MSc Evaluation and Policy Analysis

The Policy, Evaluation and Research Unit in the Department of Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University is currently recruiting highly motivated graduates to its MSc Evaluation and Policy Analysis, starting in September 2024.

This course will be of interest to you if you are looking to develop a career in evaluation and quantitative analysis. The demand for these skills can be seen across commissioning organisations including local authorities and health commissioners, providers in the public, voluntary and private sectors, and specialist agencies that provide evaluation services to commissioners and providers. In your final project you’ll have the opportunity to explore an evaluation and/or policy issue that is relevant to your career goals and be supported to achieve real-world impact on policy and practice, giving you direct experience in the fields of evaluation and policy.

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the use of evaluation and quantitative analysis. Commissioners of public services, and public, voluntary and private sector service providers have been required to justify more rigorously their proposed use of public funds and to demonstrate the effectiveness of previous interventions to justify future plans. Working as an evaluator in this environment requires skills in quantitative methods and the ability to evaluate interventions rigorously, using a combination of primary research methods such as surveys and interviews and administrative data. This course aims to provide a core foundation in a wide range of research methods with a clear emphasis on quantitative methods, and specialist understanding and skills in evaluation. The opportunity will also be available to study cutting-edge methods such as randomised control trials and address current challenges around complexity.

You’ll be taught by academics based in the Policy Evaluation Research Unit (PERU), an internationally recognised evaluation and policy-research unit. PERU members have a 12-year track record of research in the UK and Europe and links with institutions in the US and Southeast Asia. The unit regularly undertakes evaluations for UK government departments, NGOs, local government and other local delivery organisations, plus applied research and evaluation projects in Europe. This means that you’ll have the opportunity to undertake projects in real world settings through the connections PERU has with organisations.

There is the option to study this course in one year full time or two years part time and it’s designed to accommodate people who work and cannot relocate to Manchester, with face-to-face teaching taking place in three or four short, intensive periods on campus, combined with regular lectures and seminars online throughout the year.

Manchester Metropolitan University offers a range of scholarships to help with the cost of studying, for MSc Evaluation and Policy Analysis this includes the Aziz Foundation Scholarship for British Muslims.

For information on scholarships available to international students click here. Qualifying UK students can apply for a postgraduate loan. Find further information here.

Manchester Met alumni who commence a taught postgraduate qualification with us in academic year 2024/25 may be eligible for a 20% discount on course fees. For more information, click here.

Visit the course page for further information about admission, course content, fees and career prospects.

How to apply:

Applications are open now and the quickest way to apply for this course is to apply online.

For further information, please contact

Professor Will Cooke or Sandor Gellen

E-mail: W.cooke@mmu.ac.uk or S.Gellen@mmu.ac.uk

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