MA/PGDip in Global Public Policy

Policymaking is becoming an increasingly complex process in the 21st Century. The context in which we make policy is radically changing, alongside the nature of the issues policymakers are required to address.

Traditional models of policymaking are facing challenges from below, through the drive to devolution, and from above, as supranational forms of governance continue to evolve. Alongside, these developments, social issues, such as pollution, crime, and migration, increasingly transcend national boundaries, to present further challenges to policymakers.

This programme seeks to understand the ways that policy is formulated within this evolving and dynamic context, by drawing on the core concepts of policy analysis and theories of policy change. It will offer insights into the policy actors, coalitions and forms of evidence, that shape the creation of both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ policy, as well as providing a detailed understanding of the policymaking architecture that characterises local, regional and supranational institutions. Moreover, the programme will explore the social, political, economic and historic contexts in which policy is formulated and the ways that power influences policy formulation.

As well as considering theories of the policy process, the programme offers the opportunity to study across a range of global policy issues and social problems, such as poverty, migration, crime, and homelessness, to understand these theories in action.

Through a suite of module options, students can tailor the curriculum to match their interests and career plans. For those students interested in gaining experience in the workplace, we have pathways that incorporate a placement module.

The College of Social Sciences brings together over 450 academics (including 90 professors) and over 360 professional staff across a range of disciplines and interdisciplinary fields. Around 25% of our staff are international and combined with over 42,500 global alumni representing over 185 countries, our work impacts all areas of society grounded in the key disciplines of business, economics, education, government and society, and social policy.

Why study at the University of Birmingham?

• We are a global Top 100 University and are ranked top 20 in multiple UK league tables
• We have been named the most targeted university by the UK’s top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2021
• 87% of our research has a global impact (REF 2014)
• Numerous UoB alumni and staff have been involved with work recognised with Nobel prizes
• There is a wealth of employability support services available to students. The College and our Careers Network can provide you with practical advice and skills for career development. We also have excellent industrial links with global companies, such as Rolls Royce and Jaguar Land Rover, which allow opportunities for our students to gain insight and experience of the industry.
• You could receive a Commonwealth Scholarship worth £3,000 or a Global Masters Scholarship worth £10,000 if you start your studies in September 2021. Information and eligibility criteria for both awards is available on our website.