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International Flags | MA Policy Analysis & Global Governance | University of the West of Scotland

Overview

This programme equips students to investigate and evaluate the ways in which a variety of state and non-state organisations come together to address global problems. 

Equally, the programme concerns how to analyse the development and impact of complex public policies. It is delivered by an international team of leading academics in the field.

Students use theory and research to analyse global institutions and the processes involved in global governance.

Modules are likely to include:

  • Politics, Civil Society and Social Justice
  • Global Crisis Management
  • Power, Politics and Civil Society
  • Contemporary Social Issues
  • Research Methods
  • Comparative Governance and Public Administration

Students also complete an MSc Dissertation, which provides the opportunity to specialise in an area of public policy and governance. 

The MSc Policy Analysis and Global Governance allowed me to develop my understanding of the policy landscape and equipped me with an invaluable insight into the various methodologies utilised across the policy landscape. The variety of modules available on the course, enabled me to develop a wider understanding of the multi-disciplinary skills required to develop robust policies that will improve people’s lives. The course content was very practical and provided me with a real insight into the practical working environment which I now work in.

Sarah Gilhooley, 2018 graduate, Policy and Partnership Officer within the Scottish Government’s Employability Division

Master of Public Administration MPA Students | UWS London | University of the West of Scotland

Real World Focus

Career-focused

Work-related learning underpins the teaching on this MSc with the use of employment-focused assessments and the use of improvement and evaluation projects as part of the assessment strategies.

Course staff enable you to build links with our existing partners through the Oxfam partnership and with wider civil society and public sector bodies.

The master's research dissertation module also offers you the opportunity to enhance your CV by undertaking a practice-based project as part of your final dissertation in collaboration with a public or third sector organisation.

Career prospects

Our Masters prepares graduates for the real world and provides you with a range of skills including project management, synthesis, analysis and evaluation, as well as policy analysis skills. These are attractive to government, state agencies, and civil society employers.

This research-informed Masters also prepares you well for further research studies, including PhD.

Don't Take Our Word for It

Studying at UWS opened new doors for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at UWS; all the lecturers were so supportive that I have applied to undertake a PhD at UWS.

Awais Mashkoor, 2018 graduate

 

The MSc Policy Analysis and Global Governance allowed me to develop my understanding of the policy landscape and equipped me with an invaluable insight into the various methodologies utilised across the policy landscape. The variety of modules available on the course, enabled me to develop a wider understanding of the multi-disciplinary skills required to develop robust policies that will improve people’s lives. The course content was very practical and provided me with a real insight into the practical working environment which I now work in.

Sarah Gilhooley, 2018 graduate, Policy and Partnership Officer within the Scottish Government’s Employability Division

Entry Requirements

What qualifications do you need?

We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.

Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience

If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Postgraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.

You will be required to hold a relevant Honours degree (or quivalent) at second class:lower (2:2) or above. Relevant subjects include social science, medicine, health, law, or social work.

Applications will also be considered from those with a degree in another discipline or other professional training or experience relevant to MSc.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR MOST COURSES

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.

General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

  • overall score 6.0
  • no sub-test less than 5.5

Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see section below for more details).

SOCIAL WORK DEGREES

For our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • no sub-test less than 7.0

COMMON EQUIVALENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:

  • CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
  • CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
  • Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English: ISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
  • PTE Pearson Academic English: An overall score of 59 to 64 with no element below 59 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5). An overall score 65 to 75 with no element below 65 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0)

 

IELTS SCORE EXCEPTIONS (RESEARCH DEGREES, BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE DEGREES, NURSING & MIDWIFERY DEGREES WITH NMC REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ETC.)

RESEARCH DEGREES

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 6.5
  • no sub-test less than 6.0

HEALTH & MIDWIFERY AWARDS

For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to, or require professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.

For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • score of at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and no less than 6.5 in writing

* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).

BIOMEDICAL DEGREES

For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • no sub-test less than 6.5

CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 5.0
  • no sub-test less than 4.5

 

TOEFL IBT

TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:

  • Reading: 17;
  • Listening: 17;
  • Speaking: 17;
  • Writing: 17

* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.

 

WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (WASSCE)

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*

  • C6 or above in English

*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.

 

PRE-SESSIONAL COURSES

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:

    • 10 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
    • 5 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
    • English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with score of 4.0 in all elements (10 month course), or 4.5 with no score below 4.0 (7 month course).

Find out more about our English language Courses.

Jobs

Graduates will develop a range of skills including project management, evaluation, research methods and policy analysis that are attractive to government, state agency, and civil society employers. Graduates of the MSc in Policy Analysis and Global Governance have joined government departments, NGOs, research institutions and the private sector. 

Further study/research/development opportunities

This programme provides a solid foundation for future doctoral-level research studies (MPhil/PhD).  

Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) postgraduate tuition fee and living cost loans may be available for eligible (Scottish/EU) students. Check SAAS website for more information.

How to apply

Postgraduate courses (MA, MSc, MEd, MBA, DBA, PG Cert, PG Dip, etc.) & some Post-experience courses (CertHE, BA, Grad Cert, Grad Dip, etc.)

All students should apply directly to the University through our online application system. Before you apply, you should check that you meet our entry requirements and you should have all your supporting documents ready.

The first stage of the process is to complete the initial application form. You will then receive a follow-up email with further instructions relating to your application including documents that you will need to forward to support your application, e.g. degree transcripts and certificates etc.

Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but they will close when they are full; apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you.

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to all international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects.

Students and researchers who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate.

An ATAS certificate may be required for certain taught postgraduate master's degrees for international students at UWS.

For the latest information on ATAS and details of eligibility and how to apply for a certificate check the UK Government's dedicated ATAS web pages.

Get in touch

Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!

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Tuition Fees 2023-24

Use the Link below to download details of our full-time, part-time tuition fees for Bachelor, Masters, Research, and English Language pre-sessional courses for session 2023-24.

Tuition Fees
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Research at UWS

With cutting edge facilities, specialist knowledge and world-leading and internationally excellent expertise, we aim to develop research outputs that have a tangible, early and positive impact on society across the globe.

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We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.