Master of Science by Coursework in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation (EBSIPE)

Differences from 2019/20 to 2024/25

  • 1. The programme shall be under the supervision of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of Social Policy and Intervention. 

  • 2. Candidates must follow for at least three terms a course of instruction in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation.

  • 23. Every candidate will be requiredassessed to satisfy the examiners in the followingby:  

    • (i) A compulsory core paper, in either Evidence-Based Social Intervention  or Policy Evaluation, examined by a three-houran unseen written examination;  

    • (ii) A compulsory Evaluation Research Methods paper, forassessed whichby studentsthree will be examined on the basis of a methods work bookassignments (consisting of two one research methods essays and one statistics assignment each of up to 3,000 words; and two critical appraisals, one qualitativeessay (up to 2,500 words), one statistics assignment (up to 3,000 words), and onea quantitativequalitative critical appraisal (up to 2,500 words)). These are to be submitted throughout the year anonymously and in Word format via WebLearn, accompanied by confirmation that it is the candidate’s own work. 

    • (iii) One Optionoption paper examinedassessed by a three-hour4,000 unseenword writtencoursework examination;assignment to be submitted by no later than noon on Tuesday of week 0 of Trinity term. The list of options will be published annually by Friday of week 6 of Michaelmas term. In exceptional circumstances and with the permission of the Course Director, the option paper may be from subjects outside this list.

    • (iv) One research thesis on a topic related to, and attentive to  evidence-based intervention, policy evaluation or evaluation methods. The subject of the thesis must be approved by the supervisor on behalf of the Department and should not exceed 10,000 words in length.

  •  The thesis must be submitted viaby WebLearn no later than noon on 15 August or the weekday nearest to 15 August of the year in which the examination has been taken. The thesis must be anonymous, and submitted in Word format. Successful candidates may be required to deposit a hard copy of their thesis in the Social Science Library.

  • 34. All assessments must be submitted A candidate who failsusing the examinationUniversity mayapproved enteronline submission system. Technical information on the requirements for oneonline subsequentsubmissions examination only,is provided this is within six terms of his or her initial registration. A candidate who has attained a satisfactory mark in any one of the fourCourse components (i through iv) of the examination in item 2 above will not be required to retake the component(s) that received a pass markHandbook.

  •  4.  Each candidate must attend a viva voce when required to do so by the examiners.

  • 5. The examiners may awardexamine aany distinctioncandidate forviva excellence in the whole examinationvoce.

    • Schedule

    • (i) Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation (core course): Candidates will be expected to have a knowledge of major theories underlying evidence-based social interventions or policy evaluation research. The course will use exemplary intervention and evaluation research studies to illustrate important theoretical, ethical, methodological, and practice issues.

    • (ii) Evaluation Methods (core course): Candidates will be expected to have a knowledge of major quantitative and qualitative techniques, and research designs for understanding social problems and evaluating social interventions and policies. In the event of failure of any of the five methods workbook assignments, candidates are able to resubmit that assignment once. The maximum mark awarded for re-submitted elements is 50 except in exceptional circumstances. Candidates must pass all five assignments to successfully pass the methods workbook.

    • (iii) Option course: This will enable students to link evidence-based solutions to a range of social problems. The list of options will be published annually by Friday of the sixth week of Michaelmas Full Term in the Department of Social Policy and Intervention. Candidates are expected to take options offered through the EBSIPE course. Only in exceptional circumstances and with the special permission of the Course Director, the optional paper may be from subjects outside this list.