Public Policy & Ageing

For students interested in government, policy, politics, NGOs, voluntary sector, development work, comparative studies and ageing to develop specialist understanding of policymaking for old age and ageing populations. Combines theoretical studies of public policy with multidisciplinary studies of ageing and later life.

The key benefits of the programme are:

• It is a truly interdisciplinary programme.
• It encompasses a wide range of options.
• It is set in a leading international centre for the study of ageing and later life.
• There is the prospect of a short placement through the optional internship module.
• The Institute has links with four internationally renowned teaching hospitals.
• The interdisciplinary networks within King's include Ageing Research at King's; Health & Society and the Division of Health & Social Care Research.

This programme is run in conjuction with the Department of Political Economy.  Ageing populations and increasing longevity impact on all aspects of life across the world. There is rapidly growing interest in understanding the challenges and opportunities that ageing societies pose among international and national policy makers, academics and private sector organisations. 

Students will specifically study how the challenges that arise in economic, social, political and health arenas are perpectuated or remediated by the state, the market, the voluntary sector and the family. The programme will also equip students with the skills to engage with key debates about the policy process as well as broadening their understanding of demographic, policy, social and economic concern in the management of ageing societies.

There is an opportunity for students to undertake a short internship with policy and voluntary organisations as part of an optional credit-bearing module.