Centre for Financial & Management Studies (CeFiMS) - University of London

Programmes in Public Policy and Management

- MSc Public Policy and Management

- Postgraduate Diploma in Public Financial Management

- Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management

- Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Studies

Are these programmes for me?

Successful civil servants, NGO workers, politicians and their advisers all need to have a wide range of skills and knowledge to equip them to meet the ever-changing challenges of public policy and management. This includes the evolving interface between public agencies and the private and voluntary sector.

The MSc in Public Policy and Management equips you to manage programmes and advise on policy in a variety of settings.

*New for 2007*
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Financial Management will enable you to make financial decisions and policy choices in the financing and management of public infrastructure and services.

*New for 2007*
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management provides a preparation for managing and advising public sector organisations. There is an emphasis on managing people, managing change, and designing and using information systems.

*New for 2008*
The Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Studies will introduce you to a range of theories and approaches to public policy, plus the ability to analyse policy problems and create processes to arrive at policy solutions.

Programme aims

MSc in Public Policy and Management
Gives you the analytical tools needed to understand the principles and methods of modern policy management in the public sector.

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Financial Management
Enables you to make financial decisions and policy choices in the financing and management of public infrastructure and services.

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management
Offers an excellent preparation for managing and advising public sector organisations.

Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Studies
Enables you to contribute to the policy process in government, non-governmental organisations and consultancy practice, and have a depth of knowledge in a range of policy areas.

Programme summary

	You study	Study period	Cost
MSc	7 courses	2-5 years	£7,915
Postgraduate Diploma	4 courses	1-5 years	£4,665
Individual Professional Courses	IPCs offer people in the financial and management sector an effective form of flexible professional education. It is also an ideal option if you're keen to sample the programme. The fee per course is £1,040.

Prestige

The programme has been developed by academics at the Centre for Financial and Management Studies (CeFiMS), a postgraduate research and teaching department within SOAS, University of London. Staff at CeFiMS have international reputations and are involved in researching their subjects at the very limits of current knowledge.

Career progression

• Graduates of these programme will be well prepared for high positions in government, public services, international organisations and NGOs.

• The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Financial Management is endorsed by the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA). if you are already an ACCA member the qualification will be a useful way to improve your expertise and enable you to practise in government finance.

Comprehensive study materials and support

You will be sent all the study materials that you need to complete the programme, which may typically include:

• A core text specially written for the course. This is the backbone of the course and is comparable to a series of lectures. It is organised into eight study units, each of which lasts one week.

• Textbooks and collections of readings.

• Online and multimedia tools. Some courses provide video lectures on DVD. These expand on issues that have been raised in the course and relate the material to 'real world' examples. The Online Study Centre (OSC) provides instant access to course materials and also offers academic, administrative and technical support.

• A study calendar for each course to help you organize your time. This sets out a schedule for coursework and assignment deadlines.

• A Student Handbook explaining the nature of distance learning and the specific character of the programme. The University also send you a Study Skills textbook and an audio CD that offers tips on effective distance learning.

Your time commitment

This will depend partly on choices you make, but most students take three years to complete an MSc and two years to finish the Postgraduate Diploma. The study calendar consists of five sessions per year. Each session is devoted to a specific course and lasts eight weeks (with the exception of the fifth session which runs for 10 weeks). During each session you will need to allocate between 15-20 hours per week to complete the programme.

Summary of key dates

Application deadline	17 November 2008 for a January 2009 start	31 March 2009 for a June 2009 start
Enrolment deadline	19 December 2008 for a January 2009 start	4 May 2009 for a June 2009 start
Programme starts	January 2009	June 2009
Examinations	October