Government, Policy and Society MA (Hons)

Our Government, Policy and Society programme is designed for students interested in:<br/><br/><br/>* the content of public policy<br/><br/><br/>* the process by which policy is made<br/><br/><br/>* the impact of policy on society<br/><br/><br/><strong>Decision-making in government</strong><br/><br/>You will examine how politicians and civil servants make decisions and how they are restricted by resource constraints, such as:<br/><br/><br/>* developments in the global economy<br/><br/><br/>* market forces and existing institutions<br/><br/><br/><strong>Shaping social policies</strong><br/><br/>You will explore how crucial areas of social policy are shaped, such as:<br/><br/><br/>* health<br/><br/><br/>* education<br/><br/><br/>* inequality<br/><br/><br/>* welfare<br/><br/><br/>* employment<br/><br/><br/>You will study the relationship between government and society, and explore the ways in which various non-governmental actors try to influence policy.<br/><br/>You will also engage with the core debates on how to develop societies positively that divide political opinion.<br/><br/>This programme makes use of interdisciplinary learning to help you understand the interactions of multiple levels of government in the policy process.<br/><br/><strong>Examining social sciences</strong><br/><br/>You will engage with core concepts from diverse social science disciplines such as:<br/><br/><br/>* political science<br/><br/><br/>* social policy<br/><br/><br/>* sociology<br/><br/><br/>* economics<br/><br/><br/>* public administration<br/><br/><br/>You can then specialise in the specific policy areas that interest you.<br/><br/><strong>Programme benefits</strong><br/><br/><br/>* We have close relationships with the Scottish and UK governments, as well as European and global institutions. You will have the opportunity to be immersed in a diverse range of contemporary policy developments.<br/><br/><br/>* Our expertise spans Scotland, the UK, the European Union, and international governments, as well as the connections between these levels.<br/><br/><br/>* Learning about the workings of government and the development of policy in Edinburgh, the capital of a powerful sub-state, is a highly enriching experience.<br/><br/><br/>* The University is on the doorstep of one of the most powerful sub-national governments and parliaments in the world. We are deeply embedded in a very open and vibrant public policy community.<br/>