MSc/Diploma Policy Studies Handbook

Transcription

1 The University of Edinburgh Graduate School of Social and Political Science MSc/Diploma Policy Studies Handbook THIS BOOK CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE IN LARGE PRINT IF REQUIRED 1

2 MSc/Diploma Policy Studies 1. Introduction The MSc in Policy Studies The Social Policy Subject Area This handbook Key contacts 4 2. Programme structure Full-time and part-time variants of the programme Taught course structure and options Board of examiners 6 3. Your Programme Director 6 4. Teaching and learning approach 6 5. Assessment Deadlines 7 6. The dissertation Dissertation workshop 7 7. Representation and feedback 7 8. Employment and further study 7 9. Some policy relevant media sources 8 2

3 1. Introduction 1.1. The MSc in Policy Studies Policy Studies is an interdisciplinary area focused on factors influencing government policy decisions and the ways such decisions impact on society and the economy. The programme offers an advanced understanding of the political and economic context of policy-making in modern societies. More specifically, the programme aims: To provide an advanced understanding of political, economic and social contexts of policy-making across a wide range of policy-relevant areas. To provide research skills required to analyse and research policy decisions and outcomes in a wide range of areas. To provide an educational setting where students from various backgrounds learn from the policy experience of their own and each other s nations. To provide a recognised qualification relevant to professional work in social and public policy research and practice The Social Policy Subject Area The MSc Policy Studies is housed in the Social Policy subject area of the School of Social and Political Science. Social Policy staff has research interests in areas such as criminal justice, children and families, education, labour markets and the economy, social security, the governance of the public sector and public health policy. Students on the MSc Policy Studies are encouraged to feel part of the social policy community, and are cordially invited to attend any open seminars and events organised by the subject area. All postgraduate students are also automatically members of the wider Graduate School of Social and Political Science This handbook The programme handbook provides a guide for students on the MSc in Policy Studies. In particular, it provides information on the programme structure and course options. Please read it carefully and retain it for reference throughout the year. This programme handbook should be read in conjunction with the generic Taught Masters Student Handbook, which includes information about the Graduate School, our taught degree programmes, supervision and pastoral support, and facilities. Copies will be available from the Graduate School Office Reception during induction week, and it is also available on the Graduate School student intranet. It should also be read in conjunction with the University s Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes. 3

4 The handbook supersedes neither University Regulations, formal requirements for each degree set out in the University's Postgraduate Study Programme, nor the Terms and Conditions of Admission set out in the Postgraduate Prospectus. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this handbook was correct at the time of printing, but the handbook does not form part of any contract between the University and a student Key contacts Your Programme Director Dr Valeria Skafida Lecturer in Quantitative Social Policy School of Social and Political Science 3.01 Chrystal Macmillan Building valeria.skafida@ed.ac.uk Your Programme Secretary Kate Ferguson MSc Programme Secretary School of Social and Political Science Graduate School Office Chrystal Macmillan Building kate.ferguson@ed.ac.uk General enquiries about graduate school matters can also be made to the general Graduate School gradschool.sps@ed.ac.uk 2. Programme structure 2.1. Full-time and part-time variants of the programme The MSc in Policy Studies can be studied in full-time and part-time variants: Full-time Part-time Duration 12 months 24 months Courses Six courses over two terms Six courses over four terms (normally 2, 2,2,0 or 2, 2, 1, 1) Dissertation April to August Throughout second year 2.2. Taught course structure and options The programme involves successful completion of six taught courses: Two core courses: Economic Issues in Public Policy (S1) Political Issues in Public Policy (S2) 4

5 At least one research training course 1 : Comparative Analysis of Social and Public Policy (S2) Core Quantitative Data Analysis 1 and 2 (S1) Evaluation Research Methods (S2) Research Skills in Social Sciences: Data Collection (S1) Remaining courses are to be selected from pre-approved optional courses or you may select other courses within the school with permission of your Programme Director. Please note that some courses run as 10 credit options so please double check to ensure you select the appropriate courses to take the correct number of credits. 1 With agreement of the Programme Director, students may also choose their compulsory research training course from among more specialised course on offer in the graduate school. Details of these can be found be found on the course information pages of the Graduate school website. 5

6 2.3. Board of examiners The MSc in Policy Studies is examined by a Board of Examiners comprising the Programme Director, course teachers and an External Examiner (Dr Sharon Wright, University of Glasgow). 3. Your Programme Director Valeria Skafida is a Lecturer in Quantitative Social Policy and is the Programme Director (PD) for the MSc in Policy Studies. Office hours: Semester 1 and 2: by appointment (Valeria Skafida) The PD is responsible for the smooth running of the MSc in Policy Studies, including admissions, coordination of teaching, examination and assessment, programme evaluation and curriculum development. The PD is charged with facilitating your progress through the degree including initial induction, course choices, transition to the dissertation stage, and successful completion. The PD is the supervisor for all students on the Programme; when you progress to the dissertation stage, a new supervisor suitable for your chosen dissertation topic will be allocated. The Director is also responsible for students pastoral care. Induction Meeting: Wednesday 14 th September 2016, Seminar Room 1, Chrystal Macmillan Building, Your Programme Director (Personal Tutor) will be available to meet individually with students to discuss choices for course options during welcome week. After the start of teaching, meetings with your Programme Director (PD) can be arranged in advance by contacting the PD by Teaching and learning approach Teaching and learning in the MSc in Policy Studies builds upon prior successful undergraduate and/or professional experience in a field relevant to policy analysis or policy practice. The main form of teaching is the seminar, with strong emphasis on discussion, debate and exchange of ideas between teachers and students. This demands a strong commitment to independent reading and reflection by students prior to attendance at seminars. Workloads for different courses may vary: assume that you will spend an average of ten hours a week on each of your taught courses, reading and reflecting on that reading. In addition, you will need to set aside further time for the completion of assignments. An important skill expected of MSc students is the capacity to manage workloads and deadlines effectively. The overall workload at the dissertation stage is roughly equivalent to that of three taught courses. Full-time students should allow for a 40 hour week between April and August. Part-time students should assume half this load over a commensurately longer period. 6

7 5. Assessment Guidance on assessment policies in the School of Social and Political Science, including rules on lateness penalties and the University s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme, can be found in the Taught Masters Student Handbook Deadlines For coursework deadlines, please consultant the relevant course handbooks. The dissertation deadline (full-time students only) is Thursday 10 th August 2017, 12 noon. 6. The dissertation General dissertation guidance can be found in the Taught Masters Student Handbook, and programme specific information will be distributed at the beginning of semester two Dissertation workshop A specific dissertation workshop will be held early in the second semester (date TBC usually towards end of January), acting as an opportunity for you to ask questions about the process of researching and writing an extended paper. 7. Representation and feedback During the first week of the semester, your Programme Director will send out an asking for students to nominate themselves as a student representative for the MSc programme. In event of several students seeking this position, lots will be drawn. The student representative(s) can act as a way for students to express their concerns at any stage of the course. Informal feedback, to the Director of the Graduate School, to individual Course Conveners, and to the Programme Director, is welcome at any time. 8. Employment and further study Throughout the year, but mainly from January onwards, your programme director will pass on to you any information they receive regarding opportunities for jobs and for PhD studentships in relevant areas. In addition to this, the University careers service (Third Floor, Main Library Building, acts as a general source of advice and support on the next steps after your degree. 7

8 Recent graduates in Policy Studies have found work in public, private and third sector and others have gone on to undertake doctoral study at universities within the UK and elsewhere. If you are interested in the possibility of pursuing doctoral study in an area that is close to the research interests of a staff member of the Social Policy group or the broader School of Social and Political Science, it is worth raising this with the person at an early opportunity. Deadlines for most doctoral scholarship applications are in the spring, and these awards are highly competitive. If however you have had sufficient time to work with a potential supervisor in putting together a proposal, then you will have a better chance of obtaining funding. In addition, good grades in semester 1 coursework at MSc level will normally be needed to have a realistic chance of scholarship success. 9. Some policy relevant media sources Radio 4 is the UK s main radio station for analysis and comment ( with the Today programme; The Westminster Hour and the Week in Westminster all providing insightful commentary on political and policy relevent issues. Also worth a listen is Thinking Allowed, a weekly show with a social research focus, drawing on the work of current researchers in the UK and internationally. Radio Scotland also has a range of news and current affairs programmes ( For a more in depth analysis of policy topics and ideas the Radio 4 Analysis podcast is an excellent source. The RSA (Royal Society of Arts) Events podcast also often provides an in depth exploration of relevant contemporary policy issues. In terms of television broadcasts, Newsnight (BBC2, weeknights, 2230) and the Channel 4 News (weeknights, 1900) both give relatively in depth coverage of current affairs and have websites on which some content can be accessed. Question Time (BBC1, Thursdays, 2230) is a televised current affairs panel show. 8