King’s College London, Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy (SSPP)
Program Comparison Highlights
Institutional Structure: TO COME
Curriculum Design: TO COME
Professional Program Features: TO COME
Program Summary
Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/public-policy
University: King's College London
Location: London, United Kingdom
Degree: MA Public Policy
Marketing Approach: "The MA Public Policy is a broad-based programme aimed at enabling students to understand the workings of the policy process in contemporary societies. The programme combines conceptual policy analysis with more practically-oriented courses. There are opportunities to take specialist modules in a wide range of policy area in addition to a credit-bearing internship” (at https://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/public-policy, accessed 4 September 2014).
Degrees Awarded per Year: Yearly intake is approximately 100 students (full- and part-time) (At https://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/public-policy/applying, accessed 18 May 2015.)
Academic Unit within University: Department of Political Economy within the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy
Related Academic Units and Degrees: The Faculty offers over 80 taught courses of study. A related course of study is “public policy and ageing” (MA/Postgrad diploma/Postgrad certificate) which focuses on the impacts of public policy specifically on rapidly ageing populations.
Posted Tuition: £10,020 for UK/EU and £17,250 for Oversees for 2015-16. (At https://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/public-policy/applying, accessed 18 May 2015.)
Concentration/Curriculum Overview:
Degree Requirements
Summary: “The programme is designed around core taught modules on the policy process, comparative public policy and a research dissertation. A wide range of option modules are offered, enabling the student to specialize and develop in-depth knowledge of such fields as health policy, education policy, security studies, urban and environmental policy, governance and politics or the policy problems of an ageing population. Teaching is by a mixture of lectures, seminars, and group work. Students also have the opportunity to engage with visiting speakers and senior figures from the worlds of politics and policy” (at https://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/public-policy/details, accessed 4 September 2014).
Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time.
Academic Prerequisite: A relevant UK honours degree of 2:1 standards or overseas equivalent. Though professional experience is not required for admission, applicants with a degree/professional qualification and at least three years’ experience in government or NGO service may be eligible.
Number of One-Semester-Equivalent Courses Required for Completion: 12 (180 CATS credits)
Note 1: As noted in Credit Requirements and Course Equivalents, any Master's course in England requires a minimum of 180 CATS credits, and 15 CATS credits are equivalent to 1 one-semester course. At King's College London, each module offered for credit in the MA (Public Policy) program is typically 15 or 20 credits. The latter are denoted with a (4/3) in the Course Map below.
Number of Required Courses: 9 (5 one-semester equivalents of courses and 4 for dissertation)
Number of Electives Typically Taken: 3 (4-6 modules, 2-3 of which must be from a list of 11; comprising 105 credits).
Number of Electives Offered within Program: 11 (each 15 credits) plus other “level 7” courses within the University.
Comprehensive Examination: No
Thesis Required: Yes
Internship Required: No
International Study Required: No
Co-curricular Activities Supportive to Degree
Professional Development and Career Support: No
Student-run Journal: No
Applied Projects: No.
Pro Bono Consulting: No.
Courses Offered: List available at https://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/public-policy/structure.
Course Material Online: Limited course information available online for required courses and a small number of optional modules (at https://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/public-policy/structure, accessed 4 September 2014).