Policy Design: Concepts and Case Studies
PostgraduateMAQ-POIX80002026
Course information for 2026 intake View information for 2025 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 15 Feb 2026
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $3,145
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Policy Design: Concepts and Case Studies
About this subject
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Identify, critically analyse and synthesise evidence which is relevant to policy making from a wide range of cross-disciplinary sources.
- Apply theoretical material related to public policy to a specific real-world policy problem.
- Critically consider a range of factors affecting problem definition and the development of appropriate policy solutions.
- Identify and respond to ethical, political, social, economic and cultural factors which are significant in a specific policy context.
- Communicate policy recommendations effectively and appropriately to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
This unit requires students to draw on theoretical and discipline knowledge and use these to engage actively in a current and topical policy problem. The students will have opportunities to consult experts in a given policy area and identify relevant evidence, expert opinion and stakeholder views. Students will explore a range of problem definitions and scenarios, and consider alternative policy solutions. Students will develop and present a comprehensive and constructive policy proposal which demonstrates an awareness of ethical, political, social, economic and cultural factors which are significant in the specific policy context.
- Group report (50%)
- Scoping paper (30%)
- Annotated Bibliography (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
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- 11
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- 10
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or enrol in the following subject(s) to study at the same time or prior to this subject:
one of
Others
Admission into the Master of Public and Social Policy and 40 Credit Points at the 8000 level.
NCCW POIR8000 Policy Design: Concepts and Case Studies
Co-requisite POIX8090 or SOCX8080
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.