Politics and Public Policy (MA)

How will I be taught?

Study for a master’s degree is intensive and challenging, and it is important that you take full advantage of the teaching that is provided in order to succeed. Attendance at classes and dissertation supervisions is compulsory and we will expect you to be well prepared. 

Our teaching will be delivered through seminars or a combination of lectures and seminars.  Other teaching methods include the online use of discussion boards, self-access study packs and formative quizzes and activities.

Lectures take a range of forms but generally provide a broad structure for each subject, introduce key concepts, and convey relevant up-to-date information.

In seminars you will have the opportunity to discuss themes or topics, to consolidate and get feedback on your individual learning and to develop skills in oral presentation. Communication skills are developed in seminars, where you will make individual contributions to group study. Participation in diverse learning activities, such as small-group discussions, debates, oral presentations, independent research tasks and written assignments will develop your intellectual and presentation skills.

Modules are typically led by experienced staff actively engaged in research relevant to their subject area. Our teaching is research led and this enables you to have access to past and contemporary real-life examples and scenarios. 

How will I be assessed?

Our teaching provides you with a diversity of assessments to reflect practical relevance in analysing and evaluating politics and public policy. Assessments include essay assignments, oral presentations, policy briefs/analysis, team presentations and more.

Assessment will be made up of formative and summative assessment.

Formative tasks do not contribute towards your final degree classification but are designed to give you an opportunity to develop your skills and practice for your summative assessments.  They enable you and your tutors to evaluate the development of your skills and your progress in each module. Formative tasks will normally involve written coursework or a class test or may comprise individual student presentations, or class/group discussions in seminars with formative spoken feedback from the module leader.

Summative assessments contribute towards your final degree classification. Your results in these assessments:

• determine your formal progression from Stage 1 to Stage 2 (dissertation)
• determine your final award

The nature of the summative assessments in Stage 1 will vary by module, but will typically involve written coursework of up to 4,000 words on essays, unseen examinations or pre-release examinations, presentations and can also include an assessment of your general engagement and participation in seminars. Summative assessment in Stage 2 (dissertation) comprises the dissertation (up to 15,000 words).

How will I be supported?

We’ll support you in developing your research and study skills across your modules and also via your dissertation supervisor. 

Your learning will be supported through e-learning. All modules are supported by Learning Central, a virtual learning environment that is available on and off campus through which you’ll access a wide range of materials for your modules.

You’ll receive general academic and pastoral support through a personal tutor and where appropriate your personal tutor will be able to signpost you to other areas of student support. We will run a programme of guest lectures and talks which you are welcome to attend.

A designated Disability and Diversity Officer ensures that reasonable adjustments are made for students with disabilities. The university also has a range of services to support you through its Student Life teams. This includes, Student Futures (the careers service), the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service. In addition, you’ll have access to excellent libraries with specialist subject librarians and resource centres. 

Feedback

Feedback is available through oral feedback during seminars, and you will receive written feedback or recorded feedback on both your formative and summative assessments. Individual feedback on formative work will help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your learning, as well as how you might improve your performance in summative assessments. Written feedback will generally be made available no later than 21 working days from the agreed submission date of your assessment.

What skills will I practise and develop?

On successful completion of your programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

KU 1 Critically analyse and evaluate in tasks and assessments the main concepts and theoretical frameworks used to assess the policy making process, and how these have been applied within contemporary academic research. 

KU 2 Appraise the causes and dynamics of key changes in the operation and inter-connections of Britain’s political and governing institutions since 1979 in tasks and assessments.

KU 3 Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different research methodologies in contemporary political science in tasks and assessments. 

KU 4 Critically analyse contemporary themes and debates across a range of subject areas within political science, including key concepts, theories and methods used to analyse political phenomena.

KU 5 Design and develop an independently researched dissertation focused on an area of politics and public policy, drawing on appropriate evaluation skills and research methods.

Intellectual Skills:

IS 1 Critically analyse different approaches involved in collecting political information and their ethical implications in a range of assessments. 

IS 2 Gather, organise, and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of sources, including the use of communication and information technologies for the retrieval and presentation of information, whilst considering their ethical implications. 

IS 3 Investigate and advocate solutions to problems in a range of assessments. 

IS 4 Develop a reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement in a range of assessments.

IS 5 Evaluate an independent research topic of your choosing in a dissertation.  

Professional Practical Skills:

PS 1 Collaborate with others to achieve set tasks.

PS 2 Gather, organise, and collate evidence, data and information from a variety of sources, including information and communications technology.

PS 3 Demonstrate the ability to reflect on your own learning and constructively utilise feedback in a range of assessments. 

PS 4 Evaluate a range of evidence to reach a reasoned judgment in a dissertation. 

Transferable/Key Skills:

KS 1 Manage your own learning self-critically.

KS 2 Communicate ideas effectively and fluently, both orally and in writing.

KS 3 Work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time management.

KS 4 Collaborate with others and contribute effectively to the achievement of common goals.

KS 5 Independently gather, analyse and evaluate evidence for a research dissertation.