Overview

In the Social and Public Policy degree offered by the University of York you will critically engage with the theoretical and empirical dimensions of social and public policy development, drawing on different disciplinary traditions to understand policy-making in multiple contexts. You will gain detailed knowledge of policy processes, assessing the ways in which policy-making seeks to respond to complex social problems and exploring the location of policies in their wider institutional, social, political and economic context.

Careers and skills

The MA in Social and Public Policy develops the skills that employers need in a number of areas, especially policy analysis and research. You'll also find you develop transferable skills that will allow you to progress to different career areas or to continue your studies at PhD level.

Career opportunities

Civil servant

Government officer

International organisation officer/consultant

Public management consultant

Campaign assistant for a political party

Research manager

Policy analyst

Academia

Get more details

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Programme Structure

Courses include:

Research Design

Investigating Contemporary Policy Problems

Advanced Policy Analysis

Public Service Markets

Public Finance: Principles, Politics and Contemporary Issues

The Political Economy of Welfare

Social Policy in Global Context

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Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months
Part-time
- 24 months
- Flexible

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-21 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-08-28 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-09-04 00:00:00 , National

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

OR

87

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

61

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IELTS

6.5

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4.9/5 student rating

Credits

180 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

York, United Kingdom

Disciplines

Public Policy Social Policy View 123 other Masters in Social Policy in United Kingdom

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Academic requirements

GPA

Lower Second Class

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

OR

87

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

61

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Undergraduate degree

2:2 or equivalent

Other qualifications and experience

You will also be considered if you have relevant work experience and academic potential

Make sure you meet all requirements

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

26900 GBP / year

≈ 26900 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

12000 GBP / year

≈ 12000 GBP / year

Additional Details

Part-time (2 years) per year

UK: £6,000

International/EU: £13,450

Living costs

York

United Kingdom

646 - 1124 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Check for any work restrictions

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Social and Public Policy.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Careers and skills

Career opportunities

Get more details

Programme Structure

Check out the full curriculum

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

Explore more key information

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Make sure you meet all requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

York

Funding

Check for any work restrictions

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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