Postgraduate profile: MSc public policy and management

Edward Hedger studied and MSc in public policy and management to gain practical knowledge that he could apply to his role in international development.I was attracted by the idea of a part-time or distance-learning course that would allow me to continue gaining professional experience. I was fortunate to receive some financial support from my employer, but the high cost of full-time study without employment income was also a big consideration.

The nature of my work in international development had a strong influence on my course selection. After quite a theoretical first degree in economics and politics, I was keen to follow a more applied curriculum that would link the theory and practice of public policy and public sector management. Although the focus of my professional work is on developing and transition countries, I wanted a course that would include a comparative perspective with more advanced economies. The course was recommended by colleagues because of its strong reputation in developing countries and the diversity of its students.

Combining work and postgrad study

I chose a distance-learning course with a modular approach that allowed me to spread my study over two-and-a-half years. I had some concerns about the difficulty of combining full-time work with part-time study - it wasn't always an easy balance to strike and it did need a disciplined commitment to self-study. I took seven modules, focusing on subjects from macroeconomic policy to decentralised public management to organisational change. Each module comprised eight weeks of guided self-study based on detailed course materials, with two marked assignments and a written exam. At the time, I travelled abroad regularly with work so the free evenings were a good opportunity to tackle the reading.

The modules on public financial management coincided with some project work advising on the same issues in Eastern Europe and Russia. This offered a direct application of my learning to my professional work and was one of the strongest course benefits.

Putting new knowledge to use

Both before and during the course I worked for a private sector firm as a consultant on international public sector reform projects. My expertise has developed substantially as a consequence of the further study and I have now been able to move into a research position at a think tank on international development issues. The qualification was without doubt a prerequisite for this type of work, but it was probably the demonstration of a more sophisticated understanding of the subject matter that really helped me to get the job.

Through my studies I have also been able to build up a valuable network of student peers working both in the UK and in countries ranging from Kyrgyzstan to South Africa. I am already starting to draw upon these contacts. Distance learning may not be the best option for everyone, but some form of postgraduate degree is fast becoming essential to work in the field of international development. Relevant professional experience over several years also counts for a great deal so the opportunity to combine the two is certainly an approach I would recommend.

Edward studied his MSc in public policy and management at the Centre for Financial Management Studies, University of London.