Public Policy 1+1
About the programme
The Public Policy 1+1 is a two-year graduate experience linking two taught degree courses that will help you become a more effective leader, changemaker and develop your research skills for working in public policy organisations.
Applicants accepted to the 2025-27 Public Policy 1+1 programme, will undertake the Master of Public Policy (MPP) during the 2026-27 academic year and (subject to satisfactory progress on the MPP and meetings any conditions for progression that have been set) will go on to study for the MSc in Public Policy Research during the 2027-28 academic year.
Benefits of the Public Policy 1+1 programme include:
- teaching by outstanding academics, as well as expert practitioners, you will be uniquely positioned to develop academic knowledge and professional skills to address some of this century's most complex public policy challenges; and
- upon completion you will be well equipped for research and related jobs in government, quasi-governmental agencies, state and local governments, international organisations, not-for-profit organisations, charities and pressure groups.
At the end of the Public Policy 1+1 programme, you will be able to design and undertake a range of policy-relevant research methods and effectively communicate your research findings to policymakers and the general public.
In order to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 you must submit separate applications for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the MSc in Public Policy Research in the same admission cycle. You should follow the instructions in the How to apply section of each course page, paying particular attention to the personal statement/statement of purpose and written work requirements for each course. You should state clearly that you wish to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 programme in your personal statement.
Course structure
An overview of the course structure is provided below. Details of the compulsory and optional elements of the course are provided in the Course components section of this page.
In the first year you will complete an intensive taught Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree course that offers a distinctive approach to learning about public policy. The MPP is a one-year graduate degree that will help you develop your understanding of public policy challenges. You will learn about how policy is made, implemented, and evaluated in governments at local, regional and global levels. The MPP is a transformative opportunity for current and future leaders with a commitment to public service. The MPP derives lessons for better governance from countries all around the world. You will discover, share, and build on successes achieved by policymakers in other countries – from the smallest to the most powerful.
In the second year, the MSc in Public Policy Research will teach you how to conduct robust, applied and impactful research, and give you a keen understanding of the relationship between research evidence and other major influences on the public policy process such as ideologies and institutions. You will learn to design and undertake a range of policy-relevant research methods to the highest standards and you will effectively communicate research findings to a wide range of audiences, including policymakers and the general public.
Attendance
The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.
Resources to support your study
As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.
The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.
The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students to support with learning and research, as well as guidance on what technology to bring with you as a new student at Oxford.
There are study spaces available in the Blavatnik School building, some of which can be pre-booked.
Students also have access to the student common room, in addition to the communal facilities such as the café and the Inamori Forum. The school runs an extensive range of events and brings public policy leaders to the school to inspire and mentor students.
The Blavatnik School does not have its own library because most reading material is made available electronically. However, you will have access to the Social Science Library in addition to other University libraries and centrally-provided electronic resources.
The Blavatnik School benefits from its own ICT team, which provides support and advice to students. Students are expected to bring their own laptop.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Blavatnik School of Government and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found in another department within the University of Oxford.
You will meet with your academic supervisor to discuss the progress of your studies, and in your second year they will help you to identify your research topic, devise an important and researchable question, formulate, and execute an appropriate research design, and produce a methodologically sound and impactful thesis. The Blavatnik School of Government will assign supervisors at the start of each year based on the intellectual and policy interests expressed by students. For the MSc, in addition to the academic supervisor, you will also be assigned a policy advisor from a public policy organisation to provide advice and feedback on the research from a practitioner perspective.
Assessment
Candidates receive individual awards for each of the two programmes. Progression from the Master of Public Policy (MPP) to the MSc in Public Policy Research is subject to satisfactory progress being made on the MPP and meeting any conditions for progression that have been set. Your learning will be assessed for each programme in a variety of ways. Examples of assessment from previous years include: open-book assessments, essays, policy memo, short research proposal, presentation, thesis and in-class testing of a more practical nature.
Please see both the Master of Public Policy (MPP) course page and the MSc in Public Policy Research course page for details of how each course is assessed.
Changes to this course
The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.
For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.
Course components
The MPP and the MSc in Public Policy Research both consist of compulsory and specialist modules, chose from a wide range of topics.
Compulsory study
Year one: Master of Public Policy (MPP)
The current curriculum includes the following compulsory components:
- Induction
- Policy Challenge I
- Foundations
- Economics for Public Policy
- The Politics of Policymaking
- Law and Public Policy
- Evidence in Public Policy
- Option modules 1 and 2
- Policy Challenge II
- Policy Report
- Applied Policy modules
Year two: MSc in Public Policy Research
The MSc consists of compulsory modules and specialist optional modules chosen from a wide range of topics. Students will also conduct research for a 10,000-word thesis and an accompanying research brief.
The current curriculum includes the following compulsory components:
- Theories and Approaches in Public Policy Research
- Research Design and Qualitative Methods for Public Policy Research
- Statistics for Public Policy
- Research in a Public Policy Context
- Option Module
- Thesis development seminars
Options
Year one: Master of Public Policy (MPP)
You can personalise your learning to meet your professional needs by choosing your Option modules and your Applied Policy modules. In addition, all candidates are invited to attend Professional Skills Programme sessions.
The Option modules (of which you must select two) cover a range of contemporary policy issues, and the options available will vary from year to year. Previous years have seen modules on climate change, cybersecurity, economic development, Africa, big data, the challenges of democratisation, education policy, governing in a digital age, international economic relations of governments, international migration, legal and illegal politics, police and policing, political communication, social policy, sustainable nutrition, urban challenges in developing countries, and taxing business, etc.
The Applied Policy modules (of which you must choose four) enable you to apply your theoretical learning, build module-specific sets of skills and knowledge, and understand the important fundamental principles involved in decision-making by different groups of stakeholders. The options available can vary year to year, but previous years have included: communications, private finance, public budgeting, negotiations, etc.
The Professional Skills Programme offers a range of sessions designed to help you acquire, develop and enhance practical and transferable skills necessary for a successful career in public policy.
Year two: MSc in Public Policy Research
You can personalise your learning to meet your professional needs, through your Option modules choices. In addition, all candidates are invited to attend the Professional Skills Programme sessions.
The Option modules enable you to explore in depth a particular public policy topic of your choice. The options cover a range of contemporary policy issues, and will vary from year to year. Previous years have seen modules on climate change, cybersecurity, economic development, Africa, big data, the challenges of democratisation, education policy, governing in a digital age, international economic relations of governments, international migration, legal and illegal politics, police and policing, political communication, social policy, sustainable nutrition, urban challenges in developing countries, and taxing business, etc.
The Professional Skills Programme offers a range of sessions designed to help you acquire, develop and enhance practical and transferable skills necessary for a successful career in public policy.
Entry requirements for entry in 2026-27
To be considered, interested candidates must:
- submit separate applications for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the MSc in Public Policy Research in the same admission cycle before the deadline(s) shown on the course pages;
- follow the instructions in the How to apply section of each course page, paying particular attention to the personal statement* and written work requirements for each course;
- meet the entry requirements for the MPP that are shown on its course page; and
- meet the entry requirements for the MSc that are shown on its course page.
*You should state clearly that you wish to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 programme in your personal statements.
Funding
For entry in the 2026-27 academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.
If you apply by the December deadline shown on this page and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, your application will automatically be assessed against the eligibility criteria, without needing to make a separate application. There are further Oxford scholarships available which have additional eligibility criteria and where you are required to submit a separate application. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.
To ensure that you are considered for Oxford scholarships that require a separate application, for which you may be eligible, use our fees, funding and scholarship search tool to identify these opportunities and find out how to apply. Alongside Oxford scholarships, you should also consider other opportunities for which you may be eligible including a range of external funding, loan schemes for postgraduate study and any other scholarships which may also still be available after the January deadline as listed on our fees, funding and scholarship search tool.
Details of college-specific funding opportunities can also be found on individual college websites:
Please refer to the College preference section of this page to identify which of the colleges listed above accept students for this course.
For the majority of college scholarships, it doesn’t matter which college, if any, you state a preference for in your application. If another college is able to offer you a scholarship, your application can be moved to that college if you accept the scholarship. Some college scholarships may require you to state a preference for that college when you apply, so check the eligibility requirements carefully.
Costs
Annual course fees
The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.
Annual Master of Public Policy (first year) fees for the 2026-27 academic year
Fee status | Annual Course fees |
| Home | £54,450 |
| Overseas | £54,450 |
In the second year of the Public Policy 1+1 programme, you will be charged course fees at the relevant MSc in Public Policy Research fee rate for that year of study. For an indication of costs, the table below shows the annual MSc course fees for the 2026-27 academic year.
Annual MSc in Public Policy Research fees for study in the 2026-27 academic year
Fee status | Annual Course fees |
| Home | £41,380 |
| Overseas | £41,380 |
What do course fees cover?
Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional costs information below.
How long do I need to pay course fees?
Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year fees will usually increase annually, as explained in the University’s Terms and Conditions.
Where can I find more information about fees?
Our fees and other charges pages provide further information, including details about:
- course fees and fee liability;
- how your fee status is determined; and
- changes to fees and other charges.
Information about how much fees and other costs will usually increase each academic year is set out in the University's Terms and Conditions.
Deposits
If your application is successful, you will be asked to pay a deposit against your course fees at the application stage as a condition of your offer. The deposit amount and date by which payment must be made are shown below.
Amount of deposit |
Date by which deposit must be paid |
| £8,200 | 26 May 2026 |
The department's website provides further information about deposits for this course.
Additional costs
Master of Public Policy (MPP) component
In addition, as part of your course requirements, you will need to choose a policy report topic. This element of the course is mandatory and forms part of the assessment for the course. Depending on your choice of topic and the placement required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, additional living expenses, equipment, materials and field trips. These costs will vary according to the location and length of the placement and the department estimates that these costs may range from £500 to £3,000 or more. You will need to meet these additional costs yourself, although you may be able to apply for small grants from the department. There are no other compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs.
MSc in Public Policy Research component (indicative costs, based on study in the 2024-25 academic year)
In addition, as part of your course requirements, you will need to choose a thesis topic. This element of the course is mandatory and forms part of the assessment for the course. Depending on your choice of topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, equipment, materials and field trips. These costs will vary according to the location and length of the fieldwork and the department estimates that these costs may range from £500 to £3,000 or more. You will need to meet these additional costs yourself. There are no other compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs.
Living costs
In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.
Living costs for full-time study
For the 2026-27 academic year, the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between £1,405 and £2,105 for each month spent in Oxford. We provide the cost per month so you can multiply up by the number of months you expect to live in Oxford. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to budget for the costs of a student visa and immigration health surcharge and/or living costs for family members or other dependants that you plan to bring with you to Oxford (if dependant visa eligibility criteria are met).
Further information about living costs
The current economic climate and periods of high national inflation in recent years make it harder to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. For study in Oxford beyond the 2026-27 academic year, it is suggested that you budget for potential increases in living expenses of around 4% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation.
A breakdown of likely living costs for one month during the 2026-27 academic year are shown below. These costs are based on a single, full-time graduate student, with no dependants, living in Oxford.
| Lower range | Upper range | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | £315 | £545 |
| Accommodation | £825 | £990 |
| Personal items | £160 | £310 |
| Social activities | £50 | £130 |
| Study costs | £35 | £90 |
| Other | £20 | £40 |
| Total | £1,405 | £2,105 |
For information about how these figures have been calculated as well as tables showing the likely living costs for nine and twelve months, please refer to the living costs page of our website.
College preference
Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs).
If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief introduction to the college system at Oxford and our advice about expressing a college preference.
If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide.
The following colleges accept students for study on the Public Policy 1+1 programme:
How to apply
To be considered, interested candidates must submit applications for both the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the MSc in Public Policy Research in the same application cycle and meet the conditions shown under the entry requirements. To be considered for the 1+1 you must submit your applications by the December deadline. Note than if you submit your MSc in Public Policy Research application under the March application deadline, you will not be considered for the 1+1 programme. Students admitted to the Public Policy 1+1 programme will also need to meet any conditions set to progress to the MSc in Public Policy Research.
Applying to the Master of Public Policy (MPP)
Please refer to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) course page for full details about the course, its requirements, deadline(s) and how to apply.
Applying to the MSc in Public Policy Research
Please refer to the MSc in Public Policy Research course page for full details about the course, its requirements, deadline(s) and how to apply.
Supporting documents common to both courses
Personal statement
If you would like to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 programme you should state this clearly in your statement of purpose (in addition to making a separate application for both courses). You will need to upload a separate statement of purpose specific to each application when you apply. Details on what should be included in each statement of purpose can be found in the How to apply section of each course page.
Written work
If you are applying as part of the Public Policy 1+1 programme, please note that the documents required to apply for each of these two programmes are different. Please make sure you refer to the ‘How to apply’ instructions on both course pages for further information on the application requirements.