Public Policy Research (Research)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The MSc in Public Policy Research is a one-year taught degree course that offers an outstanding education on how to conduct robust, applied and impactful research that informs and influences public policy.

The MSc will give you a keen understanding of the relationship between research evidence and other major influences on the public policy process, such as ideologies and institutions; it is anticipated that you will be able to design and undertake a range of policy-relevant research methods to the highest standards and skilled in effectively communicating research findings to a wide range of audiences including policymakers and the general public.

Course structure
The curriculum for the course is delivered in-person. Teaching styles vary and include lectures, seminars, tutorials, student presentations, or workshops across three terms.

Please note that the curriculum may vary from year to year.

In the first two terms, you will take foundational modules to enable you to learn how concepts and theories help researchers to identify and define public policy problems. You will also take courses in Research Design and Methods.

You will begin working on your thesis, initially focusing on the development of a research proposal, on an applied public policy problem.

In the third term, you will take an option module that enables you to explore in depth a particular public policy topic of your choice.

Finally, you will write a thesis and produce an accompanying research brief that distils insights from the research for decision-makers in government.

As the Blavatnik School of Government is committed to research with impact and is home to researchers engaging in profoundly independent and academically vigorous research relevant to the world’s most pressing policy issues, you will learn from and work with world-class researchers, through those modules, to generate applied research questions and hypotheses that can be tested empirically to tackle real-world problems and communicate robust research and data that informs policy designs and implementation.

Public Policy 1+1 programme
You may also opt to apply for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the same time as applying for the MSc in Public Policy Research as part of the Public Policy 1+1 programme. This two-year programme enables you to be accepted onto both degrees at the same time.

In order to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 you must submit separate applications for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the MSc in Public Policy Research in the same admission cycle. You should follow the instructions in the How to apply section of each course page, paying particular attention to the personal statement/statement of purpose and written work requirements for each course. You should state clearly that you wish to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 programme in your personal statement.

For the full description, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas