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European Public Policy - POL00060M

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  • Department: Politics and International Relations
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2025-26

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

The aim of this module is to analyse the institutional set-up, policy-making processes and main policies of the European Union. The first part of the course examines EU policy-making institutions and three stages of the policy-making cycle: agenda-setting, decision-making and the implementation and enforcement of EU rules. The second part of the course applies these conceptual and analytical frameworks to examining four key EU policy areas: the European Single Market, the Economic and Monetary Union, European social policy, and European climate and energy policy. The module concludes by examining EU responses to multiple crises and considering the challenges facing European public policy.

Module learning outcomes

Upon the completion of this module, students should be able to:

  • Understand the political dynamics of European integration and the specificities of the institutional order it has generated; 

  • Offer substantial insights into the practice of policy-making in the EU system;

  • Analyse some of the main policies of the EU;

  • Evaluate the challenges posed to the political and institutional system of the EU by recent crises;

  • Improve the clarity and organisation of both written and oral expression, gain practice in working effectively with groups, and develop skills in using a full range of learning resources, including official EU sources, and working independently to utilize knowledge in innovative ways.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Module feedback

Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.

Indicative reading

  • Helen Wallance, et. al. 2025. Policy-Making in the European Union, 9th edition. Oxford University Press. 
  • Nikolaos Zahariadis, et. al. 2018. The Routledge Handbook of European Public Policy. Routledge.



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.