MPP Education Policy
Develop specialist knowledge and skills to address contemporary issues in education policy and practice.
Year of entry: 2026 (September)
The achievement of diverse educational goals depends not only on effective practices but also on the existence of enabling education policy frameworks. And to develop such policy frameworks, leaders in education need a detailed and multifaceted understanding of policy processes and their complex interactions with economic, social and political contexts.
This Master of Public Policy in Education Policy will equip you with the skills and knowledge to make a positive difference for education policy. You'll be able to analyse, critique and shape public policy, from the definition of policy problems and the formulation of policy interventions to their implementation and explore contemporary issues in education policy and practice through a comparative view on a range of international cases to apply your high-level analytical and problem-solving skills to the key area of education policy.
Course content
You'll study 180 credits in total. The course consists of:
- core modules
- option modules
- Applied Policy Project
You will build key professional skills in research, collaboration and communication. And your independent research project, at the end the programme, provides an opportunity for the in-depth exploration of an applied policy-related topic of your choice, enabling you to transfer the acquired knowledge, insights and skills to your professional life.
Through this knowledge and these skills, you will be able to effectively contribute to policy-making in the field of education policy, be it as an analyst, advisor, consultant or leader, in the public, private or non-profit sector.
Modules
Core Modules
- Advanced Policy Analysis
- Investigating Contemporary Policy Problems
- Comparative Approaches to Education
- Public Management and Delivery
- Principles of Policy Advice
- Policy Masterclass
Option Modules
You will study one option module. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. Example modules may include:
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Dissertation
- Independent Student Module/Applied Policy Project
The Applied Policy Project will enable you to apply your learning about the complexities of the public policy process and its contextual variables to a real-world policy challenge of your own choice. Through independent research (supported by a dedicated academic supervisor), you can demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have developed on the programme with regards to a project that aligns with your professional or personal interests.
Learning outcomes
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learning outcomes for this course
- Critically apply theoretical frameworks to the analysis of complex policy processes and competing responses to real-world public policy problems.
- Recognise, analyse and evaluate the multi-level intersections of policy-making with the distribution and operation of power and resources in diverse socio-economic and political contexts.
- Analyse and address challenges surrounding the formation, implementation and evaluation of public policy.
- Compare contemporary educational systems and policies across the world through a Comparative Education approach, to recognise successful practices and common challenges.
- Assess current educational problems linked to forms of social inequality and division.
- Communicate in ways that can engage specialist and policy-interested audiences, balancing academic rigour with accessible presentation of complex material.
- Design rigorous policy-focused research, drawing from a range of theories, methods and types of evidence within appropriate ethical codes of research conduct.
- Critically apply knowledge, understanding and skills to the shaping of social progress, both within and beyond the academic context.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2026/27 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Funding opportunities
Chevening Scholarships
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
Teaching and assessment
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Teaching format
The modules for this course have been specifically developed for postgraduate study. You'll be taught through a combination of hands-on workshops, lectures and seminars. You'll find that small group working and establishing your own perspective on social issues will become a core part of your studying process.
- One-to-one supervision while undertaking an extended social and public policy research project on a topic of your choosing
- A friendly, supportive and intellectually stimulating environment in which to study
- Small group teaching with lectures typically no larger than 40 people and workshops and seminars typically no larger than 20 students
You'll also be able to attend the School's lectures and University lectures from visiting speakers from across the world.
Teaching location
You'll be based in the School for Business and Society in the Church Lane Building on Campus West. Teaching will take place in Church Lane Building and Alcuin College and other locations across the university.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Assessment and feedback
Your assessment will be continuous and based mainly on essays and reports. You'll receive written feedback on all assessed work.
You'll complete a 8,000 word dissertation as part of your own specialist research project.
Careers and skills
You'll develop a rounded awareness of, and sensitivity to, a range of perspectives and interests that will be essential for employability in the Education policy field and more widely. You'll develop independent and team-working skills, including planning, collaboration and time-management, culminating in your Independent Study Project.
The programme’s substantive focus on public policy will enhance the employability of graduates in both UK and non-UK settings, including employment in international national and local organisations dedicated to public policy research and analysis (including public, private and non-for-profit organisations that are involved in the designing, consultation and delivery of public policy).
Career opportunities
- Policy analyst
- Education consultant
- Civil servant
- Government officer
- Campaign organiser
- Academia
Transferable skills
- Interpret and critically evaluate complex material
- Rounded awareness of and sensitivity to a range of perspectives
- Both independent and team-working study skills
- Key planning and collaboration skills
- Time management skills
Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we'll help you find your career advantage.
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
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