Overview
Public policy masters UK. MA Public Policy at Durham University: 6 assessed courses, 180 credits and 1,800 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The hours on each course add up to that total. Seminars run online. A Durham collegiate campus route is published separately from this online award. This award is academic. It does not appoint you to a police or justice service.
MA Public Policy is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 18 months, and the credit total is 180. Students move from Sources and what they bind through Sources and what they bind; Reading a case or a statute; A client-style question; Institutions and procedure; Ethics and the limit of the award; Capstone: legal or policy file, and finish on Capstone: legal or policy file.
Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read. Reading is a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. The artefact a marker expects is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note.
The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Produce a professional file in Public Policy Choose a method and write what the evidence cannot support Keep a record a third party can review
Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass.
This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.
The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Each credit is 10 notional learning hours. The courses add up to 180 credits and 1,800 hours. This award is academic. It does not appoint you to a police or justice service.
Who This Programme Is For
- ✦People already working around Public Policy
- ✦Career-changers who can study without leaving their city
- ✦Teams who need a file they can review, not a slogan
Faculty spotlight
Durham University supervises the courses and the final assessed file. Supervision is assigned from the school that owns the award.
Programme Structure & Delivery
Coursework
Interactive modules, weekly readings, recorded and live seminars, and collaborative discussions with peers worldwide.
Assessment
Module assignments, proctored examinations, and capstone projects designed to demonstrate mastery of the field.
Learning Outcomes
- ✦Produce a professional file in Public Policy
- ✦Choose a method and write what the evidence cannot support
- ✦Keep a record a third party can review
- ✦State the limit of the award
- ✦Submit the final project inside the published hours
Career Pathways
- ✦Legal analyst
- ✦Compliance researcher
- ✦Policy officer
- ✦Caseworker
- ✦Research assistant
Assessment
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
Curriculum
Stage 1 — 900 hours
SB97Y01Sources and what they bind- SB97Y01-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Sources and what they bind
- SB97Y01-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Sources and what they bind
- SB97Y01-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Sources and what they bind
- SB97Y01-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Sources and what they bind
- SB97Y01-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Sources and what they bind
- SB97Y01-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Sources and what they bind
30 creditsSAZ8C02Reading a case or a statute- SAZ8C02-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Reading a case or a statute
- SAZ8C02-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Reading a case or a statute
- SAZ8C02-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Reading a case or a statute
- SAZ8C02-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Reading a case or a statute
- SAZ8C02-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Reading a case or a statute
- SAZ8C02-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Reading a case or a statute
30 creditsSAP8Q03A client-style question- SAP8Q03-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — A client-style question
- SAP8Q03-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — A client-style question
- SAP8Q03-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — A client-style question
- SAP8Q03-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — A client-style question
- SAP8Q03-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — A client-style question
- SAP8Q03-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — A client-style question
30 creditsStage 2 — 900 hours
SCN5Y04Institutions and procedure- SCN5Y04-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Institutions and procedure
- SCN5Y04-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Institutions and procedure
- SCN5Y04-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Institutions and procedure
- SCN5Y04-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Institutions and procedure
- SCN5Y04-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Institutions and procedure
- SCN5Y04-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Institutions and procedure
30 creditsSCD6D05Ethics and the limit of the award- SCD6D05-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Ethics and the limit of the award
- SCD6D05-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Ethics and the limit of the award
- SCD6D05-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Ethics and the limit of the award
- SCD6D05-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Ethics and the limit of the award
- SCD6D05-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Ethics and the limit of the award
- SCD6D05-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Ethics and the limit of the award
30 creditsSC36R06Capstone: legal or policy file- SC36R06-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Capstone: legal or policy file
- SC36R06-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Capstone: legal or policy file
- SC36R06-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Capstone: legal or policy file
- SC36R06-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Capstone: legal or policy file
- SC36R06-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Capstone: legal or policy file
- SC36R06-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Capstone: legal or policy file
30 creditsAdmission requirements
Academic entry
- A bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, or equivalent professional standing considered by admissions
Documents
- A statement of about 500 words on why this award fits your work
- Two references, academic or professional
- A CV
Programme questions
How long is the MA Public Policy?+
The published duration is 18 months. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
Can I study this from my country?+
This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.
What does it cost?+
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
What are the entry requirements?+
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
How is the programme assessed?+
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Will this award be recognised where I live?+
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Durham University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
How do I apply?+
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@durhm.co.uk.
