As part of your application, you are asked to provide the names and contact details of three referees.

For the MPP, you are required to provide at least one academic reference and it is up to you if you would like the rest to be academic or professional according to what you feel best showcases your interests, achievements and abilities.

For the MSc, we prefer you to have two academic referees where possible. Your academic referees should be individuals who have experience teaching you in a higher education context including those that have taught you on the MPP. Please note that it is usual to obtain references from either your supervisor or the course director of your previous degree.

No, you are required to submit at least one academic reference and you may be asked to provide one before your application can be assessed. Academic references are preferred but we will accept professional references which speak to your academic and analytical ability.

No, you are required to submit at least one academic reference and you may be asked to provide one before your application can be assessed. Academic references are preferred but we will accept professional references which speak to your academic and analytical ability.

If you are applying for the MSc at the same time as the MPP – through the Public Policy 1+1 route – then you can use the same 1,500-word policy brief for both applications. More information on the application criteria for supporting written work can be found on the Public Policy 1+1 graduate admissions website.

• Criteria for MPP
• Criteria for MSc

No, we would strongly encourage you to tailor one personal statement for the MPP and one personal statement for the MSc. The application and assessment processes for these courses are separate. More information on the criteria for your personal statement can be found on the Graduate Admissions website for each course.

• Criteria for MPP
• Criteria for MSc

There is no set level of experience required of applicants. The MSc in Public Policy Research is aimed at people who want to pursue a career in applied policy research that informs the understanding, design and implementation of effective public policy. The course is designed for people who have completed our MPP and who want to receive rigorous training in applied research methods. We aim to select outstanding candidates from around the world who show a commitment to improving government through high-quality research. Our aim is always to have a truly diverse classroom where students from all over the world with different values and perspectives challenge each other.

The MSc is not oriented toward theory and academic debates, but rather towards policy and impactful research. The degree brings together the research and teaching excellence of the Blavatnik School of Government with the specific needs of policy stakeholders from around the world. The purpose of the MSc in Public Policy Research is to provide an outstanding education to current and future public servants on how to conduct robust, applied and impactful research that can inform public policy-making – whether by clarifying the nature, extent and cause of major policy problems or by developing evidence-based strategies for their mitigation. Graduates of the degree will have a keen understanding of the relationship between research evidence and other major influences on the public policy process, such as ideologies and institutions; will be able to design and undertake a range of policy-relevant research methods to the highest standards; and will be skilled in effectively communicating research findings.

In addition to your academic supervisor, you will be allocated a Policy Advisor to provide additional advice when undertaking their research project. The Policy Advisor will normally be an experienced official from a relevant government or other public policy organisation whose remit covers the policy problem being researched by the student. Students will meet with their Policy Advisor up to three times during the year to discuss their thesis research.

There will be a range of expert practitioners who work with the School as Policy Advisors and you will normally be assigned based on your thesis research topic.

The short research proposal will be used only to help the Admissions Team assess applications for the MSc. The topic could be the one that you anticipate investigating for the research thesis or another topic in which you are especially interested. The proposal should briefly describe the policy problem to be researched, outline a research question to be investigated and propose the methods that would be employed to answer the research question (e.g. what sort of data do you want to make use of, how will you collect it and how do you envisage analysing it?). The research proposal must not under any circumstances exceed 1,500 words. Bibliographic references are not included in the word count.

In Michaelmas Term, you will take four compulsory modules: (1) Theories and Concepts in Public Policy Research and (2) Research Design will both comprise eight weekly 1.5-hour interactive lectures. (3) Qualitative Methods for Public Policy Research will comprise eight weekly 1-hour interactive lectures plus eight weekly 1-hour practical workshops. (4) Thesis Development Seminars will comprise eight weekly 1-hour classes. This results in a minimum of six hours per week of formal class contact time. You will also have two supervision sessions with your academic supervisor.

In Hilary Term, you will take three compulsory modules: (1) Research in a Public Policy Context will comprise eight weekly 1.5-hour interactive lectures and eight weekly 1.5-hour classes involving guest speakers working in public policy organisations. (2) Statistics for Public Policy will comprise eight weekly 1-hour interactive lectures plus eight weekly 1-hour practical workshops. This results in a minimum of five hours per week of formal class contact time.

In both Michaelmas and Hilary terms, students will also be expected to undertake at least six hours of reading, preparation or follow-up work for each module per week. In addition, you will continue working on your research thesis. One day per week will be available for extended reading, individual project study, workshops and attending seminars elsewhere in the University.

In Trinity Term, you will take one Option module involving eight weekly 2-hour classes. Most of the term will be devoted to (1) reading for their Option module; and (2) undertaking the reading, data collection data analysis and writing-up for your thesis research. They will also have two supervision sessions during the term with their academic supervisor. One day per week will be available for extended reading, individual project study, workshops and attending seminars elsewhere in the University.

There will also be a range of optional sessions throughout the year available through the School’s Professional Skills programme as well as other skills and research training courses within the University that are open to all students.

The MSc is a full-time course that requires your full attention. You will be expected to attend and participate fully in all lectures and seminars or participate in coursework activities throughout the term and you will spend a significant amount of time preparing for these and in independent study. It is very important to note that, compared with our MPP, the MSc has fewer taught classes but requires far more hours of independent study throughout the entire year.

You should regard studying for the MSc as a full-time occupation of at least 40 hours per week. We understand that some students may have obligations to their current employer which cannot be avoided, in which case we recommend that you limit this to eight hours per week in addition to the 40 hours studying for the MSc. For more information read Paid Work Guidelines for Oxford Graduate Students.

Please note that students should be available for class during the term dates – teaching will start no earlier than their beginning and finish no later than their end. Summative assessments may be due after these dates. They can be submitted from outside Oxford. MSc students will spend Trinity term and Summer term working on their thesis.

The MSc terms follow the standard ‘Full Term’ of eight weeks, which is the main teaching period.

• Michaelmas term, Monday 0th week to Friday 8th week
• Hilary term, Monday 0th week to Friday 8th week
• Trinity term, Monday 0th week to Friday 8th week

Provisional dates

2024–2025

1. Michaelmas term 2024, Sunday 13 October – Saturday 7 December
2. Hilary term 2025, Sunday 19 January – Saturday 15 March
3. Trinity term 2025, Sunday 27 April – Saturday 21 June

More information on term dates and Oxford’s numbering system can be found on the University’s website.

No, the Blavatnik School of Government receives a very large number of applications and enquiries each year. In the interest of making the admissions process as impartial and fair as possible, it is not possible to offer feedback to some candidates when the privilege cannot be extended to all. Therefore, the department cannot provide individual guidance on suitability for the course, but would rather encourage you to read the selection criteria carefully.

Yes, all applications are considered holistically against our selection criteria of academic excellence, commitment to public service and demonstrable leadership and impact. However, we would stress that the MSc and Public Policy 1+1 are very intensive programmes designed for students with a high level of academic ability. Please note also that the Blavatnik School of Government receives a very large number of applications and entry is extremely competitive.

You do not need to provide evidence of English language proficiency if you meet one of the following criteria:

A. Your first language is English and you have always been a resident and citizen of a majority English-speaking country recognised by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI); or

B. You are a current Oxford student applying for readmission.

C. You have completed a minimum of three years full-time higher education in English in a UKVI country, completing your course within approximately two years of the start date of the MPP. We will consider any degrees which finished in May 2022 or later for our 2024 intake.

If you do not meet one of the criteria above, you will have to provide evidence that you meet the English language requirement for the MSc or Public Policy 1+1.

Please see the central University application guide for full details of this requirement – please note that the School requires the higher level scores outlined. Where possible you should submit an English language proficiency test by the application deadline; if you have not yet taken a test or received your results your application will still be considered as long as all other required documents have been submitted. Any offer of a place will require you to submit English language test results at the required level by 31 May 2024. Please note that the Blavatnik School has a higher waiver standard than the central university and waivers are granted at the discretion of the department. If you wish to apply for a waiver you can submit this request either with your application or after you receive an offer.

Both the MSc and MPP are full-time programmes only. Due to the intensive nature of the courses, part-time study is not possible.

No, all applications are initially processed by the central Graduate Admissions office and the Blavatnik School of Government Admissions team cannot access applications until after the deadline has passed. For any technical difficulties or queries you should request support from the Graduate Admissions and Funding office.

Applicant interviews may be conducted as part of our admissions process. If we’d like further information at the time of assessing your application, we may get in touch via email to request this from you.

No, we aim to get decisions out as soon as possible but are unable to comment before all decisions have been communicated. All candidates will receive notification via email. For information on the timetable for admissions decisions please refer to the 'After you apply' pages on the Graduate Admissions and Funding website.

Yes, each year is a separate admissions cycle and being unsuccessful in one year does not mean that an application would also be unsuccessful in the next.

In May 2023 plans were announced by the UK government to make future changes to the current system which allows family members to apply to come to the UK. The government has committed to work with the higher education sector to explore alternative options to ensure the brightest and best students can continue to bring dependents when they study at the UK’s world-leading universities.

There are facilities available across the University for students with partners and families. Limited accommodation is available from colleges and the University Accommodation Office, and we would encourage you to investigate this once a college place has been confirmed. The University Student Union offers advice to students with families which provides information on childcare and schooling.

For information on colleges that are accepting MSc only students, please visit the Graduate Admissions college tab of the MSc.

For information on colleges that are accepting Public Policy 1+1 students, please visit the Graduate Admissions college tab of the 1+1.

Colleges act as a base for the duration of your time as a graduate student. They provide meals, chapels, social events, sporting clubs, and each has its own library (of varying degrees of size and specialism). Several colleges also provide accommodation for graduate students, either for one year, two years and exceptionally, three years. For further information please check the individual college websites for further details.

All the information you require about the MSc and Public Policy 1+1 is available on our website. However, it is possible to visit and speak to the admissions team about your application to the course (subject to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time). If you are going to be in Oxford please email the Blavatnik School of Government admissions team (admissions@bsg.ox.ac.uk) to book an appointment. Please note that it is not possible to meet with faculty to discuss your application and that appointment slots with the admissions team are limited.