
Your dissertation demonstrates your ability to conduct sustained independent research. All assessments are carefully designed to build practical professional competencies alongside academic understanding.
In your second year, you'll produce another extended dossier of submissions. The exact make-up of the dossier will be agreed in one-to-one tutorials with your New Area Studies expert mentor and developed to suit your career goals. However, the envisaged structure will include an extension of your Master's Dissertation, which develops your applied policy implementation plan in your chosen regional context; reflective writing based on your experiences of the New Area Studies research environment and the UK policy context; policy analysis, evaluation and implementation strategies which. draw on the interdisciplinary methodologies of the New Area Studies.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
This course is open to International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
This course is open to 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
- 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 5.5 in each component
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(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, our UEA International Study Centre offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £15,665
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International Students: £33,400
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 £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees(opens in a new window) 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(opens in a new window).
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(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.