The MPA Programme Aims
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to provide an academically challenging education, in a research-active environment,
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to intellectually enable students from a wide range of countries;
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to provide access to the wider context of the social sciences;
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to enable students intending to pursue higher degrees to develop the necessary analytical and theoretical sophistication, and breadth and depth of understanding, within their field of study, thus enabling all students whatever their chosen career to become articulate, clear thinking individuals, able to critically analyse complex bodies of material;
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to provide advanced post-graduate education and research training in the social sciences, of the highest academic standards;
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to provide specialist study opportunities to students with a first degree in a cognate area.
The MPA Programme Objectives
Students completing the MPA degree should possess:
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an advanced, critical understanding of the main theoretical and policy debates within public and economic policy;
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specialist knowledge of at least one sub-field of their chosen area;
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the ability to work independently, employing an empirical and analytical knowledge of their field in the planning and presentation of succinct, precise arguments - written and oral;
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the ability to design and independently execute a dissertation on an approved subject of their own choice within their field;
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a critical understanding of the main methodological and philosophical problems involved in research in their field;
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knowledge of the skills appropriate to research in their fields, and detailed knowledge of the main findings and theories associated with the particular focus of their degree.