Public Policy & Management

Course detail Description

We want our graduates to have an impact, so we place a strong emphasis on effective provision of public services. You’ll be able to evaluate real world policies and learn lessons from the “new public management”.

You’ll take a variety of compulsory modules:

• Organisation and Management of the Public Services
• Economics of the Public Services
• The Public Policy-Making Process
• Research Methods in Public Policy & Management
• Social Entrepreneurship

There are regular opportunities for networking and getting more involved in the subject. Lots of your course will be delivered as seminars with senior policymakers from government. Our alumni organise events, including seminars for students, and there are collaborative internships available.

Course purpose

We want you to be able to deliver the highest quality public services. So this course will equip you with the skills to really understand policy options.

You’ll study theoretical concepts, and analyse real-world policies, to discover what this means for managers and policymakers in the working world.

Further literature

Course format and assessment

The following table will give you an idea of what a typical academic workload might look like as you progress through your studies:

teaching Module Lectures, seminars and feedback Self-study Per 15-credit module Between 20 and 30 hours which typically consist of a combination of lectures, case discussion and tutorials; there may be some variation in the precise format. Approximately 120-130 hours. Dissertation module Two dissertation workshops and one-to-one supervision. Approximately 596 hours self-study and project work.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Throughout your degree you are assessed by a variety of methods, which include written examinations, coursework and individual or group projects and presentations for the taught modules. The nature of assessment varies by module.

Assignment feedback is provided within four working weeks of submission.

Assessment may also include Formative Assessments (formative assessment is not-for-credit; your final mark for the module will rest solely on your summative assessment).

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Structure

Year 1

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

Part-time students should plan to take 60 credits of required taught modules in their first year, and 60 credits from the dissertation module, 45 credits of optional modules and 15 credits of required modules in their second year.

Required Modules

You are required to take:

• Organisation & Management of the Public Services (15 credits)

• Economics of the Public Services (15 credits)

• Research Methods in Public Policy & Management (15 credits)

• Social Entrepreneurship (15 credits)

• The Public Policy-Making Process (15 credits)

• Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional Modules

In addition, students take 45 credits from a range of optional modules which may typically include:

• Education & Training; Policy & Programmes (15 credits)

• Key Issues in Health Policy (15 credits)

• Strategic Management (15 credits)

• People Management in the Public Services (15 credits)

• Practical & Theoretical Evaluation of Public Policy (15 credits)

• Internship Analytic Report (15 credits)

• Short refresher courses in Maths & Economics (0 credits) – these are strongly recommended and are taken during reading and induction weeks

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 the course finder on our website for updates.