Master of Policy Studies

Do you want to have more impact on policy? Do you need to increase your knowledge of current policy debates, how policy processes work, or how to do policy research? Are you hoping to move into a policy position or expand your policy role?

The Faculty of Education and Social Work provides several postgraduate awards in Policy Studies which are designed specifically for people working in the fields of education, social work, and the human services. We offer programs at Masters, Graduate Diploma and Graduate certificate levels.

Postgraduate Policy Studies students are drawn from a range of different backgrounds – teaching, social work services, the community sector, local government, state and federal government organisations, unions, peak bodies and non-government organisations. They also come from a diversity of countries. What students have in common is a strong sense of the relationship between policy and improving social outcomes for individuals and communities.

The postgraduate Policy Studies program is distinctive in its focus on the needs and interests of students from the fields of education, social work and human services.

The program assumes experience in a human service field and provides a unique opportunity to build on practice knowledge and is taught with the aim of generating tangible change in educational and/or social services. The teaching staff are experts in the fields of education and/or social services and have been actively involved in policy processes in their area.

The postgraduate Policy Studies program is also distinctive in its attention to international policy trends. Policy studies is undertaken through international comparative analyses of policy debates and changes relating to human service organisations.

Students enrolled in the Masters and Graduate Diploma programs will also have the opportunity to complete policy subjects in a range of disciplines across the University, including:

• Education
• Social Work
• Government and Industrial relations
• Political Economy
• Health Sciences
• Sociology and Social Policy

Masters Program - Master of Policy Studies

The Masters program requires a year of full-time study (or 2 years of part-time study).

Students are required to undertake a total of 8 units of study, made up from:

• 2 core units from the core units list below, and
• 6 elective units from the elective units list below

Graduate Diploma Program - Graduate Diploma of Policy Studies

The Graduate Diploma program requires a 1.5 semesters of full-time study (or 3 semesters of part-time study).

Students are required to undertake a total of 6 units of study, made up from:

• 2 core units from the core units list below, and
• 4 elective units in the Faculty of Education and Social Work from the elective units list below

Graduate Certificate Program - Graduate Certificate of Policy Studies

The Graduate Certificate program requires a 1 semester of full-time study (or 2 semesters of part-time study).

Students are required to undertake a total of 4 units of study, made up from:

• 2 core units from the core units list below, and
• two 2 elective units in the Faculty of Education and Social Work from the elective units list below

Core units of Study

• SCWK6948 Social Policy Frameworks (Semester 1)
• EDPA6018 Social Policy Processes

Elective Units of Study

• EDPK5001 Qualitative Research Methods
• EDPK5002 Quantitative Research Methods
• EDPK5015 Evidence Based Policy
• EDPA6020 Political Economy of Education: financing education, issues and research
• EDPA5001 Organisational theory, management and administration
• EDPA5011 Organisational Culture and Change
• EDPA6103: Evaluation of Educational Programs
• EDPA 6016: Organisations as learning communities
• EDPH 5012: Drugs and Society
• EDPB 5002: Globalisation and Education
• EDPA 6019 : Special Project (in management and HRD)
• SCWK 6949: Global Social Policy
• SCWK 6945: Palliative Care: Policies and Practices
• SCWK 6942: Dying: Ethics, Policy, and Politics.
• SCWK 5901: Family Violence: Australia and Canada
• SCWK 6910: Community Work Policy and Practice
• SCWK 6908: Authorised independent study.

If you've got a question about this degree program, please ask it via this form or contact Dr Susan Goodwin.

Teaching staff in this program include:

• Dr Sue Goodwin
• Dr Lesley Laing
• Dr Fran Waugh
• Dr Kevin Laws
• Dr Nigel Bagnall
• Associate Professor Phillip Jones
• Dr Rachel Wilson
• Associate Professor Tony Welch
• Associate Professor Louise Rowling
• Dr George Odhiambo
• Dr Ruth Phillips
• Dr Lindsey Napier
• Dr Margo Rawsthorne
• Associate Professor Jude Irwin

Enrolment is open to candidates with a bachelors degree in education or social work, or those who have a degree in a relevant area and have substantial work experience in a field of education or human services.

'Human services' covers the range of organisations that provide social services – including schools, hospitals, health centres, community centres, international organisations, all levels of government, the police force, aged care, and children's services.

Local Students

Local 2008 fees are AUD$1,470 per unit of study.

Assistance with local fee payments may be available via the Australian Government. Please visit the website http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/ for more information.

International Students

International 2008 fees for the Masters program are AUD$19,440 p.a. (for a year of full time study - 48 credit points or equivalent). Fees are reduced proportionally for students undertaking the Gradate Diploma or Graduate Certificate.
Comprehensive information about international fees is available from the International Office.

Additional information for International applications is also available from this website.

The University’s tuition fees are reviewed annually and may be varied during the period of study. The exact tuition fee for your course may depend on the specific units of study in which you enrol.