Formulated
for people working in policy-making and advisory capacities,
the Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Studies provides an
overview of the variety of approaches to public policy and
management, from a historical and comparative perspective.
The courses move through techniques of policy analysis and
implementation to discussion of particular policy issues.
The course materials cover a range of policy issues and a
variety of socio-economic contexts, levels of government and
regime types.
Programme
aims
This
programme enables you to contribute to the policy process in
government, non-governmental organisations and consultancy
practice, and have a depth of knowledge in a range of policy
areas.
Programme
summary
|
|
You study
|
Study period
|
Cost (2010 -2011)
|
|
Postgraduate
Diploma |
4 courses
|
1-5 years |
£4,640 |
|
Individual
Professional Courses |
You can take up to
three individual courses from this distance
learning programme. Each course lasts eight
weeks and you are registered for two years. The
fee per course is £1,160. |
Prestige
The
programme has been developed by academics at the Centre for
Financial and Management Studies (CeFiMS), a postgraduate
research and teaching department within SOAS, University of
London. Staff at CeFiMS have international reputations and
are involved in researching their subjects at the very
limits of current knowledge.
Career
progression
Graduates
of this programme will be well prepared for high positions
in government, public services, international organisations
and NGOs.
Comprehensive study materials and support
You will be
sent all the study materials that you need to complete the
programme, which may typically include:
-
A core
text specially written for the course. This is the
backbone of the course and is comparable to a series of
lectures. It is organised into eight study units, each of
which lasts one week.
-
Textbooks and collections of readings.
-
Online
and multimedia tools. Some courses provide video
lectures on DVD. These expand on issues that have been
raised in the course and relate the material to 'real
world' examples. The Online Study Centre (OSC) provides
instant access to course materials and also offers
academic, administrative and technical support.
-
A study
calendar for each course to help you organize your time.
This sets out a schedule for coursework and assignment
deadlines.
-
A
Welcome Pack is available online, which provides you
with resources and tips on effective distance learning.
The University will also send you a Study Skills
textbook to help you manage your studies.
Your time
commitment
This will
depend partly on choices you make, but most students take
two years to finish the Postgraduate Diploma. The study
calendar consists of five sessions per year. Each session is
devoted to a specific course and lasts eight weeks (with the
exception of the fifth session which runs for 10 weeks).
During each session you will need to allocate between 15-20
hours per week to complete the programme.
Summary of key dates
|
Application deadline |
6
September 2010 |
22
November 2010 |
1 April
2011 |
| Programme
starts |
November 2010
|
January 2011
|
June 2011
|
| Examinations |
October
|
