Why study this course?
New MPP degree for 2026
A 10% tuition fee award will be made to all students who apply, are accepted, and pay their pre-payment fee on or before Friday 28 November 2025.
Register your interest for the course or apply now.
The St Andrews Master of Public Policy (MPP) will prepare you to address real-world problems using state-of-the art tools. You will be immersed in data analysis and learn to produce credible evidence for sound decision and policy making.
Hallmarks of the programme
- No prior undergraduate knowledge in economics, mathematics or statistics required, only interest and motivation to do quantitative policy analysis.
- Built from the ground up to incorporate Python and generative artificial intelligence as a coding tool for data analysis.
- Frequent writing assignments to hone communication and presentation skills.
- Substantial opportunities for networking, including biweekly Policy Seminars. The capstone Policy Symposium brings together students, academics and policymakers in a two-day event at the end of the programme.
- One of a handful of MPP programmes in the UK, unique in its focus on data analysis and policy evaluation.
- Earn an MPP in one calendar year.
Contact details for Programme Director, Professor David Jaeger, are available on his profile. You can also find out about his teaching and research interests.
Teaching
Interactive classes taught by world-leading lecturers that encourage independent and critical thinking. Instruction focuses on real-world examples and incorporates case studies with data analysis whenever possible.
Class size
Ranging from 5 to 30 students.
Policy-in-Practice project
Instead of a dissertation, you will work in groups in the Policy-in-Practice project to address a policy question for a domestic or international client.
Assessment
A mix of data analysis, written work, exams and group projects that allows you to demonstrate your skills in ways that are relevant to your future working life.
Modules
You will select from two electives in the second semester. Each of the electives will deal with a different area of policy. You will familiarise yourself with the fundamental policy interventions in the respective fields and the data and methods that are used to analyse those policies.
The list of module options is indicative. The exact list of electives will depend on staffing availability and staff interests but should include a mix of domestic and foreign policy alternatives. You may also be permitted to register for International Relations MLitt modules, depending on space availability.
Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue.
-
- Causal Inference for Policy Analysis: provides foundational training in techniques for policy analysis on experimental and non-experimental data. The goal for students is to emerge from the module with a 'toolkit' of methods for estimating plausibly causal effects of policies.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: presents the fundamental methods of cost-benefit analysis, including understanding its strengths and limitations in application to policies.
- Fundamentals for Policy Analysis: Coding, Mathematics, Statistics: prepares you for the term-time coursework in the MPP programme, introducing you to data analysis in Python, mathematics and statistics. The aim the module is to provide you with the tools you will need to complete the MPP successfully in a low-stakes environment. It will lay the groundwork for much of the subsequent coursework.
- Microeconomics for Policy Analysis: introduces you to the basics of microeconomics with an emphasis on policy applications. The emphasis will be on case studies that illustrate the key theoretical points.
- Policy Ethics: surveys topics relating to the ethics of policy and policy research, including human subjects research, professional ethics, ethics and economic methods, and fundamental questions such as distributive justice, democracy and the nature of expertise.
- Policy-in-Practice: is devoted to the preliminary work you will do for your Policy-in-Practice project. In addition to addressing common issues like data access and missing data, the module will cover data manipulation and data visualisation.
- Policy-in-Practice Project: is the culmination of the MPP when you will work in small groups to produce a policy analysis report for a domestic or international client under the direction of an academic staff member. Presentations of the reports will take place during the annual Policy Symposium in August.
Either
- Advanced Data Analysis: develops data analysis skills beyond those in Causal Inference for Policy Analysis. Potential topics include machine learning for classification, causal machine learning, robust inference, and unconventional data sources, for example, web scraping and text sources.
or
- Survey Design and Analysis: covers the design, implementation and analysis of online, including using Qualtrics, and in-person surveys.
-
- Behavioural Public Policy: examines how policies have been informed by the behavioural sciences through 'nudges', 'shoves', and 'budges'.
- Education Policy: examines the role of education in society and the impact of education policies on students, parents, and the economy.
- Empirical Analysis of Conflict and Terrorism: examines conflict and terrorism from an empirical perspective.
- Health Policy: examines the relationship between health, healthcare and policies.
- Immigration Policy: examines immigration policy and the impact of immigration on sending and destination countries.
What it will lead to
Careers
The St Andrews MPP will prepare you for careers in public service, non-profits and the private sector. Examples include:
Public sector
- Policy Analyst
- Budget Analyst
- Survey Designer
Non-profit sector
- Impact Evaluation Specialist
- Programme Design or Programme Director
Private sector
- Data Analyst
- Policy Advisor or Consultant
Why St Andrews?
Community and networking
You will be part of a community of scholars who are interested in making public policies more effective and evidence-based, while gaining quantitative skills.
You will meet policy-makers and practitioners at the capstone Policy Symposium, a two-day event held at the end of your degree. Biweekly policy seminars will bring leading academics to St Andrews to present cutting-edge research on policy evaluation and analysis.
Alumni
As a graduate of St Andrews, you become part of a prestigious and globally connected alumni community. This lifelong membership offers access to career services, networking opportunities and exclusive resources. Engaging with the University’s worldwide alumni network ensures you remain connected to St Andrews, no matter where your career takes you.
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in any subject. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Application requirements
- CV
- a detailed personal statement which includes an explanation of why you want to study the programme, why you want to enrol at St Andrews, and future career plans
- an original signed academic reference
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.
Fees and funding
UK: £16,250
Rest of the world: £32,500
Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Scholarships and funding
Scholarships are available from a variety of sources:
- GREAT Scholarship
- Chevening Scholarship
- St Leonard's funding opportunities
- Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)
- A 10% tuition fee award will be made to all students who apply, are accepted, and pay their pre-payment fee on or before Friday 28 November 2025. This is applied automatically and is subject to our published Award General Terms and Conditions. Alumni of St Andrews may also be eligible for the Recent Graduate Discount on the remaining tuition fee balance. The award may not be used in conjunction with any additional scholarships or discounts.
Contact us
- Postgraduate online information events
- The School can help with course content, teaching and other topics: ask the School
- Ask University Admissions about how to apply, fees, scholarships and other topics
Start your journey
Legal notices
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the course archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.
Page last updated: 14 November 2025