Digital Humanities (Taught)

The MPhil in Digital Policy provides a firm foundation for understanding the challenges and possibilities posed by digital transformation, aimed at policy professionals in the UK and overseas who have embarked on or are embarking on a policy career. The course is interdisciplinary, spanning political science, economics, law and computer science. The course aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop their powers of critical thinking and the skills and tools to form judgements based on wide ranges of information with varying degrees of uncertainty, and act on them. The course will also train students to understand how others operate and how to work with them to achieve a desired outcome.

The MPhil in Digital Policy is primarily a professional Master's course.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding

Upon completion of the course students are expected to be able to: ·

Analyse and deploy different kinds of data and information in an informed and rigorous fashion to develop new insights.

Demonstrate a critical awareness of digital policy issues from a range of different disciplinary perspectives.

Critically analyse policy advice and communicate conclusions clearly.

Critically appraise information from diverse kinds of experts including technical experts.

Integrate different forms of thinking, including qualitative and quantitative modes of thought in the creation of original research.

Have a conceptual understanding of the implications of complexity, risk, and uncertainty in policymaking in a technically complex and rapidly changing area.

Skills and other attributes

After completing the course, students can expect to develop:

Communication skills including preparation of specialist policy briefings and reports

The ability to obtain and synthesise relevant information and communicate these to different audiences.

The ability to autonomously judge sources of data and information.

Strategic thinking in decision-making for complex issues.

Critical reasoning and independence of mind.

Teamwork skills for use in professional environments.

The ability to evaluate the quality and importance of the arguments of a range of different policy experts and analysts.

Continuing
For those who hope to read for a PhD at Cambridge, a definite decision will only be taken once your performance in the MPhil can be fully assessed. The relevant Admissions Committee will set conditions for you, related to the entry requirements of the PhD – one of which is that you obtain a Distinction in the MPhil. You will need to attain these targets to continue towards a PhD. The new PhD in Public Policy is due to commence in October 2027, with applications opening September 2026.

Thesis / Dissertation
A dissertation of not less than 10,000 words and not more than 15,000 words in length, including footnotes and appendices, but excluding bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee.

Essays
Assessment is by coursework and includes essays and policy briefs for individual taught modules. It may also include other formats of assessment as set out in the Assessment Ordinance.

Written examination
There are no formal, time-restricted, written examinations.

Other
Computer-based tests may be used to assess statistical skills and knowledge.

The examination may, at the discretion of the Examiners, include an oral examination on any of the work submitted for the examination.

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Key Information

9 months full-time
18 months part-time
Study Mode : Taught
Master of Philosophy
Department of Public Policy (Bennett School of Public Policy)
Course - related enquiries
Application - related enquiries
Course on Department Website
Dates and deadlines:
Michaelmas 2026
Applications open
Sept. 3, 2025
Application deadline
Feb. 26, 2026
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2026
Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding