International Public Policy

Overview
The Postgraduate Diploma in International Public Policy at Queen's offers a high-quality programme of academic and personal development, providing students with the tools to understand and influence the contemporary policy problems faced by governments globally.

Students undertaking the Postgraduate Diploma programme will engage with a wide variety of theories, concepts and cases in the study of public policy both domestically and internationally, and will be exposed to a variety of research methods. As they progress through the programme, students can choose to examine public policy issues across a range of international policy domains including: climate change, global ethics, security and terrorism, policing and crime, youth and social justice, and EU governance.

As well as hearing from guest speakers, there will also be a study visit to the EU institutions in Brussels and the OECD in Paris to better understand the interplay of public policy between national and international levels.

The programme uniquely offers opportunities for personal as well as academic advancement opportunities, and participants on the Postgraduate Diploma can avail of the opportunity to undertake the Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Learning and Teaching
Students benefit from intensive teaching by a wide and varied range of QUB academics with strong publishing profiles and international reputations in their areas of expertise, and will be assessed through a range of examination methods.

The objectives of the programme are to:
i. Provide advanced study of contemporary public policy theory and practice at national and international levels through a range of specialised modules.

ii. Develop students' research and evaluative skills for understanding general and sectorally-specific public policy matters.

iii. Develop students' ability to analyse and understand global public policy problems in new ways by developing skills to think critically, rationally and rigorously through a range of diverse and innovative teaching methods.

iv. Encourage students to creatively and systematically apply public policy models and theories to contemporary issues and specialist fields in a local, national and/or international context.

v. Enhance students' transferable and intellectual skills, employability skills, as well as their continuing personal and professional development so as to enable them to work with self-direction and originality.

Specific Skills

Upon completion of the programme you will be well versed with the methodologies and approaches to international public policy and be able to research independently using the expert language of the subject.

The programme will enhance existing understanding of comparative methods, theoretical models, political and economic decision-making across the globe and public policy trends.

The programme will furthermore provide a firm grounding in the study the emerging structures of governance beyond the nation-state

It will introduce the learner not only to the specialist literature of the field, but to key debates in contemporary international public policy.

Course Structure
The Postgraduate Diploma in International Public Policy at Queen's offers a high-quality programme of academic and personal development, providing students with the tools to understand and influence the contemporary policy problems faced by governments globally.

Students undertaking the Postgraduate Diploma programme will engage with a wide variety of theories, concepts and cases in the study of public policy both domestically and internationally, and will be exposed to a variety of research methods. As they progress through the programme, students can choose to examine public policy issues across a range of international policy domains including: climate change, global ethics, security and terrorism, policing and crime, youth and social justice, and EU governance.

As well as hearing from guest speakers, there will also be a study visit to the EU institutions in Brussels and the OECD in Paris to better understand the interplay of public policy between national and international levels.

The programme uniquely offers opportunities for personal as well as academic advancement opportunities, and participants on the Postgraduate Diploma can avail of the opportunity to undertake the Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Students benefit from intensive teaching by a wide and varied range of QUB academics with strong publishing profiles and international reputations in their areas of expertise, and will be assessed through a range of examination methods.

Core Modules
To acquire foundational knowledge and understanding in International Public Policy, students will take three core modules:

• HAP7001 Approaches and Debates to Research Design (Semester 1)
• PAI7070 International Public Policy (Semester 1)
• PAI7030 International Political Economy (Semester 2)

Elective Modules
Elective Modules (60 CATS) – choose 3 from 14 options (20 CATS EACH)

Semester 1

• PAI7022 The Politics of the Republic of Ireland
• PAI7038 Theories of Comparative Politics
• PAI7051 Contemporary Security
• PAI7099 UK and EU
• PHL7056 Global Ethics

School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
• SOC9044 Youth and Social Justice

Semester 2
• PAI 7007 Global Terrorism
• PAI 7021 The Politics of Northern Ireland
• PAI 7027 Conflict Intervention
• PAI 7032 Gender, Politics and Democracy
• PAI 7036 The Politics and Political Economy of Energy and Low Carbon Energy Transitions
• PAI 7052 Institutions and Politics of the EU
• PAI 7100 Engaging Citizens in Democratic Institutions

LAW
Semester 2
• LAW 7825 Climate, Justice and Human Rights
• LAW 7841 Policing and Crime Prevention

This list of elective modules may vary from year to year.

Graduate
Normally a 2.2 Honours degree (minimum 57%) or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University or a 2.2 Honours degree (minimum 57%) or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject with relevant professional experience.

Applicants who do not meet these entry requirements may, at the discretion of the relevant programme convenor, be considered for admission on the basis of relevant work experience and/or an assessed piece of work.

The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL).

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal go.qub.ac.uk/pgapply and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 12th August 2022 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

1 academic year full-time, 2 academic years part-time.

Teaching Times
Afternoon and evenings.

Career Prospects
Employment after the Course
The Postgraduate Diploma in International Public Policy will be particularly beneficial for students wishing to work in public affairs, consultancy, NGOs, public relations, journalism or the public service at national or international levels.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/