MSc International Social and Public Policy (Research)

This broad-ranging programme examines how societies respond to global challenges resulting from social, demographic and economic change, and issues around poverty, migration and globalisation. Looking at low, middle and high-income countries, you’ll gain the skills to identify key social challenges and analyse the social and public policies designed to tackle these issues.

We approach the policy process from an international, interdisciplinary and applied perspective. You’ll delve into the differences between social policy development and implementation in different countries and the roles of stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, families and markets.

Building on this foundation, you’ll then follow one of seven streams.

You can take either the general stream:

• MSc International Social and Public Policy

Or you can choose one of the following specialist streams:

• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Development)
• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Education)
• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Migration)
• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Non-Governmental Organisations)
• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Research)
• LSE-Fudan Double Master's in International Social and Public Policy

Our department is rated number one in the UK for social policy (Good University Guide 2024). We were also awarded the highest UK ranking for research in the field of social policy in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021). So, you’ll be studying in a vibrant, highly rated research environment.

This page covers information about the specialism stream: MSc International Social and Public Policy (Research).

This stream is designed for students who wish to conduct research on social and public policy issues.

You’ll develop your understanding of the role of research in the policy process, the place of different research methods in policymaking, and the role of evidence in informing policy development. You’ll also sharpen your research skills, develop your knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods, and apply your learnings to contemporary national and international policy questions.

Optional courses enable you to tailor your studies to your interests and career goals. All students complete a dissertation based on empirical quantitative or qualitative research.

Our graduates progress to high-impact roles in academia, research and policymaking in government, NGOs and international organisations.

• A Bryman Social Research Methods (Oxford, 2016)
• J Parkhurst The Politics of Evidence: From Evidence ‐ Based Policy to the Good Governance of Evidence (Routledge, 2017)
• C Robson and K McCartan Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner-Researchers (Oxford, 2015)