The MA in Public Policy prepares its graduates to work in government, public bodies, civil society organisations, NGOs, International organisations, businesses and other fields and organisations that require an expert understanding of policy-making. It offers specialised modules in specific policy areas including: Environmental and Rural policy; Peace, Security and Development; Gender; Disability policy; Ageing policy; Child and Family policy. At a time when policy formulation and implementation is increasingly subject to political scrutiny and negotiation, the course emphasizes the political contexts in which policy is made and implemented and the development of digital government and new forms of public consultation and participation.
The programme is aimed at Arts graduates seeking a qualification that will help them to secure policy-related employment; graduates from other fields including Commerce and Law seeking to improve their employment prospects; graduates interested in pursuing PhD research in an area where University of Galway has specialist policy expertise.
The objectives of the programme are to:
Course Outline

Equip students with theoretical knowledge of policy-making processes and key issues such as participation, implementation, and evaluation.
Enhance students' skills in communication, innovative thinking, negotiation, presentation, teamwork, and writing skills
Offer direct experience of contributing to policy-making processes, analysing current policies, and suggesting solutions to policy problems while working in teams and as individuals.
Introduce students to expert knowledge on a range of key national and international policy issues.

Introduce students to the concept of participation in policy-making, with particular emphasis on the forms of advocacy and lobbying.


The MA in Public Policy prepares its graduates to work in government, public bodies, civil society organisations, NGOs, International organisations, businesses and other fields and organisations that require an expert understanding of policy-making. It offers specialised modules in specific policy areas including: Policy in the Digital Age; Advocacy and Development; Gender; Peace and Conflict; Disability; Ageing; Child and Family; Ocean and Marine; Urban policy; Social Welfare; Agriculture; Negotiation; as well as an optional field trip to Brussels to examine EU policy-making. At a time when policy formulation and implementation is increasingly subject to political scrutiny and negotiation, the course emphasizes the political contexts in which policy is made and implemented and the development of digital government and new forms of public consultation and participation.
Career Opportunities
This programme will be particularly useful for students wishing to work in national or local government, public bodies, civil society organisations, NGOs, European and international organisations (eg EU, Council of Europe, UN agencies) businesses (eg Google, Facebook, LinkedIn), public affairs, consultancy, public relations, journalism, and other fields and organisations that require an expert understanding of policy-making