Understand social policy in a regional and global context with this unique Masters degree
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsThe MA in Global Public Policy and International Business is an innovative and outward looking programme that engages with the role of economic, political, and social factors in shaping the complex international environment facing businesses and governmental organisations today.
Interdisciplinary and research-informed, your studies will draw on theories, concepts and evidence from the disciplines of social and public policy and business and management that are housed in the School for Business and Society.
The programme connects to real world agendas in global public policy and international business and explores the growing role of supranational and regional governmental organisations in tackling global societal problems. You will study how corporations respond to the challenges of the global environment and how social and ethical responsibility plays a significant part in that response.
Through engaging with a broad range of theories and case studies, and conducting your own research, you will develop advanced analytical skills. You will also develop transferable skills including the effective communication and presentation of complex ideas, information retrieval, analysis and reporting of social scientific evidence using computer and IT skills.
From your studies you will acquire the criticality and competencies needed to help globally engaged businesses, governmental and non-governmental organisations succeed. As a graduate of this programme you will be well prepared to progress to senior positions in multinationals, development agencies, policy-making bodies, and non-profit organisations.
York is ranked 39th in the world for Social Policy and Administration
QS World Rankings by Subject 2024You'll gain transferable skills in global social policy analysis and research, these will be relevant to a future career with international organisations.
The MA in Global Public Policy and International Business offers a range of interdisciplinary modules that draws on theories, concepts and evidence from global social and public policy and international business and management. Core modules provide a broad introduction to relevant social and public policy theories, analysis and methods, and an introduction to either International Political Economy and Business or International Business in the Global Context.
After this you will then choose three option modules, which examine different aspects of social and public policy and international business in more detail. At the end of your studies you will have the opportunity to apply the skills that you have learned into practice through a dissertation, under the guidance of an individual supervisor.
Most people study full-time for 12 months, but part-time study over 24 months is also available.
You will also study three option modules in Semester 2, including one module from Option List A and one module from Option List B. Examples include:
The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information, please get in touch.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You will complete an individual research-based dissertation on a topic of your choice under the supervision of a specific member of staff.
The course has a strong research focus. Half your time will be spent on taught modules and half on your own specialist research project. This reflects the advanced nature of our social policy masters courses which are designed to act as a pathway to careers in policy analysis or PhD level study.
Given the individual nature of dissertations, the topics studied by previous students are extremely varied. Recent projects include:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,600 | £12,950 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
There are no mandatory additional fees but we do recommend that you set aside some money for photocopying. Course books will be available to you from the Library either in print or online format but you may wish to buy your own copies (book prices vary, with new books usually costing between £20 and £60). All other teaching resources will be available online.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
The modules for this MA have been specifically developed for postgraduate study. You will be taught through a combination of hands-on workshops, lectures and seminars based on real cases and data. You'll find that small group working and establishing your own perspective on social issues will become a core part of your studying process.
You'll also be able to attend the School's lectures and University lectures from visiting speakers from across the world.
The School has one of the largest concentrations of social policy research in the UK. You'll have access to staff, projects and research across a wide range of social policy areas and the School is home to many internationally renowned research centres, including:
You'll be based in the School for Business and Society in the Church Lane Building on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in Alcuin College or other nearby locations on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Your assessment will be continuous and based mainly on essays and reports. You will receive written feedback on all assessed work. There are no exams.
You'll complete a 15,000 word dissertation as part of your own specialist research project.
The MA in Global Public Policy and International Business develops skills that employers need in a number of areas, especially policy analysis and research. You'll also find you develop transferable skills that will allow you to progress to different career areas or to continue your studies at PhD level.
I was surprised at how varied the modules were and as a result, I have gained skills in different areas. These vary from conducting research and presenting, to writing policy reports and briefs, all skills that can be transferred into employment.Lily, MA Global Social Policy, 2016
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent |
| Other qualifications and experience | You will also be considered if you have relevant work experience and academic potential |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
The MA in Global Social Policy is part of a group of social policy Masters degrees that draw on the research excellence of the Department to enable you to study social policy at an advanced level. These courses each offer a unique blend of modules to allow you to specialise in a particular area.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.
