Science and Technology Policy (with a professional placement year) MSc

at University of Sussex

Year 1
 

Core modules
 

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
 

Autumn teaching

• Democratizing Science and Technology

• Introductory Data Science for Innovation

• Policy Making and Policy Analysis

• Science, Technology and Innovations: Markets, Firms and Policies
   

Spring teaching

• Perspectives, Methods and Skills for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies
   

Summer teaching

• Dissertation (Science and Technology Policy)
   

Options
 

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
 

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
 

Spring teaching

• Artificial Intelligence and Policies for Technological Revolutions

• Industrial and Innovation Policy

• Infrastructure, Innovation and Sustainability

• Innovation for Sustainability

• Introduction to Quantitative Research

• Network Analysis and Infographics

• Quantitative Methods for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

• Transformative Innovation Policy for Inclusion

Summer teaching

• Dissertation STP - with Internship

Year 2
 

Core modules
 

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

All year

• MSc Professional Placement Year

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Challenge
 

Develop novel science, technology and innovation policy ideas. Compete for a prize for the idea with the most transformative potential. Our Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Challenge helps you develop skills in:
 

• presenting

• communication

• critical thinking.
   

You can work on your own or in a small team. At the end of the year, you'll pitch your idea to a panel of industry experts and a live audience.
 

The Challenge is optional. It's designed to enrich your academic studies and give you the opportunity to apply knowledge gained from the course. It'll also allow you to explore essay and dissertation topics.

Degree requirements    

Bachelors degree with a minimum overall mark of at least 50-65% depending on your university.
 

Subject-specific requirements
   
Your qualification can be in any subject but undergraduate degrees in the social sciences, natural science, humanities or engineering are particularly suitable. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
 

Please note    

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.
 

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)  Standard level (6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component).

Home students:

£15,300 for full-time students, including placement
 

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:

£15,300 for full-time students, including placement
 

International students:

£27,000 for full-time students, including placement

Scientific advice and evidence to inform public policies is in high demand. From climate change to cyber-security, poverty to pandemics, food technologies to fracking – controversies continue to erupt at the boundaries between science, politics and society. Across many countries, methods for scientific advice are being actively debated. We see a growing willingness to acknowledge uncertainties and experiment with new governance processes.
 

As an aspiring professional, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills on this course to analyse and guide policy, as well as to manage scientific change and technological innovation. Career paths could include public-, private- and charitable-sector organisations working to tackle society’s most important economic, social and environmental challenges. The Science and Technology Policy (with a professional placement year) MSc will also open up opportunities in a wide range of businesses and NGOs all over the world. And it’s an ideal grounding for PhD-level study and a career in academia.