Public Policy MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Social Policy

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Social and Political Science

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study location

Central Area

Accreditation

Not available

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About the degree programme

Our MSc Public Policy programme is theory-led, empirically-informed and practice-oriented. 

With a particular focus on the social and economic policy fields that are at the heart of modern welfare states the programme is geared to development of critical, creative thinking about public policy and the challenges presented by the scope and complexity of a range of issues across multiple policy sectors. 

The programme facilitates exploration of how policy makers interpret, experience and respond to various socio-economic and political problems at local, national, and international levels; and consideration of the organisational resources, both governmental and non-governmental, which might be mobilised to address them. 

To this end the programme draws on an interdisciplinary understanding of the field of public policy, informed by insights from 

  • social policy
  • politics
  • sociology
  • economics

We aim to enable you to: 

  • acquire policy relevant skills in the acquisition and sophisticated use of information
  • be able to articulate and warrant a given understanding or position
  • know how to contribute to a collective strategic project

Our teaching is grounded in contemporary policy concerns, and our students get to connect cutting-edge social and political science with the challenges of governing.

Study options

The MSc in Public Policy is offered as a one-year full-time programme.

Programme benefits

  • This programme sits within the Social Policy subject area at the School of Social and Political Science. Our staff include early career and more experienced staff with a wide range of social and public policy research interests and teaching experience in both academic and professional settings.

There are so many moments where you think: 'Of course, that's exactly how that works!' The programme throws new perspectives at you constantly and gives you the tools to evaluate them against one another. I feel I understand what goes on in and around government with far more nuance and clarity than I did before.

Sam MSc Public Policy, graduated 2020

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026/27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027/28 academic year will be published on 1 July 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, preferably in a social science or other relevant discipline.

Entrance to this programme is competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements. Relevant work experience is not required but may increase your chances of acceptance.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

You will complete three taught courses per semester. One of these is compulsory and you will choose the other two from a list of recommended option courses. 

Dissertation

After successfully completing the taught modules you will work towards an independently researched dissertation.

You can undertake a standard dissertation or potentially a placement-based dissertation, which can be undertaken in the UK or abroad.

Placement-based dissertation

The aim of the placement-based dissertation is to provide you with the opportunity to work on your dissertation with an external organisation, subject to Programme Director and Placement Adviser approval.

The projects generally consist of eight weeks of research with a host organisation from our network of contacts, which includes:

  • NGOs
  • charities
  • social enterprises
  • think-tanks
  • government bodies

Placements can either be in person, hybrid or undertaken remotely. You are also able to source your own placements subject to university approval.

Please note that a placement-based dissertation is not guaranteed as part of this programme and are by competitive application.

Find out more about the placement-based dissertation option on our website:

Compulsory courses

Political Issues in Public Policy (Semester 1) 

This course introduces you to theories and concepts used to study and understand the policy-making process and why particular policies are pursued, or not.

Policy in Action (Semester 2) 

In this course groups of students work through a portfolio of materials to write a ministerial brief, in consultation with a key practitioner in the field.

Option courses

In each semester you choose two further courses from a list of recommended options, though you may take others offered across the School. While the core courses support your working together as a programme cohort, option courses give you contact with students across topics and disciplines.

Your electives might explore:

  • a specific area of policy making, such as education, energy or the labour market
  • a specific policy mechanism, such as public engagement
  • a specific method of information-gathering and assessment, such as comparison or evaluation

We encourage you to make the programme your own at every stage, and your programme director will help you work out what it is you really want to do.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Our teaching is grounded in the use of cutting-edge social and political science to further an understanding of pressing matters of societal concern and the challenges of policy making and governing within, and outside, the UK.

The programme will be delivered through:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • group work
  • guided independent study

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme, you will have:

  • a firm grounding in a broad set of literatures on policy making and public policy
  • knowledge and understanding of core explanatory theories, concepts, and issues in analysing policy
  • an awareness of different models of the policy process
  • an understanding of the use of concepts and measures in analysing policy
  • skills to analyse and evaluate policy decisions and outcomes in a wide range of policy areas
  • the ability to draw on a variety of disciplinary paradigms in understanding policy and policy making

You will also develop a range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Our academic staff

We're proud to host colleagues working in the Global Health Policy Unit, in the Centre for Science, Knowledge and Policy (SKAPE), and in the School's Research Training Centre.

We're a cosmopolitan staff and student community from many countries around the world, and value the contribution that diversity of experience and viewpoints bring to the teaching and learning environment. 

We're part of a large school, which creates opportunities for us to work closely with colleagues in: 

  • Politics
  • Sociology
  • Social Anthropology
  • Social Work
  • International Development
  • Science and Technology Studies. 

It also gives our students access to a wide range of additional specialist courses, and to engage with students on a variety of parallel programmes.

Find out more about Social Policy at the School of Social and Political Science

Career opportunities

The MSc in Public Policy can be used as a gateway to a range of employment opportunities and further study.

Graduates from the School's postgraduate Policy programmes have gone on to employment in:

  • social research organisations
  • local government
  • civil service
  • think tanks
  • voluntary and community sector organisations
  • political and policy advisor roles
  • work in other public and private sector bodies

Others have gone on to pursue further study at doctoral level or to take up internships.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Graduate profiles

It was an absolute privilege to learn from some of the world's top academics in the areas of politics, economics, energy and the environment. Studying under their supervision, and the programme as a whole, has pushed me rather considerably to think beyond my inherent understanding of the world.

Daniel MSc Public Policy, graduated 2020

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Due to high demand, this programme operates a gathered field approach to admissions, with two application deadlines as noted below.

Each application round has a decision deadline, also listed below, but note that we will make as many offers as possible to the strongest candidates on an ongoing basis, in advance of the published decision deadline.

We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible, especially if you intend to apply for funding or a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. If you are considering applying for our pre-sessional English Language programme, please make sure you apply in Round 1.

Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.

Selection deadlines

RoundApply byReceive decision by
1Monday 15 December 2025Thursday 19 March 2026
2Monday 4 May 2026Tuesday 30 June 2026

After Round 2, if there are still places available, applications will remain open. As this is not guaranteed, however, you are advised to apply by the application deadlines above.

Application fee

A non-refundable application fee of £50 is payable before your application can be considered.

You must pay this once you have submitted your online application and have received your UUN (universal username). Please allow a few days to receive your UUN. 

The application fee must be paid within 7 days of submission of your application. If you do not make the payment within this time period, your application will not be processed.

Payment should be made by credit or debit card using the ePay online payment system (all major cards accepted). 

Application Fee Payment

If you have any questions or are unable to pay using the ePay online payment system, please contact PGApplicationFee.sps@ed.ac.uk 

If your application is made unsuccessful due to non-payment of the application fee, but you now wish to pay and reactivate your application, please contact us at PGApplicationFee.sps@ed.ac.uk and we will consider your request. 

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

Daniel was jointly awarded the Best Overall Performance in MSc Public Policy prize in 2020.

The best thing about the programme is the opportunity to meet so many people from completely different backgrounds, but with whom you share a passion that policymaking and governance can be done better. You learn from and will likely be inspired by your fellow students just as much as your teachers.

Jim MSc Public Policy, graduated 2020

This programme prepares the student to understand the complex problems of policy making, providing them with the concepts and skills needed for crafting concrete solutions.

Atia MSc Public Policy, graduated 2020

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Why study public policy in Edinburgh?

There are lots of good reasons to come and study public policy in Scotland, and especially in Edinburgh. 

It's a country with a relatively new system of government, and plenty of ideas and ambition to make innovative and progressive public policy. 

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital, its seat of government and parliament, its centre of banking, the law and the church. Many of Scotland's principal NGOs are headquartered here and it is a globally-renowned cultural city, too.  

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Postgraduate Admissions Team

Graduate School of Social & Political Science
Chrystal Macmillan Building
15A George Square
Central Campus
Edinburgh
EH8 9LD

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)131 650 4086

Academic contact

Dr Markus Ketola

Programme Director

  • School of Social and Political Science
  • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

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