SOAS University of London

School of Finance and Management

MSc Public Policy, Finance and Management (2020 entry)

  • Structure
  • Teaching and Learning

Overview

This programme is designed for recent graduates with first degrees in political science, public administration, economics, accounting and finance, sociology, and other social science subjects. The programme is also designed for individuals who already work in government or the public sector more generally, and who aim to strengthen their knowledge, capabilities and skills to improve career prospects. This programme aims to provide: 1) a deeper comprehensive knowledge set of theories on public policy, public management and public financial management; 2) a clear understanding of major contemporary issues in public policy, public management and public financial management across countries in the world, 3) distinguishing  capacity to analyse, assess and explain salient topics in public policy, public management and public financial management and 4) Enhanced capacity to argue and communicate effectively about choices in the domains of public policy, public management and public financial management.

The programme aims to help students start a career in government and public sector agencies, or strengthen their prospects for an improved career trajectory.

The MSc Public Policy, Finance and Management can be also taken jointly with the Global Master of Public Administration at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance of the University of Washington. Students who apply and are admitted to the GMPA can spend year one at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and year two at School of Finance and Management of SOAS University of London, and then graduate with two Masters Degrees. Please refer to the GMPA web page for further information.

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Entry requirements

  • We will consider all applications with 2:ii (or international equivalent) or higher. In addition to degree classification we take into account other elements of the application including supporting statement and references.

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Convenors

Structure

Students must take 180 credits. These are composed of 120 taught credits comprising core and optional modules and a 60 credit dissertation.

Not all option modules are offered every year; please check your preferences with the Programme Convenor. Also note that where 15 credit modules are selected, these should be balanced between term 1 and term 2.

Core Modules
Module Code Credits Term
Dissertation in Public Policy, Finance and Management 15PFMC984 60 Full Year
Public Policy: Perspectives, Issues and Strategies 15PFMC094 15 Term 1
Fiscal Governance, Budgeting and Performance 15PFMC108 15 Term 1
Public Governance, Accountability and Transparency 15PFMC101 15 Term 1
Innovation and Organisational Change 15PFMC089 15 Term 2
Research methods in management 15PFMC062 15 Term 1
Emerging Market Finance 15PFMC105 15 Term 2
Optional Elective Modules

Students should choose one 15 credit module from List A and one 15 credit open option module from List B.

List A
Module Code Credits Term
Bank Regulation and Resolution of Banking Crises 15PFMC097 15 Term 1
Managerial Accounting 15PFMC088 15 Term 2
Cultural Intelligence and Global Business Communication 15PFMC076 15 Term 2
International Corporate Finance 15PFMC070 15 Term 2
Macroeconomic Policy and Financial markets 15PFMC087 15 Term 1
Blockchain, Cryptoassets and Fintech 15PFMC099 15 Term 1
List B - Open Options

Students take one 15 credit module from the open option lists from the following departments and centres (subject to availability):

 

Programme Specification

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching & Learning

Masters programmes (with the exception of two-year full-time MAs) consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study such as reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. Also included is class time, for example lectures, seminars and other classes. 

At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar every week, but this does vary. More information can be found on individual module pages.

Find out more on our approaches to teaching and learning page.

Find out more