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Regulations for the Degree of Master Of Public Policy

General Regulations

§1. Degree of Master of Public Policy

  • 1. Any person who has been admitted to the status of student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy, who has satisfied the conditions prescribed by this section, and who has satisfied the examiners as required, may supplicate for the Degree of Master of Public Policy.

  • 2. The Social Sciences Board with the concurrence of the Education Committee shall have power to make and vary such regulations as may be necessary for carrying out the duties laid upon it and upon the Registrar by this section.

  • 3. A student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy who is not a graduate of the University may wear the same gown as that worn by Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

§2. Admission of Candidates

  • 1. A candidate seeking admission as a Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy shall apply to the Blavatnik School of Government. Candidates for admission shall be required to provide such information as the School may determine from time to time by regulation. Applicants shall in addition be required to undertake such other tests and meet such conditions as, subject to the approval of the Social Sciences Board, the School may determine by regulation.

  • 2. No person shall be admitted as a Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy under these provisions unless they are also a member of a college, hall, or other approved society, and unless the application for admission as a Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy has the approval of that society. The School shall forward the application to the candidate's society or to the society to which the candidate wishes to apply for membership, as appropriate; and admission by the School shall be conditional upon admission by an approved society.

  • 3. A student registered for any other graduate taught degree in the University may apply for transfer to the status of Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy. The School shall have power to make such transfer, provided that it is satisfied that the student is well qualified and well fitted to undertake the course of study for which application is made, and that the application has the support of the candidate's society. A candidate who transfers status in this way shall be reckoned as having held the status of Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy from the time of admission to their previous status, unless the School shall determine otherwise.

§3. Supervision of Students

  • 1. Every candidate on admission as a Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy shall be placed by the School under the supervision of a member of the University or other competent person and the School shall have power for sufficient reason to change the supervisor of any student or to arrange for joint supervision by more than one supervisor, if it deems necessary.

  • 2. It shall be the duty of the supervisor of a student entered upon a course of study to direct and superintend the work of the student, to meet the student regularly, and to undertake such duties as shall be from time to time set out in the relevant Policy issued by the Education Committee.

  • 3. The supervisor shall submit a report on the progress of a student to the School three times a year, and at any other time when the School so requests or the supervisor deems expedient. The supervisor shall communicate the contents of the report to the student on each occasion that a report is made, so that the student is aware of the supervisor's assessment of their work during the period in question. In addition, the supervisor shall inform the School at once if they are of the opinion that the student is unlikely to reach the standard required for the Degree of Master of Public Policy.

  • 4. It shall be the duty of every Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy to undertake such work and to attend such seminars and lectures as their supervisor requests; to attend such meetings with their supervisor as the supervisor reasonably arranges; and to fulfil any other requirements as set out in relevant Policy issued by the Education Committee.

§4. Residence and other Requirements

  • 1. No full-time Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy shall be granted leave to supplicate unless, after admission, they have kept statutory residence and pursued their course of study at Oxford for at least thirty-two weeks.

  • 2. No full-time Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy shall retain that status for more than six terms in all.

  • 3. A Student for the Degree of Master of Public Policy shall cease to hold that status if:

    • (a) they have been refused permission to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Public Policy;

    • (b) the School shall, in accordance with provisions set down by regulation by the Divisional Board, and after consultation with the student's society and supervisor, have deprived the student of such status;

    • (c) they have been transferred under the relevant provisions to another status; or

    • (d) they have not entered for the relevant examination within the time specified under this sub-section.

§5. Examination of Students

  • 1. The examination for the Degree of Master of Public Policy shall be under the supervision of the Blavatnik School MPP Committee. The subjects and methods of each examination shall be determined by regulation by the committee, which shall have power to arrange lectures and courses of instruction for the assessment.

  • 2. No candidate shall be permitted to take an examination under the preceding clause unless they have been admitted as a candidate for the examination in question by the committee and has satisfied any other conditions prescribed in the regulations for that course.

  • 3. If a candidate receives a failing mark for any of the summative assessments, they may resubmit or retake the assessment on one further occasion as set out in the course handbook.

Special Regulations

  • 1.  Candidates must complete and satisfy the examiners in the assessments associated with each of the following:

    • (a) all courses from the Schedule;

    • (b) four Applied Policy modules;

    • (c) two electives;

    • (d) an approved policy report.  Reports submitted on projects which have not been approved will deem the candidate ineligible to enter the report for examination and result in the assessment being failed;

    • (e) candidates may be required to attend an oral examination on any of the above.

  • 2. Full details of each course, the assessment methods, submission arrangements and deadlines will be published by the Blavatnik School MPP Committee before the first Monday of each term in which they are taken.

  • 3. The examiners may award a merit for work of particularly high quality in the whole examination or a distinction for excellence in the whole examination. Candidates who have initially failed any element of assessment shall not normally be eligible for the award of merit or distinction.

  • 4. In exceptional circumstances, a candidate wishing to take an examination later than the one to which they have been admitted may do so by application to the Chair of Examiners, via their College Senior Tutor or Tutor for Graduates.

Schedule

Economics

Evidence and Public Policy

Foundations

Law and Public Policy

Policy Challenge I

Policy Challenge II

The Politics of Policymaking