
Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our postgraduate courses will be published from mid-October 2025.
Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our postgraduate courses will be published from mid-October 2025.
The Public Policy MA is a multi- disciplinary course that covers policy making and analysis, comparative public policy, public sector economics, governance and public management, and ethics and public policy. You will focus on the critical issues and key developments relating to public policy, such as governance, globalisation and policy evaluation. This course will equip you with the analytical and critical skills relevant for understanding the challenges relating to the design, evaluation and implementation of public policies.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).
Applicants with degree/professional qualification and at least three years experience in government or NGO service may also be eligible.
In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications must be made online using King’s Apply, the Admissions portal, and a non-refundable application fee of £130 applies.
Due to the large volume of applications, this programme operates a partial “gathered-field” approach to decision making for applicants who meet our advertised academic entry requirements. This means that for some of these applicants, a decision may not be reached until after February and where possible, will be made by May. You will be informed via King’s Apply if your application is being held.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
Personal Statement | Yes |
A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). |
---|---|---|
Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents. |
References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you. |
Other | Optional | Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application. |
Check out further information about our Political Economy courses including our teaching team, exclusive videos and more on our hub page.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.
Module | Lectures, seminars and feedback | Self-study |
---|---|---|
Per 15-credit taught module | The total contact time for each 15-credit taught module is 20 hours. | Each 15-credit taught module has 130 hours of self-guided learning time. |
Dissertation | A set of dissertation workshops plus one-to-one dissertation consultations. | 592 hours self-study and project work. |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Location
This course will be primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.
You will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written examinations. Assessment patterns will vary across modules, but examples of typical assessments for 15-credit modules would be a 3,000-word essay or a 2 hour unseen examination. The assessment of the dissertation module will be through a 1,000-word research proposal (10%) and a 10,000-word dissertation (90%).
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits as outlined below.
You are required to take the following modules:
In addition, you are required to take 90 credits from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:
Out of these 90 credits, students may take a maximum of 30 optional credits from level 7 modules outside of their programme’s approved module list, subject to approval by the Course Director. Students may take an additional non-assessed credit language module for free. This option is available in addition to the required 180 credits. Part-time students complete the required taught modules in their first year and the dissertation in their second year. If you are taking the part-time course, the Department will allow you to select how many optional modules you wish to take during Year 1 and during Year 2. Students are also welcome to attend optional pre-sessional courses during induction week in September. Pre-sessionals include introductory courses on economics, political theory, political science and public policy.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Our graduates go on to work in a variety of public sector management and policy-oriented positions. Typical career destinations include:
Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.
Full time: £19,550 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £9,775 per year (2025/26)
Full time: £35,800 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £17,900 per year (2025/26)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.
If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).
Applicants with degree/professional qualification and at least three years experience in government or NGO service may also be eligible.
In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications must be made online using King’s Apply, the Admissions portal, and a non-refundable application fee of £130 applies.
Due to the large volume of applications, this programme operates a partial “gathered-field” approach to decision making for applicants who meet our advertised academic entry requirements. This means that for some of these applicants, a decision may not be reached until after February and where possible, will be made by May. You will be informed via King’s Apply if your application is being held.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
Personal Statement | Yes |
A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). |
---|---|---|
Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents. |
References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you. |
Other | Optional | Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application. |
Check out further information about our Political Economy courses including our teaching team, exclusive videos and more on our hub page.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.
Module | Lectures, seminars and feedback | Self-study |
---|---|---|
Per 15-credit taught module | The total contact time for each 15-credit taught module is 20 hours. | Each 15-credit taught module has 130 hours of self-guided learning time. |
Dissertation | A set of dissertation workshops plus one-to-one dissertation consultations. | 592 hours self-study and project work. |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Location
This course will be primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.
You will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written examinations. Assessment patterns will vary across modules, but examples of typical assessments for 15-credit modules would be a 3,000-word essay or a 2 hour unseen examination. The assessment of the dissertation module will be through a 1,000-word research proposal (10%) and a 10,000-word dissertation (90%).
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits as outlined below.
You are required to take the following modules:
In addition, you are required to take 90 credits from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:
Out of these 90 credits, students may take a maximum of 30 optional credits from level 7 modules outside of their programme’s approved module list, subject to approval by the Course Director. Students may take an additional non-assessed credit language module for free. This option is available in addition to the required 180 credits. Part-time students complete the required taught modules in their first year and the dissertation in their second year. If you are taking the part-time course, the Department will allow you to select how many optional modules you wish to take during Year 1 and during Year 2. Students are also welcome to attend optional pre-sessional courses during induction week in September. Pre-sessionals include introductory courses on economics, political theory, political science and public policy.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Our graduates go on to work in a variety of public sector management and policy-oriented positions. Typical career destinations include:
Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.
Full time: £19,550 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £9,775 per year (2025/26)
Full time: £35,800 per year (2025/26)
Part time: £17,900 per year (2025/26)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.
If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed and we may need to request further information from you during the application process.
The final application deadlines for this programme are:
· Overseas (international) fee status: 25 July 2025 (23:59 UK time)
· Home fee status: 25 August 2025 (23:59 UK time)
If the programme becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications. Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if we are unable to process further offers because places are filled and we close the course before the final application deadline.
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