International Students

An International Programme for Future Global Leaders

Welcome to the University of Edinburgh’s Academy of Government. The Academy offers a distinctive approach to public policy that equips our international graduate students with the interdisciplinary knowledge, transferable skills and practical experience to launch successful public service careers in their home countries and internationally.
 

What is unique about the MPP at Edinburgh?

The MPP at Edinburgh is geared towards international students that wish to employ innovative new solutions when tackling policy problems at home or abroad. We bring an Enlightenment perspective to all of our teaching, based on the values of the Scottish Enlightenment that changed the world in the eighteenth century. Many of the world’s leading democracies – including the USA – have been built upon the principles of the Scottish Enlightenment. These are:

• the belief in people’s capacity to effect positive change in society;
• a desire to solve problems to benefit both individuals and society as a whole;
• a commitment to political, economic and social justice and improvement;
• the application of reason and empirical study to problem-solving
• the nurturing of curious minds, that seek to question the world around them

From the vantage point of being next-door to one of the world’s newest parliaments – the Scottish Parliament – we also adopt a unique perspective on policy-making. We understand that public policy challenges in the 21st century demand action at, and collaboration across, multiple levels of government – local, region/state/provincial, national, supranational and international. Our recognition of this complex reality shapes our innovative curriculum. Whether you plan a career in an international organization, a national government, a local/state or regional government or a think-tank or non-profit organization, our MPP programme will give you the analytical and practical skills to understand the interactions between multiple levels of government. Our focus is therefore, at one and the same time, global and local in recognition of the dynamic processes of government existing in the 21st century.

We also want to put our students at the heart of the policy-making process in real terms, through our programme of Guest Policy Practitioners that teach on every one of our courses, thus giving an ‘insider’s view’ of the workings of government and public services; our behind the scenes visits to the Scottish Parliament and Government; and through the three-month student placement in a policy organisation which forms part of our Capstone Project.
 

What will the MPP prepare me for?

The Academy’s MPP is committed to putting theory into practice. In your classes and lectures you will engage with both leading academic experts from across the University and with senior practitioners. Our classes are focused on rigorous and informed debate but always with a practical focus. At the Academy you will be encouraged to engage in free and independent thought, challenge conventional wisdoms, and enter debate with senior practitioners and academics on a variety of public policy challenges.

On graduating from the programme you will be at an advantageous starting point in pursuing a career of public service at home or abroad. You will possess transferable skills in political analysis, economics, and statistics. You will possess in-depth knowledge of a range of public policy issues from global health policy to environmental policy, global development policy to European Union policy. You will also be trained in leadership and communications skills.

With an Edinburgh MPP, you will be qualified for a career in all aspects of public service. This includes working at the local, state/provincial, regional and national/federal levels of government; supranational and international organizations such as NATO, the United Nations and the European Union; domestic and international think-tanks and lobbying organizations; public sector delivery bodies such as healthcare and educational organizations; and the non-profit sector, NGOs and civil society organizations.

Furthermore, graduates of the Edinburgh MPP instantly become part of an extensive global network of policy professionals and Alumni.
 

Why should I study for an MPP in Edinburgh?

The Academy has a global profile, both in terms of its student body and its curriculum. The University of Edinburgh is an institution globally recognised for its excellence and is ranked in the world’s top 20 and 6th in Europe*. Edinburgh is an outstanding location to pursue the study of public policy. Our faculty have strong links with the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament which sit on our door-step, the seat of UK Government and Parliament in London, institutions of the European Union in Brussels, as well as development organizations in Kenya and policy organisations in the USA. Our access to these institutions, as well as various non-governmental bodies, makes for both innovative, practice-focused seminars and exciting, cutting-edge Capstone placements.

The city of Edinburgh – capital of Scotland – is a key hub in a system of multi-level government that incorporates London, Brussels, international organisations and transnational policy networks. Edinburgh is regularly voted one of the world’s top ten places to live, owing to its outstanding beauty and high quality of life. Edinburgh is also easily accessible from London, Brussels and other European capital cities.
 

How do I apply as an international student?

Comprehensive information about the international application process, covering all regions of the globe, can be found here.

For more information on the curriculum, admissions, tuition and expenses, please visit to the MPP Homepage.

 

* World University Rankings, 2011-2012

This page was published on 30 November 2011