Public Affairs MSc - 2022/3
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 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
12/09/2023
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, with a view to transfer knowledge in future contexts.
- To provide students with a foundation of knowledge and understanding of theory and analysis, and to encourage them to apply these issues in contemporary public affairs both in a national and international context.
- To develop students' capacity to think critically about events, ideas, people and institutions at local, national, regional and international levels, increasing cultural and global intelligence.
- 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, and sustainable thinking, supported by scholarship, a research culture, and staff reflection and development, to build resilience to tackle real-life problems.
- 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, and engage with a diverse set of opinions, points of view and cultural and disciplinary backgrounds.
- To understand and respect issues related to diversity and to employ a range of methods and approaches in relation to diverse needs.
- The programme is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Demonstrate a critical knowledge of key concepts, principles and theoretical approaches associated with the study of politics, international relations and public policy. | K | MSc | |
| Understand regional, national, international structures of governance in depth, and their impact on regional, national and local institutions, processes of globalisation and sustainability. | K | MSc | |
| Apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of politics and public policy to the analysis of the political arena and in doing so, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the workings of political systems and institutions at the national and international level. | KPT | MSc | |
| Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the process of knowledge creation and contestation within public affairs, and the techniques of research and enquiry and their application to the study of public affairs. | K | MSc | |
| Gather, organise, and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety secondary and primary sources, analysing and synthesising from a wide range of material to enhance digital capabilities and employability skills. | CT | MSc | |
| Demonstrate self-direction and originality in identifying, investigating, analysing, formulating and commending solutions to specified problems, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. | CPT | MSc | |
| Construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement in the articulation and application of evidence/data in an advanced fashion, considering global and cultural intricacies. | CPT | MSc | |
| Formulate research questions, and eventually design and conduct a research project, selecting appropriate methods of data collection and analysis, addressing issues of feasibility, sustainability, unintended consequences on global and social diversity and thinking about interconnectedness within society | P | MSc | |
| Deal with complex issues systematically and creatively also with sustainable thinking in mind, making sound judgments on the basis of incomplete information, and consolidating resourcefulness and resilience | C | MSc | |
| Reflect on self and peer learning. Seek and apply constructive feedback. | CPT | MSc | |
| Recognise the importance of demonstrating and good research skills, especially related to academic integrity and ethics. | CT | MSc | |
| Demonstrate an in dependent attitude to studying which requires critical and reflective use of statistics and computer technology for learning purposes and to transfer to other contexts, with digital skills and employability in mind | CP | MSc | |
| Demonstrate appropriate communication skills, both oral and written. | PT | MSc | |
| Demonstrate effective and appropriate use of computer and information technology, including audio-visual technology, for the retrieval and presentation of information and data, with digital skills and employability in mind | T | MSc | |
| Work independently, demonstrate capacity for initiative, manage time and competing demands, emerge as a well-organised, self-critical and mature learner, ready to tackle real-life problems in public affairs within a globalised, networked, digital and sustainable thinking environment. | PT | MSc | |
| Show a capacity to collaborate with others in large or small groups in order to achieve clearly defined tasks. | T | MSc | |
| Demonstrate advanced knowledge of key concepts, principles and theoretical approaches associated with the study of politics, international relations and public policy. | K | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Understand regional, national, international structures of governance in depth, and their impact on regional, national and local institutions | K | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of politics and public policy to the analysis of the political arena and in doing so, demonstrating substantive knowledge of the workings of political systems and institutions at the national and international level. | KPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Demonstrate a substantive understanding of the process of knowledge creation and contestation within international relations, and the techniques of research and enquiry and their application to the study of international relations | K | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Gather, organise, and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety secondary and primary sources, analysing and synthesising from a wide range of material | CT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and commend solutions to specified problems, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. | CPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise sound judgement in the articulation and application of evidence/data, considering global and cultural intricacies. | CPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Reflect on self and peer learning. Seek and apply constructive feedback. | CPT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Recognise the importance of demonstrating and good research skills, especially related to academic integrity and ethics. | CT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Demonstrate appropriate communication skills, both oral and written. | PT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Demonstrate effective and appropriate use of computer and information technology, including audio-visual technology, for the retrieval and presentation of information and data. | T | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Work independently, demonstrate capacity for initiative, manage time and competing demands, emerge as a well-organised, self-critical and mature learner, ready to tackle problems in a globalised, networked, digital and sustainable thinking environment. | PT | PGCert, PGDip | |
| Show a capacity to collaborate with others in large or small groups in order to achieve clearly defined tasks. | T | PGCert, PGDip |
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 Level 7
Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
Students must choose two options out of the available modules in semester one and two 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:
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 2022/3 academic year.