MA Government, Policy and Society
About this course
MA (Hons) in Government, Policy and Society, a social policy degree examining public policy, political decision-making, and the relationship between government and society. Core topics include Global & Comparative Perspective. The programme incorporates interdisciplinary learning drawn from diverse social science subjects. The first year covers the foundations through Social Policy and Society, Research Skills for Social Policy, and Politics of the Welfare State. The second year focuses on comparative methods and economic dimensions through Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives, Research Skills for Social Policy, and Evidence, Economy and Social Policy. The third year advances methodological training via Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy, Doing Survey Research, and Analysing and communicating Social Policy. The fourth year involves engagement with the European Commission, UK Government, Scottish Government, local authorities, and voluntary organisations.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: from A*AA to AAB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: from 37 points with 666 at HL to 34 points with 655 at HL
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 21%: 9 offers from 42 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 12 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 71%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 90%
- Learning resources: 84%
- Student voice: 84%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 85%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 5%
- Media Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 140 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 20%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 4%
- Scotland: 54%
- Northern Ireland: 3%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 60%
- Baccalaureate: 10%
- Access course: 20%
- No formal qualifications: 10%
Modules
- Social Policy and Society
- Research Skills for Social Policy
- Politics of the Welfare State
- social anthropology
- international relations
- sociology
- political science
- social work
- economics
- philosophy
- history
- Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives - In this course, you will compare different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries
- Research Skills for Social Policy - This course equips you with core research training and provides a forum for subject-specific learning and community-building
- Evidence, Economy and Social Policy - This course will focus on the economic dimension of social policy, and the (mis)use of underlying evidence
- social anthropology
- international relations
- sociology
- political science
- social work
- economics
- philosophy
- history
- Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social Policy
- Doing Survey Research
- Analysing and communicating Social Policy
- policy-oriented courses, focusing on the specific areas of policy in your area of specialisation (for example, policy on labour markets, health, education, and poverty, among others)
- process-oriented courses focusing on political decision-making and perspectives on government (such as government budgetary politics, practical political work, the governing of social affairs, and many others)
- the European Commission
- UK Government
- Scottish Government
- local authorities
- voluntary organisations
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Government, Policy and Society at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £33,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,000 and £43,500. The £33,500 median after five years is £6,000 more than the UK median for Social policy.
What do graduates of MA Government, Policy and Society at University of Edinburgh do next?
100% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Government, Policy and Society at University of Edinburgh?
90% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Government, Policy and Society at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 37 points in the IB. The average entrant had 159 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for MA Government, Policy and Society at University of Edinburgh?
21% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 9 offers from 42 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA Government, Policy and Society at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Government, Policy and Society at University of Edinburgh?
85% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.