Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or part-time
This programme is designed for recent graduates with first degrees in political science, public administration, economics, accounting and finance, sociology, and other social science subjects. The programme is also designed for individuals who already work in government or the public sector more generally, and who aim to strengthen their knowledge, capabilities and skills to improve career prospects. This programme aims to provide: 1) a deeper comprehensive knowledge set of theories on public policy, public management and public financial management; 2) a clear understanding of major contemporary issues in public policy, public management and public financial management across countries in the world, 3) distinguishing capacity to analyse, assess and explain salient topics in public policy, public management and public financial management and 4) Enhanced capacity to argue and communicate effectively about choices in the domains of public policy, public management and public financial management.
The programme aims to help students start a career in government and public sector agencies, or strengthen their prospects for an improved career trajectory.
The MSc Public Policy, Finance and Management can be also taken jointly with the Global Master of Public Administration at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance of the University of Washington. Students who apply and are admitted to the GMPA can spend year one at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and year two at School of Finance and Management of SOAS University of London, and then graduate with two Masters Degrees.
Structure
Students must take 180 credits. These are composed of 120 taught credits comprising core and optional modules and a 60 credit dissertation.
Not all option modules are offered every year; please check your preferences with the Programme Convenor. Also note that where 15 credit modules are selected, these should be balanced between term 1 and term 2.
Dissertation
Students must undertake a Dissertation to the value of 60 credits.
Core Modules
Public Policy: Perspectives, Issues and Strategies
Fiscal Governance, Budgeting and Performance
Public Governance, Accountability and Transparency
Innovation and Organisational Change
Research methods in management
Emerging Market Finance
Optional Elective Modules
Students should choose one 15 credit module from List A and one 15 credit open option module from List B.
List A
Bank Regulation and Resolution of Banking Crises
Managerial Accounting
Cultural Intelligence and Global Business Communication
International Corporate Finance
Macroeconomic Policy and Financial markets
Blockchain and Distributed Electronic Ledgers: Implications for Business, Finance, Government and Society
List B - Open Options
Students take one 15 credit module from the open option lists from the following departments and centres (subject to availability):
Development Studies Open Options
Economics Open Options
Politics and International Studies Open Options
Centre For International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) Open Options
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Admissions and Applications
You can apply for this course via the online application form.
We aim to assess a complete application and provide a decision within a 5-week time frame. Overseas students who require a Tier 4 visa and wish to join SOAS should bear in mind visa applications can take several weeks, so you should apply as soon as possible.
Consideration of Application
The whole application, including transcript and references, is considered before a decision is reached. You are therefore advised to submit a complete application including references and transcript (where required). An incomplete application will add considerable delays to the decision-making process.
Students will receive an acknowledgement of their application. Each application is carefully considered and although we try and respond as quickly as possible, we do ask that students should expect to receive a response within five weeks of receipt.
Candidates who are available in the United Kingdom may be called for an interview. The absence of academic members of staff (or instance on study leave) may affect the timing of decisions.
Entry Requirements
Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent). Relevant work experience may also be considered.
Subjects Preferred:
Social Science
English Language Entry Requirements
You must be able to show that your English is of a high enough standard to successfully engage with and complete your course at SOAS. Please note that we take our English language requirements seriously and failure to meet them exactly may well result in your application to SOAS being rejected. It is not possible to negotiate if your scores are below our required levels, with the expectation that because they are 'close enough' they will be accepted. It is important that you plan appropriately, well in advance, so that your English language test comes in good time and so that you have time to retake the test if necessary. We do not accept reasons of inconvenience or financial hardship for not submitting or retaking an English test.
International students
For EU and International students who need a visa, if unconditional entry scores are achieved we accept qualifications from several countries, as well as a range of international qualifications and tests.
If a Tier 4 entry visa is required then a SELT, such as UKVI IELTS may be needed. For this reason, we recommend all Tier 4 visa students to choose the UKVI IELTS Academic test as the test of first resort.
