Public Policy & Management (Taught)

This Masters in Public Policy & Management combines courses that examine the policy making process, policy analysis and evaluation and real world public policy challenges, with professional management courses. It aims to develop future public sector leaders who understand both the organisational contexts and challenges that face governments.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• Glasgow is an inspiring place to study problems of public and urban policy, both as a laboratory of many profound challenges, and providing many examples of leading and innovative approaches to tackling such issues.

• Professional management courses delivered by the triple accredited Adam Smith Business School provide an insight into practical challenges facing all successful organisations.

• The programme involves expert contributions from those working in a range of policy fields and field trips to study policy initiatives on the ground.

• You can choose between a research-based dissertation on the topic of your choice or a collaborative dissertation, which emphasises industry or government partnership.

• Social Policy at Glasgow is ranked 2nd in the UK by the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and 5th in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2026.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
This programme combines core courses in public policy and management with a range of options, designed to allow you to develop expertise in core public policy fields. Over the summer months, you will complete a dissertation where you can research an issue of interest to you in more depth.

Core courses
Evidence, Evaluation and Policy
Manging Creativity and Innovation (Creative Industries and Cultural Policy)
Managing Strategic Change (ASBS)
Project Management (Creative Industries and Cultural Policy)
Researching Public Policy
Understanding Public Policy

Optional courses may include
Community Empowerment and Engagement
Global Urban Challenges (10)
Global Urban Challenges
Housing, Inequality and Society
Housing, Inequality and Society (10 credit)
Migration Policy Making
Principles and Applications of GIS
Smart Cities and Infrastructure
Sustainable Energy Landcapes
Sustainable Housing Development (10 Credits)
Understanding Health Policy (10 credit)
Understanding Health Policy
The Wellbeing Economy

You may also be able to choose from courses in the other subjects in the School of Social & Political Sciences (subject to programme convener's approval).

CAREER PROSPECTS
Graduates have the opportunity to take their career forward in several directions. The programme includes teaching key workplace skills combined with organisational contexts and challenges that governments face. Career progression includes working in:

• central or local government

• international organisations

• third sector organisations

• non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

• think tanks

• consultancy firms

• the private sector

• academia.