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International Public Policy MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Want to forge a career in international politics or policy-making? Get a detailed and systematic understanding of how political institutions, processes and public policies operate at the global level on this MSc. You’ll examine international relations and learn skills to analyse how public policy is formulated and governed beyond national borders – so you’re ready to play your part in this far-reaching work.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£20,500
£10,250
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
£18,250
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; Applicants should ideally have a background in political science, international relations, law, European studies, history, philosophy, economics, or a related subject. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


Students are equipped with the theoretical tools and empirical evidence necessary for an in-depth understanding of policy-making within the general theories of international relations, political science, public policy and comparative politics. They develop analytical skills for the study of world politics and the assessment of issues currently facing international policymakers. In addition to the strong core training in international relations and research skills, the programme offers a wide-range of elective courses which students can choose from; these cover international political economy and development, international security and terrorism, foreign policy, international law, comparative politics, as well as human rights, political and normative theory.

Who this course is for

Most students use the MSc as the foundation for, or a year out from, a career in international politics or policy-making. Applicants should ideally have a background in economics, European issues, international relations, law, philosophy, politics, political science or sociology.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL Political Science is recognised as a centre of excellence in the field and offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of international public policy.

  • London features an enormous range of seminars, conferences, and other events on issues related to the programme. These provide a means for students to expand their knowledge and extend their professional networks.
  • The research preparation and tailor-made interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary training students receive are of the highest standard available, at one of the world's top universities, as reflected in UCL's performance in a range of rankings and tables.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduate destinations both nationally and internationally include:

  • Civil servants in departments in central or local government in the UK and overseas.
  • Policy officers and researchers for UK members of parliament and Members of the European Parliament.
  • The European Commission (for example through internships).
  • Public and private sector organisations. 
  • Further research study at UCL or other universities in the UK or overseas.

(Graduate Outcomes survey 2017-2022)

Employability

The programme is designed to enhance career prospects by giving students transferable skills attractive to employers in a wide range of businesses and sectors, such as:

  • Theoretical and critical analysis.
  • Ability to design and carry out original research.
  • Excellent oral and written communicational skills.

You will also learn to solve problems and issues and to build positive working relationships. 
 

Networking

As a student in the Department you will have access to an impressive range of support, activities, and events that will contribute to your experience. Student societies, exhibitions, lectures, and valuable training is just a snippet of what is on offer for you.

  • The Department host an eclectic and impressive offer of events, these range from our 'Policy and Practice' seminars which include talks by high-profile policy makers, practitioners and academics, to our Departmental Research Seminars (DRS).
  • The International Public Policy Review is a student-led forum for debate, discussion, and networking for those passionate about politics, governance and international affairs
  • The International and Public Affairs Society is a student-run society for all students in the Department of Political Science. They organise social and fundraising events and endeavour to develop a strong and friendly community within the School of Public Policy (SPP).
  • UCL Social Data Institute is led by the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences (SHS), and the Institute amplifies UCL’s advanced research and teaching in social data and methods.

The department also organises an annual Careers Week which brings together alumni, industry speakers and skills workshops.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars, and includes a policy simulation and a series of talks with leading practitioners and policymakers.

Assessment is through a variety of methods, including unseen examination, long essays and the dissertation.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Example of time spent if a Full-time Student versus Part-time Student

  • Full-time: Students study for 40 hours per week. Additionally, students retaking a year will be deemed Full-time, when retaking more than half of the activity of the year.
  • Part-time: Students study at a structured rate per week, normally half the rate of Full-time study. Additionally, students retaking a year will be deemed Part-time when retaking half or less of the activity of the year.

To learn more, please take a look at the Academic Manual.

Modules

You are required to take four compulsory modules (including one Qualitative methods module, one Quantitative methods module and the Dissertation), two optional modules from the Department of Political Science which fall under four categories [ 1. International Political Economy; 2. Social and Environmental Issues;,3.International Security and 4. International Policy making]  and two elective modules.

  • In term one, you will take a compulsory module on “International Public Policy”, which is focused directly on the analysis of global public policy programmes. You will also attend compulsory modules on quantitative and qualitative methods (introductory or advanced, depending on prior training).
  • In terms one and two, you will choose two optional modules from our wide-ranging offer in the fields of comparative politics, international relations, public policy and political theory. Please consult the Department’s website for an overview of modules: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/political-science/study/post-graduate-taught/all-postgraduate-modules
  • Students can also select two elective modules.
  • In term three, you may sit exams and work on your MSc dissertation project, in one-to-one meetings with your dissertation supervisor and by conducting an independent research.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. Please note that all students must take one qualitative and one quantitative methods module in order to conduct further independent research.

We do encourage our part-time students to distribute their workload evenly between the two years of study. The majority of part-time students opt for one of the following patterns:

  • 75 credits in year one and 105 credits in year two;

           or

  • 90 credits in year one and 90 credits in year two.

Upon completion you will have undertaken modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising of four compulsory modules and a dissertation. You will have further attended elective module(s) so you can personalise your programme of study to your own academic or professional interests.

Compulsory modules




Optional modules













The Politics of Immigration




Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in International Public Policy.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

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All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Security Studies MSc

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Don’t miss our virtual Masters event series! Hear first-hand insights from a current student, speak with the programme director, and chat with our admissions team. Discover everything you need to know about your programme and take the next step in your academic journey.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Climate Change Policy and Politics MSc

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Don’t miss our virtual Masters event series! Hear first-hand insights from a current student, speak with the programme director, and chat with our admissions team. Discover everything you need to know about your programme and take the next step in your academic journey.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Human Rights MA

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Don’t miss our virtual Masters event series! Hear first-hand insights from a current student, speak with the programme director, and chat with our admissions team. Discover everything you need to know about your programme and take the next step in your academic journey.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £20,500 £10,250
Tuition fees (2025/26) £36,500 £18,250

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/funding-students-postgraduate-taught-courses

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study International Public Policy at graduate level
  • why you want to study International Public Policy at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

When it is necessary to calculate a final average mark, the department will calculate all years of undergraduate study.

As we typically receive a large number of applications for this programme it is necessary to consider applications in two discrete rounds. After the department has looked at your application, we will contact you by email to tell you which round you are in, if applicable. The email will detail when you can expect to receive a decision or update from us.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Political Science
Political Science

polsci.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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