Master of Public Policy: Social Research Methods Specialisation

ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world. We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life. The Social Research Methods specialisation will advance your career by providing much sought methodological skills to carry out social science research in both the government and private employment sectors. It also provides a solid foundation for undertaking PhD research.

Higher education

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis.

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 5/7; or

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or

· Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7; or

· Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7; or · 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7; or

· Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or

· Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General test, completed no more than 5 years before the time of application, with a minimum score of 155 for Verbal Reasoning, 155 for Quantitative Reasoning and 4.0 in Analytical Writing and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or

· A minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

Find more information for the Master of Public Policy at the ANU Programs and Courses.

Work and Life

A minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program.

English Proficiency Requirements

Applications must meet the ANU English Language Requirements for Admission.

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree, Bachelor degree with Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units.

Social Research Methods, one of the Master of Public Policy specialisations, enables you to shape the development of evidence-based public policy with robust social science research that delivers ‘what works’. The specialisation is designed to equip professionals and PhD candidates with the methodological skills to execute sound social research; understand how to formulate valid and credible research questions; and identify, interpret and present social research results for a range of audiences. If you want to activate a social research career in either the public or private sectors, or build a solid foundation for starting your PhD, then this specialisation is for you.

With a strong understanding of social research methods and techniques, you will help inform and improve the policy-making process. Social science research investigates how people act and interact. Your advanced ability to develop theoretically-driven social research questions and choose appropriate research designs will ultimately provide policymakers with critically-evaluated evidence on ‘what works’ to influence human behaviour. You will learn how to identify, interpret and present research results in ways that are compelling to different audiences – in academia, government and industry. When you graduate, you will be equipped with industry-leading skills in multivariate analysis techniques and the assumptions that underlie them.