Course description

MSc International Development: Public Policy and Management seeks to provide an interdisciplinary training and education that will enable policymakers, economists, planners, managers and researchers to be fully conversant with current issues of public policy and management, in an international development setting. 

It will provide you with the conceptual and analytical tools needed to understand and critically review issues relevant to public policy and public sector reform.

While the course was conceived primarily for those already working in the public sector environment, it has evolved into a highly successful multidisciplinary course that is appropriate to modern professionals, from a wide variety of backgrounds, who have an interest in issues of public policy.

For more information please contact Dr David Lawson, Course Co-Director, at david.lawson@manchester.ac.uk  or on 0161 275 0415.

Aims

Develop your understanding of the different conceptual and theoretical perspectives applied to public policy and management, and public sector reform.

Develop your understanding of the principles and practices underlying the implementation of public policy processes, and provide knowledge of 'real-world' examples of public policy/sector reform.

Develop your understanding of the role and importance of institutions for public policy and management.

Develop your skills and provide you with a significant cross-disciplinary (development economics, public policy, management and development studies) skill set that will enable you to critically analyse and communicate your analysis effectively.

Develop your awareness and knowledge of a variety of global public policies and how they are implemented.

Develop your command of current theory, policy and practice in relation to some of the following specialist areas: public policy process and methods; public sector economics; development and economic policy; privatisation and public enterprise reform; public sector accounting and organisational change.

Develop your independent research skills through a supervised dissertation research project.

Special features

We're the largest development-focused teaching and research institute in Europe, and have been at the forefront of development studies for more than 60 years.

We're ranked 14th in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018).

We're dedicated to addressing global poverty and inequality.

Our research was ranked first in the UK for impact and second in the UK for quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).

We're home to a multicultural community of 450 students from 30 countries.

We have numerous scholarship opportunities for outstanding applicants.

Our alumni are recognised for their contribution to global development across the globe.

The combined field experience of our staff covers 60 countries.

We've trained almost 10,000 individuals from more than 170 countries.

Many of our master's include fieldwork, giving you the opportunity to observe development interventions in situ and to reflect on how theoretical explorations of development are operationalised in the real world. Recent destinations include Uganda, South Africa and Cyprus. Find out more at Fieldwork .

Teaching and learning

Please note that field visits may be scheduled at any point during the course, including during University vacations. You are expected to be available to attend.

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over 27 months. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme, therefore if you are considering taking a programme on a part-time basis, you should discuss the requirements with the Programme Director first and seek approval from your employer to have the relevant time off.  Timetabling information is normally available from late August from the Programme Administrator and you will have the opportunity to discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Coursework and assessment

The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (eg project-based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.

You must also complete a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice approved by the Programme Directors. You are encouraged to base your dissertation on topics of direct professional concern.