Public Policy

Course detail Description

The Public Policy MA course provides a unique opportunity to study politics, policy and social issues in a range of non-UK settings. The course offers you flexibility with the choice to study either full or part-time. You will explore a range of required modules such as The Policy Process and Comparative Public Policy. You will also study a range of optional modules allowing you to create a unique study plan that reflects your interests.

The study programme is made up of optional and required modules. The course requires modules totalling 180 credits, 60 of these credits will come from a dissertation of around 15,000 words.

Teaching

We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

The total contact time per 20-credit taught module is 20-30 hours. These sessions will include lectures, teacher-led and student-led group discussions based on the main areas of study. In addition to this you will have 180 hours of self-guided learning time.

For the Dissertation, you will have at least eight dissertation workshops plus one-to-one dissertation consultations. In addition to this you will have 592 hours worth of self-study.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

The primary method of assessment for this course is a combination of written examinations and coursework. Typically, a 20-credit module will comprise of assessments, essays and a written examination. Grades awarded for each module will reflect your attendance and lecture participation. The assessment of the dissertation module will be by a 1,000-word research proposal (10 per cent) and a 15,000-word dissertation (90 per cent).

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Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on this course page for updates.

You are required to take the following modules:

• The Policy Process (20 credits)
• Comparative Public Policy (20 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)

MA Public Policy students are required to take 180 credits. 100 credits out of the 180 credits include two compulsory modules (The Policy Process and Comparative Public Policy) which are 20 credits each as well as a core dissertation which is 60 credits.

In addition, you are required to take 80 credits from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

• Public Policy Internship (20 credits)
• Liberty, Equality & Justice (20 credits)
• The Media & Public Policy (20 credits)
• From Blair to Brexit: Britain since 1997 (20 credits)
• The Political Economy of Corruption (20 credits)
• The New Political Economy of the Media (20 credits)
• Gender, Politics and Public Policy (20 credits)
• Democracy in the United Kingdom (20 credits)
• London: History and Governance (20 credits)
• Parties, Voters and Political Culture (20 credits)
• Elections & Globalisation (20 credits)
• No. 10, The Cabinet and UK Central Government: Leadership and Coordination (20 credits)
• Liberty, Equality and Justice: Political Theory and Public Policy (20 credits)
• The History of the Prime Minister 1979-2015 - in partnership with No10 Downing Street (20 credits)
• The Treasury and an Introduction to Economic History - in partnership with HM Treasury (offered by Strand Group) (20 credits)
• The Blair Years (offered by the Strand Group) (20 credits)

Students may take a maximum of 40 optional credits from level 7 modules outside of their programme’s approved module list, subject to approval by the Course Director.

Students may also take an additional non assessed 20 credit modern language module in addition to their 180 credits.

Part-time students complete compulsory modules in their first year and the dissertation in their second year.