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Programme structure: Public Policy (MSc) - what's running in 2020/21

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

All mandatory units in this year of study are must pass. The definition of must pass units can be found in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes http://www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/annex/glossary.html .

Unit name Unit code Credit points Status Teaching Block
Dissertation (MSc in Public Policy) SPOLM1010 60 Mandatory AYEAR
Governance, Institutions and the Global Political Economy SPOLM1073 20 Mandatory TB-1
Power, Politics and the Policy Process SPOLM1060 20 Mandatory TB-1
Informing and Evaluating Policy - Research Methods and Analysis SPOLM1061 20 Mandatory TB-1
Students take 60 credit points from the following (availability depending on demand):
The Economics of Public Policy SPOLM1062 20 Optional TB-2
Health and Health Care in a Global Context SPOLM1066 20 Optional TB-2
Public Management and Organisations SPOLM1074 20 Optional TB-2
Public policy for a complex and uncertain world SPOLM0043 20 Optional TB-2
The International Analysis of Poverty and Social Exclusion SPOLM1068 20 Optional TB-2
Migration, asylum and human rights: EU and global policy perspectives. SPOLM0042 20 Optional TB-2
Cities, Housing and Public Policy SPOLM1072 20 Optional TB-2
Environmental policy and social justice SPOLM0041 20 Optional TB-2
Disabled Childhoods SPOLM0050 20 Optional TB-2
Corruption and Public Policy SPOLM0055 20 Optional TB-2
Public policy for a complex and uncertain world SPOLM0043 20 Optional TB-2
MSc Public Policy   180    

Progression/award requirements

The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.

For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.

Exit awards

All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.

To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.

To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.

Degree classifications:

An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.

The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:

Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.

Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.

* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.

** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.

Diploma/certificate stages:

All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.

To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.

To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.

Additional progress information

For the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Public Policy students should pass at least 60/120 credit points respectively, which must include two of the mandatory units.

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