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

• 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 an unseen written examination; 

  • (ii) A compulsory EvaluationResearch Methods paper, forassessed whichby students will be examined on the basis of three assignments (consisting of one research methods essay (up to 2,500 words) and, one statistics assignment (up to 3,000 words);, and a qualitative critical appraisal (up to 2,500 words)). These are to be submitted throughout the year anonymously and in Word format via the University approved online assessment platform. Technical information on the requirements for online submissions is provided in the Course Handbook. 

  • (iii) One Optionoption paper examinedassessed by ana unseen4,000 writtenword examination;coursework 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 uploadedsubmitted toby the University approved online assessment platform no later than noon on 15 August or the weekday nearest to 15 August of the year in which the examination has been taken.

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 three methods 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 three 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.