The MA in Public Policy prepares its graduates to work in government, public bodies, civil society organisations, NGOs, international organisations, businesses and other fields and organisations that require an expert understanding of policymaking. In addition to core policy and research training modules, it offers a field trip to Brussels to examine EU policymaking and specialised modules in specific policy areas including: Policy in the Digital Age; Advocacy and Development; Gender; Peace and Conflict; Disability; Ageing; Child and Family; Ocean and Marine; Urban Policy; Social Welfare; and Negotiation; as well as an optional module in data analytics for public policy. At a time when policy formulation and implementation is increasingly subject to political scrutiny and negotiation, the course emphasises the political contexts in which policy is made and implemented and the development of digital government and new forms of public consultation and participation.
The programme is aimed at Arts and Social Science graduates seeking a qualification that will help them to secure policy-related employment; graduates from other fields including Commerce and Law seeking to improve their employment prospects; graduates interested in pursuing PhD research, particularly in areas where University of Galway has specialist policy expertise.