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Launching in September 2025, our Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy MSc will be studied online, giving you the flexibility to engage with the programme from anywhere in the world.

Unprecedented environmental change, global urbanisation and emerging technological revolutions are three defining themes of humanity’s attempt to chart a course of sustainable development this century. This MSc will confront you with the fact that dealing with complexity and uncertainty is hard, but that there are tools and practices that can be of immense help.ÌýÌý

On this programme you will be taught the conceptual frameworks, interdisciplinary evidence and policymaking tools, and analytical methods to develop innovative science, technology, and engineering policies. You will learn how policies are implemented, and how evidence is generated and governed to support appraisal and evaluation.

The interdisciplinary and practice-oriented approach of this online MSc programme prepares future policy-makers and leaders to tackle complex global challenges.

Programme structure

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy MSc (Distance Learning) programme will beÌýavailable full-time (one year), part-time (two years) or via flexible/modular studyÌý(taking a maximum of five years to complete).ÌýFind out more about each of these ways of studying by following this link.

The MSc programme will beÌýcomprised of fiveÌýcompulsory taught modules, providing the foundational knowledge and skills required to mobile science, technology and engineering through policy.ÌýYou will also beÌýable to chose four additional optional modules (from a choice of six), allowing you to delve deeper into yourÌýpersonal areas of interest.ÌýFinally, you will complete a dissertation project where you will apply your knowledge and skills. More details on the modules available for the 2025/26 academic year are provided below.

Core Modules

Policy Making (15 credits)

This module has a strong emphasis on the theory and application of the policy making process. The module aims:Ìý

i)  to equip you with a knowledge of the theoretical foundations of the business of policymaking, with a strong focus on the elements of the policy design process (establishing a problem frame, drawing up options, developing decision criteria, selecting a course of action, etc.).Ìý

ii)  to equip you with the skills necessary to apply this theory and perform as policy advisors at every step of this process: independent and critical thought, research skills, and effective writing for a policy audience.Ìý

At the end of the module you will have the necessary baseline understanding of both theory and practice to engage with the complex challenges faced by policymakers.Ìý

Science and Engineering Advice (15 credits)

Unprecedented environmental change, global urbanisation and emerging technological revolutions are three defining themes of humanity’s attempt to chart a course of sustainable development this century. This module introduces some of the key issues, opportunities and challenges in each of these themes, providing a broad exposure to a selection of topics at the science–policy interface.ÌýÌý

Throughout the module, examples will be used and explored from STEaPP’s portfolio of previous and current research projects, as well as future ideas. This will give you concrete problems, stakeholders, challenges and outputs to work with.Ìý

Science Diplomacy (15 credits)

This module will help you understand the way that science and diplomacy interact, delve into some of the latest developments in the field, and explore the skills that are needed at these interfaces. It will introduce the various science diplomacy conceptual frameworks and the diversity of actors in this realm, from state-led science diplomacy to the role of international organizations, NGOs, and informal scientific networks. It will also pay particular attention to science advice in foreign affairs as well as in multilateral negotiations and international organizations. Issues of international governance of science, Big Science and the latest developments around STI in the UN system will be explored.Ìý

Science Funding and Governance (15 credits)

This module will explore the policy framework within which governments support research and innovation and the ways in which governments use such expertise to pursue policy objectives. As the opportunities ushered in by science, research and innovation continue to expand, riding on new frontiers in the life sciences, the global shift to clean growth, population mobility and aging society, the rise in artificial intelligence and data revolution, among others – this entails dynamic changes and complexity in the practice of scientific research, and equally in the governance of research and innovation at different levels.Ìý

This module aims to fill a gap in the capacities that are required to manage the dynamic and complex challenges and opportunities surrounding scientific research and innovation programmes in different parts of the world.ÌýÌý

Through using a mix of theories and concepts to analyse and understand historical and future cases, this module aims to produce scholars who will work as world-class professionals in the domain of science, research and innovation as policy makers, funders, brokers, evaluators or implementers of strategies or programmes.Ìý

Research Methods (15 credits)

Through this research methods module, you will gain the understanding and skills necessary to design and conduct your own independent and original policy-oriented research, as well as commission and critically evaluate research. You will receive a theoretical grounding in a range of qualitative and quantitative research techniques, as well as practical experience applying these methods to data from real-world policy contexts. Throughout the course and across all methods studied, you will explore best practice in ethical and responsible research, interdisciplinarity in policy research, and research in practice. Ìý

Dissertation (45 credits)

The aim of the dissertation module is for you to undertake a sustained enquiry into a specific empirical or theoretical policy issue. With guidance and light supervision from STEaPP faculty, you may select a dissertation topic related to your interests and professional ambitions. You will then integrate and apply the interdisciplinary knowledge, methods and critical thinking developed in the core and optional taught components of the programme to produce independent and original research.Ìý

Optional Modules

EDI in Science Policy: Challenges & Opportunities (15 credits)

In this module you will think critically about and proactively engage with the challenges and opportunities presented within STEM in the context of global society, with specific reference to its impact on Science and Engineering Policy. You will develop your appreciation and understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within science and engineering and its impact upon Science and Engineering policy and the policy responses devised.  Ìý

You will gain practical experience of initiative coordination, allowing them to champion better EDI within STEM as well as within Policymaking, together with improving interpersonal skills.Ìý

Ethics, Power and Institutions (15 credits)

This module explores the often neglected but necessary knowledge needed to reflect upon some of the science, technology and engineering (STE) related policy decisions taken at the organisational, national and international level. It aims to help you navigate difficult decisions you may have to face in your future positions, understand the pervasive and often hidden nature of power, and highlight how the various institutions govern our world and your place in them. While some of the concepts will be of a general nature, throughout this module the emphasis will be placed on STE issues. This course is intended to be as practical as possible, highlighting theoretical concepts and frameworks that will enable you to think about these various issues of ethics, power and governance structures. What is an ethical policy decision and how can you justify it? What is power and how does it express itself? How are both concepts expressed within institutions and applied in governance issues?

Communicating Science for Policy (15 credits)

This course will enable you to appreciate the theoretical and practical aspects of effectively communicating science, technology and engineering (STE) topics to policy audiences. This module will cover some basic principles of science communication across different platforms, across a variety of policy environments: topically, and across local, national and international settings including parliamentary and governmental structures, non-governmental and third sector organisations. It will also cover the roles of media and public in the communication of science for policy, considering public engagement and informed debate and their implications for effective policy-making and implementation. The course will encourage you to analyse and critique existing examples of science communication for policy, including materials that you and your peers have produced.ÌýÌý

Policies for Emerging Technology (15 credits)

Through topical exploration of specific contemporary emerging technologies and related challenges, this module will provide you with a socio-technical framework to critically evaluate options for emerging technology policy interventions and how they may be implemented. This will include consideration of risk-benefit trade-offs, power dynamics, and the values, Rights and freedoms of individuals and collectives, giving you a holistic understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated policy for emerging technology.Ìý

Risk Assessment and Governance (15 credits)

This module examines the rise of risk-based policy-making and risk regulation for scientific, technological and environmental developments. Throughout the module, you will explore definitions of risk and the terminology for risk governance, (changing) perceptions and attitudes to risk in public and private organisations, as well as established and new approaches to managing and regulating risk.Ìý

These issues will be explored through a number of deep dive case studies and sessions from several fields: healthcare and pharmaceutical, the environment and climate change, digital technologies and cyber-physical systems, food safety. Particular attention is paid to addressing uncertainty and ambiguity, and what ‘good’ governance of uncertain risks entails via models such as ‘planned adaptive risk regulation’.Ìý

Science and Engineering Policy Practice (15 credits)

This module will look at policy practice within the science and engineering space to transform how we as a community think about what evidence is, how to generate it, and how to use it well. The module will be based around a series of practitioner-led topics in order to explore ways to share this knowledge, to embed it in the design of our research systems and practices and work jointly to identify knowledge gaps about evidence production and use across boundaries.

PGCert

A shorter 60-credit PGCert isÌýalso available. To receive a PGCert award, you will study two of the core MSc modules:

• Science and Engineering Advice (15 credits) or Science Funding and Governance (15 credits)
• And Science Diplomacy (15 credits) or Policy Making (15 credits)

And you will select two optional 15-credit modules to study from:

• EDI in Science Policy: Challenges & Opportunities (15 credits)
• Ethics, Power and Institutions (15 credits)
• Communicating Science for Policy (15 credits)
• Policies for Emerging Technology (15 credits)
• Research Methods (15 credits)
• Risk Assessment and Governance (15 credits)
• Science and Engineering Policy Practice (15 credits)

Teaching and Learning Methods

As a distance-learning programme, all learning materials and activities will be provided online for remote study through the virtual learning environment.

You will be able to access the course content anytime and anywhere, with most learning activities being self-paced and asynchronous. There will also be live sessions and discussion boards, so you can keep in touch with peers and academics throughout your studies. One-to-one contact with your designated staff tutor will also be built-in to help you achieve your personal learning goals.