Gain a thorough foundation in the tools required to analyse aspects of public policy
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
1 year full-time
September 2025 (semester dates)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsGain exposure to up-to-date techniques and knowledge relevant to policy analysis in social and other public policy areas, and to public sector administration and financial management.
If you already work in the public sector, the NHS or for an international agency, this course will help you upgrade your existing skills.
If you have completed a degree in economics, this course will allow you to build your knowledge and expertise in more specialised areas, such as health economics, social policy analysis and public finance.
The course is also suitable for those with a background in disciplines such as government, sociology, mathematics or natural sciences, who wish to develop their abilities in economics and related areas, particularly economic and social policy, administration and management.
including: Professor Daron Acemoglu who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics; Professor Anibal Cavaco Silva, former President of Portugal; and Han Seung-Soo, former Prime Minister of South Korea.
You'll develop your knowledge in core areas of economics used in the evaluation of public policy. Taught by leading experts, you'll complete a selection of taught modules - some core and some optional - and a dissertation.
You will also study two option modules. Examples from previous years have included:
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You'll complete a piece of independent research carried out over three months of the summer, guided by a supervisor. The dissertation, of up to 10,000 words, offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.
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 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
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.
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.
This Masters combines a variety of different teaching methods, including:
A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress.
The department also has a vibrant research community. You’ll be able to attend seminars and research workshops in which staff and invited speakers discuss their research.
You'll be based in the Department of Economics and Related Studies on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in Alcuin College and elsewhere 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.
Formal types of assessment in this course include:
As you study modules you’ll take part in assessments that do not contribute to your final mark, instead giving useful feedback on your progress and understanding.
This course will open up a broad range of career options in government, the public sector, health or public administration. It is an ideal basis for progression to a PhD.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Economics, Finance or a relevant discipline, with evidence on your degree transcript of strong grades in economics, mathematics and statistics modules at an intermediate (2nd year) level. |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other qualifications and experience | If you have been out of study for a while, or do not have a strong background in economics or mathematics and statistics but have other relevant qualifications or experience, you may be required to take the Summer Session in Economics and Quantitative Methods as a condition of your offer. Alternatively, the Session can also be taken as a stand-alone course. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If you have been out of study for a while, or do not have a strong background in economics or mathematics and statistics but have other relevant qualifications or experience, you may be required to take the Summer Session in Economics and Quantitative Methods as a condition of your offer. Alternatively, the Session can also be taken as a stand-alone course.
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 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
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.
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