The Policy Studies in Education MA provides you with the opportunity to develop a comprehensive theoretical understanding of contemporary education policy, drawing in particular on sociological perspectives. You will study important and topical themes within social science such as globalisation, governance, neoliberalism, privatisation, ‘race’, gender and social class with a particular emphasis on their effects on and relevance to shaping education policy and its implications for social justice in England and other countries.
This course is for people involved in or interested in contemporary education policy, administration, and governance. It will be suitable for those interested in the fields of Policy Studies, Education Studies and Sociology of Education, and in a professional or academic career in policy and education.
The course will equip graduates with the potential to become future policymakers, researchers, activists and leaders in the field of education and other relevant sectors. It also offers the potential for professional development for educational practitioners.
The international mix of students on the course results in graduates who take a broad critical perspective on policy issues and challenges and who are part of networks that can sustain them through their working and personal lives. They have transferable skills in teamwork, collaborative approaches to learning, analytical and critical thinking. They can summarise and apply diverse bodies of literature and theory, and present fluent written and spoken arguments and reflections.
Graduates of this course are currently working across a broad range of areas. Some are working in a variety of roles in schools, colleges or universities, while others have jobs in education and other sectors of policy and policy-making in different organisations, both in the UK and overseas. Other graduates have chosen further study at doctoral level, and some have then moved into academia. Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of graduates in the 2018–2024 cohorts.
Taught at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), which for the 13th year running remains the top place in the world to study Education ( QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 ).