MSc in Public Policy Research

Learn how concepts and theories help researchers to identify and define policy problems, construct explanations about causes and effects, and generate applied research questions or hypotheses to be tested empirically. You will be introduced to a broad range of theoretical approaches that are employed by public policy researchers in the social sciences, law and philosophy.

Understand the core principles of research design and the distinct logics underlying different methodological approaches to public policy research. Become familiar with the main issues and techniques with which you will need to understand in order to both consume and produce qualitative research relevant to the public policy process. Establish the foundations for you to formulate well-crafted research questions and hypotheses as well as specific research designs to test them.

Examine the main principles, considerations and techniques of statistical methods as relevant to the policymaking process; develop your understanding of and practical skills in the design, implementation and analysis stages of a quantitative research project; and enable you to critically evaluate quantitative research. Through interactive lectures and workshops you will be confident in major statistical social science research techniques; have the practical skills to conduct quantitative research and analysis for a research project, including use of statistical software, and be able to critically evaluate quantitative research done by others in public policy research. 

Much more so than in academia, research in a public policy context is research as part of a team. Whether in a government department, a state agency, a think tank or indeed a school of government, researchers are expected to develop a wide range of practical skills to advance the overall goals of their organisations. The public policy context also imposes specific pressures, constraints and priorities. In this module students do not simply read about and discuss these issues in seminars, but also gain direct research experience through participation.

You will conduct research for a 10,000-word thesis and an accompanying research brief. You will also attend thesis development seminars.
 

In Trinity term (term three) you will select an optional module. 

This will 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
• energy
• education policy
• international relations
• managing public sector organisations
• political leadership
• social policy
• anti-corruption
• taxing business
• war and global security

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. You are encouraged to reflect upon your own professional experiences and to identify skills that you wish to acquire, develop or enhance during your time on the course with support from our one to one coaching and expert guidance.

Official course title

Master of Science in Public Policy Research

Award

Course code

TM_RP1

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. 

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. The supervisor will normally be a member of the Blavatnik School of Government’s faculty, but may be from one of Oxford’s other departments. 

You will meet with your academic supervisor to discuss the progress of your studies; 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 the year on the basis of the intellectual and policy interests expressed by students. 

In addition to the academic supervisor, you will benefit from advice on the development of your thesis provided by an experienced policy advisor with substantive practical expertise in the area of your research discipline.

You will undertake a mixture of types of summative assessment (eg essay, research proposal, written examination, and oral presentation), reflecting the breadth of the material being taught and the skillset required of public policy research professionals. You will also complete formative work to provide practice opportunities for each type of summative assessment, and to build a repertoire of practical research skills that will assist with completing your thesis and prove attractive to future employers. The scheduling of summative assignments has been designed to be stretching but realistic for students, to spread the workload across the year, and to support progression of the thesis, from conception through to analysis and write-up.

The Blavatnik School of Government will undertake a comprehensive review of its assessment methods during the academic year, taking into account recent developments in Artificial Intelligence. As a result, some assessment methods may be subject to change. Applicants and offer-holders will be informed of the revised approach to assessment prior to starting the course.

It is anticipated that graduates from the MSc in Public Policy Research 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. The MSc also provides research training for our DPhil in Public Policy (though completing the MSc does not guarantee acceptance onto our DPhil).

Alumni of the Blavatnik School of Government are exceptional achievers and change-makers who share a commitment to improving public service. When you join the school, you also join an incredible and lifelong community of peers, and an alumni network spread across the globe. These connections serve as powerful reminders for all of us of our shared commitment to public service and our desire to make a real difference in the world. Our alumni hold senior public sector positions in every global region, and include a UAE minister; elected representatives in Panama, Brazil, Ukraine, Canada and Mongolia; and senior civil servants across the world. Many more work in multilaterals and the third sector, including those who have founded NGOs. More information about the school's alumni can be found on the alumni page of the Blavatnik School of Government's website.

In addition, students can benefit from the Blavatnik School’s professional skills programme and in conversation events with leading public policy and political figures, as well as access one-to-one careers advice at the University's Careers Service, which is very close to the Blavatnik School. 

This course is offered by the Blavatnik School of Government

• Course page on the school's website
• Funding information from the school
• Academic and research staff
• Current students and alumni
• Research at the school
• Social Sciences Division
• Contact details

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2024-25 to 2026-27)

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any discipline; and
• a master's degree in public policy, normally with distinction (70%+) or merit (65% to 69%).  This may be either Oxford's Master of Public Policy (MPP) with its professional, leadership and academic components, or a master's degree from another institution that is equivalent in all elements.

Assessors are looking for academically outstanding individuals with the analytical capacity to tackle complex, multi-dimensional issues. Applicants should have an outstanding academic record with exceptionally high academic results throughout, or should show an impressive upward trajectory in performance. This may be further evidenced by scholarships or prizes awarded because of academic abilities/achievements or glowing academic references ranking you at the very top of your peer group.

If you are applying for the Public Policy 1+1 programme, you may apply for this course without having completed or enrolled on the Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree course (or equivalent). To apply for the Public Policy 1+1 programme you must submit your MSc in Public Policy Research application by the January application deadline.

For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6 out of 4.0. However, selection of candidates also depends on other factors in your application and most successful applicants have achieved higher GPA scores.
 

GRE General Test and other standardised test scores

Whilst not required to complete your application, we strongly encourage you to take and submit scores from a standardised test – such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, TARA, or any similar relevant tests you may have taken, such as civil service entry exams. As scores from standardised tests are not essential to complete your application, we do not publish guidelines for the scores applicants should achieve. 

Strong commitment to public service

Assessors are looking for people who can demonstrate that they are committed to addressing public policy and governance issues and who are motivated to make a difference. You should demonstrate an ethos of public service evident in the trajectory of your chosen career path, whether this be in the public, private or NGO sector, and/or an outstanding record of achievement in volunteering. This ethos and commitment should also go beyond your own life and demonstrate that you are able to show regard for others in the broader community, and recognise why the perspectives of others might differ from your own.

Clear motivation to improve public policy through research

We are looking for people who are motivated to undertake applied and impactful public policy research. Applicants should make clear in their statement of purpose their policy interests, their commitment to using research to tackle public policy issues and their understanding of the role that research can play in the policymaking process. They should also provide an outline of the policy issue they provisionally wish to research for their MSc thesis and the methods they anticipate using to do so. 

Interviews may be held as part of the admissions process.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the school's website.

The following colleges accept students on this course:

• Blackfriars
• Campion Hall
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Harris Manchester College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Mansfield College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• Regent's Park College
• Reuben College
• Somerville College
• St Anne's College
• St Antony's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• The Queen's College
• Trinity College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

You do not need to contact the department before you apply. If you have any questions about the course, please consult the Blavatnik School of Government website. If you have any questions that are not answered by the Blavatnik School website, please contact the admissions team via the email address provided on this page under 'Further information'.

Please note that academics at the Blavatnik School are unable to comment on your suitability for the course or offer advice on the admissions process. Please do not contact faculty directly, instead contact the admissions team with any queries you may have. The Blavatnik School will appoint a supervisor in the event that your application is successful.

Use of AI tools in written submissions

The Blavatnik School of Government has embraced the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Here are some extracts from the school's AI Code of Practice that are particularly relevant to applicants:

1. You are responsible for all content you produce using AI and for verifying any AI-generated content you use in your work. You will always be accountable for the veracity and accuracy of work you present to others.
2. You must always disclose when AI has been used to generate the words or thoughts you are sharing with others. We expect that many people will use AI to augment and assist research, analysis and communication. It is good practice to explain how it has been used for these purposes.

Please include, at the end of each written submission, a short statement of any AI use in your application with reference to the school’s AI Code of Practice. This will include the reflective policy essay and the public service essay and, if relevant, the statement of purpose. Please ensure you provide a statement on AI use even if it is to confirm you have not used any AI.

You may also use your statement of purpose to explain any special circumstances relating to any element of your application that you wish to bring to the attention of the assessors.

Research proposal (maximum 1,500 words)

The short research proposal will be used only to help the MSc Admissions Committee assess applications for the MSc. The topic could be the one that you anticipate investigating for the research thesis or another topic in which you are especially interested.

You must be submit one essay of a maximum of 1,500 words. This should be a policy brief or policy analysis essay on a pressing policy issue. It must be entirely your own work and written in English. You must not submit work which was produced in conjunction with others. You should also appropriately reference your work, using the University’s guidance on referencing. You should include a short statement of any AI use with reference to the school’s AI Code of Practice, even if it is to confirm you have not used any AI. See the ‘Use of AI tools in written submissions’ section above.

The word count must be adhered to and displayed clearly at the end of the body of written work. The total word count should exclude any footnotes, annotations or bibliography used. 

Submitted work should have a clearly defined topic of investigation and should not attempt to sustain broad and sweeping generalisations. You may also wish to consider how policy within your chosen area is made, implemented, and evaluated, as well as how innovative solutions may be formulated using these insights.

Choosing a suitable topic and style of written work forms part of this assessment and is therefore left to your discretion. You are encouraged to choose the format that you find best presents your analytical ability. Similarly, as there is no set topic range, you are encouraged to choose a topic that you are passionate about but where you also have sufficient knowledge to present a succinct and coherent argument.

This written piece will be assessed on the ability to write clearly and concisely, construct an argument, gather and present evidence, exercise critical thought and draw policy-focused conclusions. The written work you submit should therefore demonstrate your academic and analytical ability and your suitability for the programme.

For the MSc in Public Policy Research, your written work will be assessed for:

• a comprehensive understanding of the subject area, including problems and developments in the subject
• your ability to construct and defend an argument
• your aptitude for analysis and expression
• your ability to present a reasoned case in proficient academic English.

Please include, at the end of your written work piece, a short statement on any AI use in your written work with reference to the School’s Code of Practice. See ‘Use of AI tools in written submissions’ section above. 

Email: [email protected]