Policy making is becoming an increasingly complex process in the 21st Century. The context in which we make policy is radically changing, alongside the nature of the issues policymakers are required to address.Traditional models of policy making are facing challenges from below, through the drive to devolution, and from above, as supra national forms of governance continue to evolve. Alongside, these developments, social issues, such as pollution, crime, and migration, increasingly transcend ... READ MORE

Policy making is becoming an increasingly complex process in the 21st Century. The context in which we make policy is radically changing, alongside the nature of the issues policymakers are required to address.

Traditional models of policy making are facing challenges from below, through the drive to devolution, and from above, as supra national forms of governance continue to evolve. Alongside, these developments, social issues, such as pollution, crime, and migration, increasingly transcend national boundaries, to present further challenges to policy makers.

This exciting programme seeks to understand the ways that policy is formulated within this evolving and dynamic context, by drawing on the core concepts of policy analysis and theories of policy change. It will offer insights into the policy actors, coalitions and forms of evidence, that shape the creation of both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ policy, as well as providing a detailed understanding of the policy making architecture that characterises local, regional and supranational institutions. Moreover, the programme will explore the social, political, economic and historic contexts in which policy is formulated and the ways that power influences policy formulation.

As well as considering theories of the policy process, the programme offers the opportunity to study across a range of global policy issues and social problems, such as poverty, migration, crime, and homelessness, to understand these theories in action.

Employability

The programme is designed for those who intend to pursue a range of policy related careers, within local, regional or global policymaking institutions and will equip you to work across a number of policy domains. It will equip you with the policy analysis skills necessary to examine and evaluate policy outcomes; alongside, a broader range of social research methods required to research substantive policy issues.

Students can also exit with PGDip award.