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Sussex's Governance, Development and Public Policy MA equips you to analyse how governance shapes development and public policy in real-world contexts. It is ideal for graduates and professionals aiming to become policy-makers, researchers or advisers in government, international organizations, NGOs, and development agencies, blending theoretical insight with applied policy analysis and hands-on research. Curriculum structure: In the first year, you’ll build a solid foundation through core modules and tailor your study with a range of options. Core modules provide grounding in governance and development theory, while Spring options allow you to explore topics such as Climate Change and Development, Public Finance: How governments raise and spend money, Governance of Violent Conflict and (In)security, Health and Development, and Theory and Practice of Impact Evaluation. In the second year (for part-time study or the continuation of your full-time journey), you’ll deepen your understanding through additional options and practical projects, including Paid project opportunities with UK employers, supported by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team as you prepare for professional roles. Focus areas: Learning outcomes include the ability to translate theories and innovations into effective policies and practices, and to be prepared to become a policy-maker of the future, supported by skills developed in workshops such as Training for Applied Critical Thinking and Governance in Practice. Professional alignment (accreditation): Not available. Reputation (employability rankings): 1st in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). The program and its outcomes are reinforced by awards and recognition such as the AGCAS Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award (2024) and the Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award (2024).
Experiential learning in this program centers on applying policy analysis to real-world challenges and building professional skills through structured experiences. Students gain practical insights and hands-on capabilities via paid project opportunities with UK employers, as well as a framework of workshops and seminars designed to sharpen applied policy thinking. The Careers and Entrepreneurship ecosystem at Sussex supports you to translate your learning into impact, with access to mentorship, entrepreneurship initiatives, and tailored career guidance within the IDS (Institute of Development Studies) community and the university’s broader networks. - Paid project opportunities with UK employers - Weekly workshops and seminars: Training for Applied Critical Thinking; Governance in Practice - One-to-one appointments with a Faculty Careers Consultant - Careers and Employability Centre support - StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab for entrepreneurial development - Access to IDS staff, fellows, and related policy networks - Availability of additional costs for field trips and related activities (as applicable) - Software tools or laboratory facilities: Not specified
Graduate outcomes for this program typically include roles in academic research, management, and policy advisory positions focused on governance and public policy within government ministries, UN agencies, bilateral and multilateral organizations, NGOs, and professional networks. - University services to help employability: one-to-one appointments with a Faculty Careers Consultant; Careers and Employability Centre; StartUp Sussex; Ideas Lab - Employment stats and salary figures: Not available - University industry partnerships (specific): Not available - Long-term accreditation value: Not available - Graduation outcomes: Academic research careers, policy advising for government ministries, international organizations, NGOs, and related professional services **Further Academic Progression:** Not available
A UK 2:1 (Honours) degree or equivalent in relevant subjects. IELTS score of 7.0 with no sub-score below 6.5. Relevant work experience required.Degree requirements: Upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or aboveSubject-specific requirements: Social sciences or a related subject; other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standingAdmissions documents: CV detailing your experience (Yes, you must submit a CV as part of your application)Personal statement: Yes, approximately 800 words explaining why you are applying and relevance of previous development-related work experienceAustralia: Bachelors degree with second-class upper divisionAzerbaijan: Specialist Diploma with an average mark of at least 4/5 or 80%; Magistr with a minimum average mark of at least 81%Bahrain: Bachelors degree with CGPA 3.0/4.0 (Grade B)Bangladesh: A 4-year Bachelor degree with GPA of at least 3.3/4.0Brazil: Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 7.5 or 8 depending on your universityBrunei: Bachelors (Honours) degree with second class upper division or CGPA 3.1/4.0Canada: Bachelors degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)Chile: Licenciado with a final mark of at least 5-5.5/7 depending on your universityChina: Bachelors degree with a minimum overall mark of at least 70%-75% depending on your university; must provide Degree Certificate and Graduation Certificate, "Colombia: Licenciado with ‘Acreditacion de alta calidad and a CGPA of 3.5", Cyprus: Bachelors degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5Denmark: Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 7 (Good Performance)Ecuador: Licenciado with a final mark of at least 17/20Egypt: Bachelors degree from a university with an overall grade of at least 70-75% depending on your universityFrance: Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with a final mark of at least 13Germany: Bachelors degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or betterGhana: Bachelors degree from a public university with second-class upper divisionGreece: Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7Hong Kong: Bachelors (Honours) degree with second-class upper divisionIndia: Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 55-70% depending on your university, "Indonesia: Bachelors degree from an A accredited university with CGPA 3.0/4.0", Iran: Bachelors degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15Italy: Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105Japan: Bachelors degree with a minimum C/GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalentJordan: Bachelors degree with a CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 80%Kazakhstan: Bachelors degree with a minimum overall mark of 4.0/5 or CGPA 3.33/4Kenya: Bachelors (Honours) degree with a second-class upper divisionKuwait: Bachelors degree with a CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or B+Lebanon: Bachelors degree with a CGPA 3.5/4.0 or 14/20Malawi: Masters degree, depending on your universityMalaysia: Bachelors degree with a CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0Mexico: Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8/10Nepal: A 4-year Bachelor degree with GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 65%Nigeria: Bachelors degree with a second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0-3.49/4.0, 3.5-4.49/5.0 or 4.6-5.9/7.0Norway: Bachelors degree with an overall grade of BOman: Bachelors degree with a CGPA of at least 3.3/4.0Pakistan: Four-year Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 65%-70% or CGPA 2.6 - 2.8; Masters degree following a 3-year Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 65%-70% or CGPA 2.6 - 2.8Palestine: Bachelors degree with at least 80% or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0Paraguay: Bachelors with a final mark of at least 7.5/10Peru: Licenciado with a final mark of at least 13/20 from a public university or 15/20 from a private universityPhilippines: Masters degree with 1.5/5.0 (where 1 is the highest) or 3.7/4.0Qatar: Bachelors degree with an overall CPGA of at least 3 (on a scale of 4)Russia: Bakalavr or Specialist Diploma with an average mark of at least 4Saudi Arabia: Bachelors degree with a CGPA of 3.5/5.0 or 3/4.0Singapore: Bachelors (Honours) degree with a second-class upper division or CAP 4.0South Africa: Bachelors (honours) degree with a second-class division 1South Korea: Bachelors degree with a CGPA of at least 3.3/4.5 or 3.1/4.3 or B+Spain: Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4 or 7/10Sri Lanka: Bachelors Special degree with an upper second honoursSwitzerland: Licence or Diplôme with 5/6 or 8/10Taiwan: Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 67%-80% depending on your universityThailand: Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 2.8 - 3.0/4.0Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 2.8 - 3.0/4.0United Arab Emirates: Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalentUSA: Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 3.3/4.0Uzbekistan: Specialist Diploma with an average mark of at least 80%Vietnam: Bachelors degree (with a Graduate Thesis/research component) with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 7.0/10; must provide proof of graduation and transcriptZambia: Masters degree with GPA of 2.0/2.5 or equivalentZimbabwe: Bachelors (Honours) degree with second-class upper divisionMy country is not listed: Contact us; Your qualification should be in the social sciences or a related subject; other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standingSenior adviserAssistant director Foreign ServiceConsultantLegal and policy advisorm Senior citizen engagement incharge
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University of Sussex
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