PhD

PhD Public Policy

Original research toward Public Policy, supervised by published faculty.

Online or on campus

3–5 years60 creditsEnglish (dual pathway: Edinburgh campus or tuition-free online; one academic standard)

Overview

Doctoral research in policy design, implementation and evaluation across health, education, climate and economic policy. Coursework in advanced methods and causal inference, then an original dissertation supervised by published faculty. The University of Brigant teaches this award to one academic standard whether you study on campus in Edinburgh or on the tuition-free online pathway. Assessment is identity-checked; the marking scheme does not change with your postcode. This is an academic doctoral award; where a field has a licensing or registration route, that remains a matter for your professional body or regulator. You will work through the material as a practitioner-researcher: applied methods, real or anonymised cases, and a supervised capstone or dissertation as the final component. Faculty mark whether you noticed the constraints a slide deck usually hides. PhD Public Policy is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 3–5 years, and the credit total is 60. Students move from Public Policy Processes & Institutions through Public Policy Processes & Institutions; Political Economy & Development; Statistics & Data for Policy; Ethics, Positionality & Public Value; Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods; Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting, and finish on Writing Briefings & Board Papers. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read. Reading is a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. The artefact a marker expects is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Analyse a policy problem with the right method — evaluation, cost-benefit, political economy Read a budget and an expenditure line for what it actually funds Design an implementation plan that survives contact with a delivery unit Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.

The programme carries 60 credits, structured as doctoral coursework followed by supervised research. Delivery is tuition-free (£0) on the online pathway. Transcripts use letter grades and a GPA scale consistent with University of Brigant awards. No professional-body logo is used in marketing to imply endorsement.

Who This Programme Is For

Officials and analysts already inside government or agencies
Civil-society and NGO staff working with policy
Regulators and delivery-unit staff
Graduates moving into policy work

How you can study

Recommended

Study online

100% tuition-free online

Online tuition is free. Online examinations are free. There is no exam fee for online study.

✦ Tuition: £0 / $0
✦ Examinations are free. There is no exam fee.
✦ Learn from anywhere · Live online seminars

Apply online →

On-campus study

Study at our campus

Prefer to learn at our Edinburgh campus? Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged. The published campus price is on each programme page.

✦ Tuition: £14,000 / US$18,000/year
✦ Location: 3 Lady Lawson St, Edinburgh EH3 9DS, United Kingdom
✦ Campus examinations are charged
✦ In-person seminars, library & student services

Apply for campus →

What You Will Learn

Analyse a policy problem with the right method — evaluation, cost-benefit, political economy
Read a budget and an expenditure line for what it actually funds
Design an implementation plan that survives contact with a delivery unit
Brief a minister, a board or a council in writing

Curriculum

Module 1: Policy Core

Code	Course	Credits · hours
BX70901	Public Policy Processes & Institutions Public Policy Processes & Institutions (BX70901) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Public Policy Processes & Institutions as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70901-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Public Policy Processes & Institutions BX70901-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Public Policy Processes & Institutions BX70901-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Public Policy Processes & Institutions BX70901-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Public Policy Processes & Institutions BX70901-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Public Policy Processes & Institutions BX70901-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Public Policy Processes & Institutions	3 · 30 h
BX70902	Political Economy & Development Political Economy & Development (BX70902) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Political Economy & Development as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70902-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Political Economy & Development BX70902-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Political Economy & Development BX70902-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Political Economy & Development BX70902-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Political Economy & Development BX70902-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Political Economy & Development BX70902-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Political Economy & Development	3 · 30 h
BX70903	Statistics & Data for Policy Statistics & Data for Policy (BX70903) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can define a measurable question, fit a method that can be checked, and report where it fails, using Statistics & Data for Policy as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a dataset description, a methods note, and one published evaluation. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a project note with the question, the method, the result, and the limitation. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. BX70903-M1 · The question, the unit of analysis, and data quality — Statistics & Data for Policy BX70903-M2 · Features, baselines, and error — Statistics & Data for Policy BX70903-M3 · Validation, leakage, and what the model must not decide — Statistics & Data for Policy BX70903-M4 · Monitoring, drift, and human review — Statistics & Data for Policy BX70903-M5 · Interpretation for a non-technical decision maker — Statistics & Data for Policy BX70903-M6 · A supervised project with method, result, and limitation — Statistics & Data for Policy	3 · 30 h
BX70904	Ethics, Positionality & Public Value Ethics, Positionality & Public Value (BX70904) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Ethics, Positionality & Public Value as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70904-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Ethics, Positionality & Public Value BX70904-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Ethics, Positionality & Public Value BX70904-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Ethics, Positionality & Public Value BX70904-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Ethics, Positionality & Public Value BX70904-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Ethics, Positionality & Public Value BX70904-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Ethics, Positionality & Public Value	3 · 30 h

Module 2: Methods

Code	Course	Credits · hours
BX70905	Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods (BX70905) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can read a set of figures, build a small case, and state which assumption moves the result, using Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses financial statements, a recognition note, and a risk report. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation that separates the decision, the numbers, and the risk. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer an accounting, audit, or financial-services licence. BX70905-M1 · Statements: income, position, and cash — Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods BX70905-M2 · Recognition, ratios, and what the numbers cannot show — Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods BX70905-M3 · Cash flows, discount rates, and sensitivity — Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods BX70905-M4 · Market, credit, and operating risk — Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods BX70905-M5 · Controls, exceptions, and reporting — Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods BX70905-M6 · An investment or operating recommendation — Impact Evaluation & Causal Methods	3 · 30 h
BX70906	Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting (BX70906) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70906-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting BX70906-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting BX70906-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting BX70906-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting BX70906-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting BX70906-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Cost-Benefit Analysis & Public Budgeting	3 · 30 h
BX70907	Qualitative Inquiry for Policy Qualitative Inquiry for Policy (BX70907) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Qualitative Inquiry for Policy as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70907-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Qualitative Inquiry for Policy BX70907-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Qualitative Inquiry for Policy BX70907-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Qualitative Inquiry for Policy BX70907-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Qualitative Inquiry for Policy BX70907-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Qualitative Inquiry for Policy BX70907-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Qualitative Inquiry for Policy	3 · 30 h
BX70908	Administrative & Survey Data Administrative & Survey Data (BX70908) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can define a measurable question, fit a method that can be checked, and report where it fails, using Administrative & Survey Data as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a dataset description, a methods note, and one published evaluation. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a project note with the question, the method, the result, and the limitation. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. BX70908-M1 · The question, the unit of analysis, and data quality — Administrative & Survey Data BX70908-M2 · Features, baselines, and error — Administrative & Survey Data BX70908-M3 · Validation, leakage, and what the model must not decide — Administrative & Survey Data BX70908-M4 · Monitoring, drift, and human review — Administrative & Survey Data BX70908-M5 · Interpretation for a non-technical decision maker — Administrative & Survey Data BX70908-M6 · A supervised project with method, result, and limitation — Administrative & Survey Data	3 · 30 h

Module 3: Delivery

Code	Course	Credits · hours
BX70909	Sector Policy Design & Implementation Sector Policy Design & Implementation (BX70909) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Sector Policy Design & Implementation as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70909-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Sector Policy Design & Implementation BX70909-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Sector Policy Design & Implementation BX70909-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Sector Policy Design & Implementation BX70909-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Sector Policy Design & Implementation BX70909-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Sector Policy Design & Implementation BX70909-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Sector Policy Design & Implementation	3 · 30 h
BX70910	Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability (BX70910) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can read a set of figures, build a small case, and state which assumption moves the result, using Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses financial statements, a recognition note, and a risk report. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a recommendation that separates the decision, the numbers, and the risk. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course does not confer an accounting, audit, or financial-services licence. BX70910-M1 · Statements: income, position, and cash — Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability BX70910-M2 · Recognition, ratios, and what the numbers cannot show — Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability BX70910-M3 · Cash flows, discount rates, and sensitivity — Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability BX70910-M4 · Market, credit, and operating risk — Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability BX70910-M5 · Controls, exceptions, and reporting — Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability BX70910-M6 · An investment or operating recommendation — Delivery Units, Performance & Accountability	3 · 30 h
BX70911	Regulation, Governance & Transparency Regulation, Governance & Transparency (BX70911) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Regulation, Governance & Transparency as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70911-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Regulation, Governance & Transparency BX70911-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Regulation, Governance & Transparency BX70911-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Regulation, Governance & Transparency BX70911-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Regulation, Governance & Transparency BX70911-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Regulation, Governance & Transparency BX70911-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Regulation, Governance & Transparency	3 · 30 h
BX70912	Communications & Stakeholders Communications & Stakeholders (BX70912) is a 3-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 30 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Communications & Stakeholders as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70912-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Communications & Stakeholders BX70912-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Communications & Stakeholders BX70912-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Communications & Stakeholders BX70912-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Communications & Stakeholders BX70912-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Communications & Stakeholders BX70912-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Communications & Stakeholders	3 · 30 h

Module 4: Integration & Capstone

Code	Course	Credits · hours
BX70913	Research Design for Policy Research Design for Policy (BX70913) is a 12-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 120 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Research Design for Policy as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70913-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Research Design for Policy BX70913-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Research Design for Policy BX70913-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Research Design for Policy BX70913-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Research Design for Policy BX70913-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Research Design for Policy BX70913-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Research Design for Policy	12 · 120 h
BX70914	Writing Briefings & Board Papers Writing Briefings & Board Papers (BX70914) is a 12-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 120 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Writing Briefings & Board Papers as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree. BX70914-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Writing Briefings & Board Papers BX70914-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Writing Briefings & Board Papers BX70914-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Writing Briefings & Board Papers BX70914-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Writing Briefings & Board Papers BX70914-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Writing Briefings & Board Papers BX70914-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Writing Briefings & Board Papers	12 · 120 h

Code

Course

Credits · hours

BX70913

Research Design for Policy

Research Design for Policy (BX70913) is a 12-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 120 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Research Design for Policy as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.

BX70913-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Research Design for Policy
BX70913-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Research Design for Policy
BX70913-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Research Design for Policy
BX70913-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Research Design for Policy
BX70913-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Research Design for Policy
BX70913-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Research Design for Policy

12 · 120 h

BX70914

Writing Briefings & Board Papers

Writing Briefings & Board Papers (BX70914) is a 12-credit course on PhD Public Policy, with 120 notional learning hours. By the end, students can say who decides, under which rule, and draft a note a professional could read, using Writing Briefings & Board Papers as the working context rather than a generic management example. The course is taught in three movements. First, students establish the terms and the decision the course is about. Second, they apply the method to a case, dataset, text, or design and compare it with a weaker alternative. Third, they revise the work after feedback and state what the conclusion cannot support. Preparation uses a statute or instrument, a case or policy paper, and a commentary. Seminar time is for the decision, not for reading the materials aloud. Assessment is a memo or draft clause with sources and a revision note. A pass requires a clear method, evidence a marker can check, and an explicit limit. Credit is not awarded for summary alone. This course is academic. It does not admit the student to practise law and it is not a qualifying law degree.

BX70914-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Writing Briefings & Board Papers
BX70914-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Writing Briefings & Board Papers
BX70914-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Writing Briefings & Board Papers
BX70914-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Writing Briefings & Board Papers
BX70914-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Writing Briefings & Board Papers
BX70914-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Writing Briefings & Board Papers

12 · 120 h

Career Paths

Policy analyst and adviser
Public administration and management
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
Programme and delivery management
Think-tank and research roles

Programme Highlights

Applied methods, not just theory
Public budgeting, evaluation and delivery
A capstone on an anonymised real policy or programme file
One academic standard across time zones

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.

Admission requirements

Academic entry

Master's degree in a related discipline from a recognised institution
Identity document for remote identity-checked assessment enrolment

English language

English proficiency: IELTS 6.0 or equivalent for research writing

Documents

Three academic references, at least one from a previous supervisor

Research & interview

Research proposal (1,500–2,000 words) aligned with faculty research areas
Interview with the doctoral admissions panel (online)
Evidence of prior research output (publications, thesis or professional reports) preferred

Programme questions

How long is the PhD Public Policy?

The published duration is 3–5 years. Teaching language: English (dual pathway: Edinburgh campus or tuition-free online; one academic standard). Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.

Can I study this from my country?

You may study this award fully online from your country, or — where published — on campus at Brigant. Online study does not require a student visa. Campus study may.

What does it cost?

Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.

What are the entry requirements?

Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents, research). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.

How is the programme assessed?

Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.

Will this award be recognised where I live?

Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. University of Brigant publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.

How do I apply?

Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@brigant.uk.

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