Public Policy

MSc

  • Entry year 2026 or 2025
  • Duration Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Study with leading experts on addressing global challenges across disciplines

  • World Top 100 QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 (Arts & Humanities)

  • Develop critical thinking around a wide range of societal issues and concerns

How is public policy made? What are the global challenges today’s policymakers face? And how do we develop effective, impactful solutions? Explore these vital questions - and shape the future - by studying with us. You will train in policy evaluation, policy analysis, policy communication and policy design.

Why Lancaster?

  • Develop and build applied practical skills in policy analysis and learn through real-world case studies
  • Create a policy portfolio and become a specialist in a policy area that interests you
  • Apply for an internship with The Richardson Institute - hone your research skills, apply theory to practice and experience policymaking in action
  • Join one of 5 universities to have a partnership with the HM Government Open Innovation Team and one of the only ones to offer a dedicated Politics Policy School
  • Benefit from our expertise - our team works with UK parliament, regional and local governments and communities to shape policy changes

Fresh ideas to meet big challenges

Conflict, climate change, cost of living. Global crises cannot be solved by one individual. To make a change, we need to take collective action – and without policy that wouldn’t be possible.

The world needs good policymakers with new ideas and a fresh approach to tackle the complex challenges we face today. Our MSc in Public Policy equips you with the tools to become a forward-thinking policymaker ready to drive meaningful change.

Creating innovative policy

If you want to work in the world of international, national or local policy, you need to know how it’s made. This course unpacks policymaking and gives you the skills to research, evaluate and create policy.

You’ll train in policy design, evaluation, analysis, and communication and prepare to confront global challenges through an applied approach that has impact on real-world issues.

Whether you’re interested in environmental, immigration, defence, foreign, or EU public policy, or the broader politics of policymaking, we’ll help you hone your specialism and sharpen the skills employers are looking for.

Learn from a team of experts

Our staff are experienced policy practitioners and recognised research leaders in the field of Public Policy. They design and deliver impact driven research in different domains such as local government, social justice, political behaviour, foreign policy and international arenas.

You might recognise some of our teaching team for their expertise in community engagement and sustainability. You might have picked up their books in a shop – one academic has recently published on Labour's immigration policy.

Our aim is to deliver perspectives from policy practitioners in different roles, so you’ll also learn from practitioner-based external speakers.

Create real policy proposals

On this master’s programme you will examine the world of policy through a critical lens. Your assessments are designed to apply policy analysis skills, and you will use real-world case studies throughout.

In your portfolio project, for example, you will turn analysis into real policy recommendations. Investigating a specific area, you’ll apply the knowledge and skills you’ve gained in policy evaluation, analysis and design to create policy recommendations.

On completion, you’ll showcase your work at a conference which will be attended by our community of practitioners and academics.

With this degree you will have an expertise in a chosen policy area, you will have demonstrated practical competencies, and you’ll have a portfolio of evidence to impress future employers.

Careers

On the MSc Public Policy, you will develop knowledge and transferable skills relevant to a range of future careers. The programme is designed to equip you with policy analysis skills so that you’ll know how to research policy, evaluate and analyse current policy, how to give policy advice, and how to create policy solutions and formal recommendations. With this skillset, you’ll be well equipped for a range of careers in the policy world.

Armed with this master’s degree, you’ll be the perfect fit for roles in:

  • Civil service
  • Local government
  • Public Sector
  • Supranational organisations such as the EU, UN
  • Political parties
  • Trade unions
  • International charities
  • International business

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas. Our specialist Employability team is ready to support you, whether you are starting out your career after leaving higher education or returning to university to open up new career options.

We provide individual employability advice, application support, career events, development opportunities and resources to help you plan and achieve your career goals. We also run a paid internship scheme specifically for arts, humanities and social sciences students.

The Lancaster Award is available to all postgraduate taught students and recognises work experience, volunteering and personal development alongside your studies. Developed with employers, it helps you reflect on key skills, boost your CV and articulate your strengths with confidence.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a related subject.

English language requirements

We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.

We also consider other English language qualifications and if your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Pre-master's programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Optional

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Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

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Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for 2026-entry study are not yet available, but you can use our opportunities for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Check our current list of scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our  Charter and student policies.