University of Surrey has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Why choose this course Public affairs is about how organisations engage with politics to manage risk and influence public policy. Our unique integrated masters course will give you in-depth knowledge of political science, public policy and international affairs. By combining undergraduate and postgraduate study into a single tailored package, this course fuses disciplinary fundamentals with a focus on application and generating change. Along the way you’ll develop an understanding of the key actors and methods of influence in public affairs, and be able to address the biggest debates in contemporary public policy. The Department of Politics is currently ranked 9th in the UK in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023, and 11th in the Complete University Guide 2023. Our award-winning Professional Training placements prepare students for roles in industry. We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023. What you will study On our Public Affairs MPA course, you’ll get a full disciplinary grounding in politics and public policy. You’ll also develop advanced applied knowledge of practical techniques of public affairs, including political leadership and communication, negotiation and lobbying, campaigning, and public administration. In your final year, you will have the opportunity to develop and apply advanced primary research skills to a masters dissertation project on a topic of your choice.
Modules
To see the full range of modules for this course please visit our website – the link is under course contact details. You will also find full details of the programme including assessment methods, programme structure, contact hours and Graduate prospects.
How to apply
31Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- L430
- Institution code:
- S85
- Campus name:
- Stag Hill
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
We are proud to be one of the most culturally diverse universities in the UK, with more than 140 nationalities playing a role in university life. Our International Recruitment team are here to help you throughout the application process – from advising on choosing the right course to applying for a visa and preparing for your first few weeks at Surrey. You can contact them via [email protected] Applicants who require a Student Visa to study in the UK: To apply for a Student Visa, you must have a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) for the University you wish to study at. This is a unique number which will enable you to apply for your visa. The University is under no legal obligation to sponsor any individual and exercises caution with respect to issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to avoid risking its status as a Student sponsor. Confirmation of Acceptance to Study (CAS) will be issued in accordance with the Student Route and CAS Issuing Policy, available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/apply/policies
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - ABB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - D: 30 credits M: 15 credits
Scottish Higher - AABBB
Scottish Advanced Higher - ABB
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 33 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Extended Project - A
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Applications are considered on an individual basis, taking into account qualifications achieved, predicted grades, personal statement and academic reference. Conditional offers are specified in terms of required grades; we do not make offers in terms of overall UCAS tariff. We understand that predicted grades are an estimate and will consider applicants who have predicted grades that are a little lower than our published requirement. Any offers we make will align with the grades shown above unless a grade reduction can be offered under our Contextual Admissions policy or our In2Surrey scheme. Details can be found here: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/schools-colleges/contextual-admissions-policy Applicants with a mixed qualification profile (e.g. those taking A-levels and BTEC qualifications) are encouraged to contact [email protected] for guidance on the grades accepted.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in each other element. |
View the other English language qualifications that we accept:
https://www.surrey.ac.uk/apply/international/english-language-requirements
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Please see our website for up-to-date information on our fees for 2024/25:
https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/undergraduate-2024-entry
Sponsorship information
The University of Surrey offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support our students, please visit https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries for more details.