Oxford online courses in public policy and government
Study from anywhere, anytime, and help create a world better led, better served and better governed.
Eight-week short courses developed and delivered by the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University, and Boundless Learning.
Our government and public policy short courses
As one of the University of Oxford’s newest and most vibrant departments, the Blavatnik School of Government’s mission is to inspire and support better government and public policy around the world.
Delivered in partnership with Boundless Learning, our online short courses aim to give you the government and public policy qualifications you need to join an elite group of change-makers who are having an impact in their sector.
Want to make an even wider impact and lead the way in public policy? Take more than one course and receive a discount of at least 25% on your fees. Find out more about our multi-course pathway and the benefits it could offer.
Are these online short courses right for me?
Courses designed for you, by us
Boundless Learning and the University of Oxford’s partnership is founded on a mutual goal to provide excellent, yet accessible, learning opportunities to busy professionals around the globe.
Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government is a global school committed to improving the quality of government and public policymaking worldwide. The School combines the academic rigour of the top-ranked university in the world (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2023) with an applied, real-world approach to government and public policy studies.
As the leaders in online learning solutions, Boundless Learning offers a full spectrum of services for delivering best-in-class online courses. The organisation partners with more than 40 higher education institutions around the world, supporting approximately 350 degree programmes, in addition to certificates and non-credit-bearing credentials.
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Advantages of studying online with Oxford University
Study from anywhere
Taught 100% online, you can benefit from the Blavatnik School of Government’s expert teaching and gain government and public policy qualifications from anywhere in the world.
Learn from the best
You will be taught by the world’s top academics and study alongside peers who are passionate about making an impact on policy around the world.
24-hour access to learning material
The online learning platform is easy to use, easy to navigate and accessible via your computer, tablet or mobile phone, 24 hours a day.
FAQs
Typical careers that may require public policy knowledge include:
- the civil service – with the choice of various departments, agencies and public bodies;
- health, social and community work – organisations managing or delivering healthcare, social care or youth services;
- education – teaching or supporting the provision of education in primary, secondary, further or higher education;
- politics – employers may include political parties, trade unions, public affairs consultancies and activist organisations;
- the third sector – such as charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
To prepare for a career in public policy, before seeking a role where you will receive a grounding in the field, you could first lay the foundations by educating yourself. This might be through a full degree that gives you an overview of the field, or a short course in a particular area you would like to upskill in (for example, one of our online short courses in government and public policy). Beyond this, it’s important to:
- understand the different public policy sectors, including public, private and third sector (non-governmental, non-profit);
- focus your efforts on what you are passionate about;
- know your skills and strengths and identify potential roles based on these;
- gain public policy experience, prioritising the organisations that interest you the most.
Online courses are beneficial in many ways.
- Affordable – unlike an in-person course, when you study online, you’re not paying for a physical study space, for travel or for accommodation near campus. Plus, you often don’t need to spend extra on study materials, because everything you need can be found in the virtual learning environment.
- Flexible – most online courses give you the ability to study at times and places that suit you. With our online short courses, you can choose from a range of intakes throughout the year. What’s more, although you are required to dedicate 3-5 hours a week to your studies, you can choose when these hours fall based on your own schedule. This also means that you should not need to pause your career or current commitments to upskill in a particular area.
- Study from anywhere in the world – through completely remote study, an online course breaks down geographical barriers and allows anyone from any part of the world to participate. This provides greater accessibility to people in different countries and enriches peer networking, with intakes of students offering a variety of global perspectives.
Learn more in our blog post about the benefits of studying online.
Yes! An online short course means you can upskill while you study flexibly and affordably without interrupting your career. It allows you to learn while you work, meaning you can directly apply your new practical skills and expertise to your role as you acquire them. Furthermore, its remote nature allows you to connect with likeminded people from around the world and build your professional network.
To find out more, read our top five reasons to study a government and public policy course online.