Public Affairs MSc - 2019/0

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Final award and programme/pathway title

MSc Public Affairs

Subsidiary award(s)

Award Title
PGCert Public Affairs
PGDip Public Affairs

Modes of study

Route code Credits and ECTS Credits
Full-time PLB61007 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Other internal and / or external reference points

NA

Faculty and Department / School

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - Politics

Programme Leader

KAEDING Malte (Politics)

Date of production/revision of spec

25/11/2021

Educational aims of the programme

  • To enable students to understand and use a range of concepts, approaches and methods appropriate to politics, and to develop an understanding of their contested nature and of the problematic character of political enquiry.
  • To provide students with a foundation of knowledge and understanding of theory and analysis, and to encourage them to apply these issues in contemporary international affairs.
  • To develop students¿ capacity to think critically about events, ideas, people and institutions at local, national, regional and international levels.
  • To assist students to develop a range of cognitive and social skills relevant to their intellectual, vocational and personal development.
  • To give students opportunities to apply their theoretical knowledge and understanding to the resolution of real-life problems and so develop their skills in respect of professional as well as academic life.
  • To provide a curriculum which encourages breadth and depth of intellectual enquiry and debate, supported by scholarship, a research culture, and staff reflection and development.
  • To create a learning environment that is receptive to the needs and views of students and encourages them to achieve their full potential, even while fostering an atmosphere where students as independent learners can take responsibility for their own learning processes.
  • To understand and respect issues related to diversity and to employ a range of methods and approaches in relation to diverse needs.

Programme learning outcomes

Attributes Developed Awards Ref.
Demonstrate critical knowledge of key concepts, principles and theoretical approaches associated with the study of politics, international relations and public policy. K PGDip, MSc
In-depth understanding of international structures of governance and their impact on regional, national and local structures. K PGDip, MSc
Apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of politics, international relations and public policy to the analysis of the political arena, and in so doing demonstrating good knowledge of the workings of political systems at the national and international level. K PGDip, MSc
Detailed knowledge and understanding of contemporary debates within the field of public policy. K PGDip, MSc
Understanding of processes of knowledge creation and contestation within public affairs K PGDip, MSc
Understanding of techniques of research and enquiry and their application to the study of public affairs K PGDip, MSc
Analytical knowledge of contemporary debates in the study of international politics, particularly in relation to the international system and global governance, differing forms of intervention in response to poverty, humanitarian crisis, abuses of human rights, state failure and armed conflict K PGCert
A good understanding of international structures of governance and their impact on regional, national and local structures; and of theories of international relations K PGCert
Detailed knowledge and understanding within at least one sub-field of international politics, for example development and humanitarian assistance; peace-making; peace-keeping and peace-building; use of international legal institutions and processes; and coercive military intervention to secure regime change K PGCert
Understanding of processes of knowledge creation and contestation within international politics K PGCert
Understanding of techniques of research and enquiry and their application to the study of politics K PGCert
Gather, organise and deploy evidence and information from a range of different sources C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Analyse and synthesise a wide range of material in verbal and numerical formats C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Deal with complex issues systematically and creatively C PGDip, MSc
Construct reasoned argument C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Apply theoretical and analytical frameworks to empirical analysis C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Deal with complex issues systematically C PGCert
Make sound judgements on the basis of incomplete evidence C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Demonstrate self-direction and originality in solving problems and analysing evidence C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Apply theoretical frameworks to empirical analysis C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Carry out an advanced literature search P MSc
Design and conduct a research project, selecting appropriate methods of data collection and analysis P MSc
Use software packages to analyse qualitative and quantitative data P PGCert, PGDip
Make appropriate use of information and communications technology P PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Form effective arguments P PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Organise own workload to meet deadlines P PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Formulate research questions P PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Present research findings orally and in writing P PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Communicate and present ideas effectively T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Reason critically T PGDip, MSc
Collaborate with others to achieve common goals T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Deploy a range of relevant research skills T PGDip, MSc
Take responsibility for their own learning T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Reason analytically T PGCert
Use information and communication technology for the retrieval and presentation of material T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Organise and plan their own work T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Adopt a proactive approach to problem-solving T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Deploy some relevant research skills T PGCert
Make decisions in complex situations T PGCert, PGDip, MSc

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Full-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Modules

Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Students must choose two options out of the available modules in semester one and three in semester two to obtain 60 credits per semester. Additional 60 credits will be either obtained through the placement (placement report) or alternatively through a dissertation. A student will take POLM031 OR POLM010 as a Compulsory Module.

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics N
Professional Training Year (PTY) N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) N
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) N
Study exchange (Level 5) N
Dual degree N

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.