Public Policy Research

According to Decision No. 1035-N of the Government of the Republic of Armenia dated June 18, 2020, students enrolled in the Master’s Programme in Sociology who are simultaneously employed are eligible to receive tuition fee reimbursement through income tax compensation mechanisms.

Applicants must submit documents confirming their compliance with the admission requirements. Applicants will also undergo an interview during which their research experience, research interests, and motivation for applying to the programme will be evaluated.

The programme is offered in a full-time mode of study, with a duration of 1 year and a tuition fee of AMD 700,000.

Application form instructions:
YSU Master’s Degree Admission Guidelines

Admission to the Master’s Educational Programme in Public Policy Studies is conducted on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicant’s educational, research, and/or professional background, motivation, research-analytical assignment, and interview performance.

For applicants competing for tuition-free places, the admission process also includes a research/analytical assignment.

The programme is open to individuals holding a degree and/or qualification in Sociology, as well as applicants without a Sociology qualification but possessing credits in methodological courses related to social research. Applications are also accepted from individuals who have participated as researchers in projects with a research component in the social sphere and/or have research publications, as well as from professionals with experience in public policy and governance.

Applicants are required to submit the necessary documents, a curriculum vitae (CV), and a short motivation letter explaining their reasons for applying to the programme, their research or professional interests, and their future goals.

Research-Analytical Assignment

The admission process includes a research-analytical assignment. Applicants may choose one of the following two options:

Option 1: Research Assignment

Applicants select a contemporary issue related to public life in Armenia and present it as a topic for sociological research.

Possible topics include:

• youth participation in local self-government; 
• migration intentions; 
• accessibility of public services; 
• use of urban public spaces; 
• social trust; 
• social inclusion. 

Applicants must prepare a short research proposal addressing the following questions:

• What is the selected social issue and why is it important? 
• How can the main research objective be formulated? 
• Which social groups or stakeholders are connected to the issue? 
• Which methods could be used to study the issue (interviews, surveys, observation, document analysis, etc.)? 
• What types of data or sources may be useful? 
• What type of analytical outcome may result from the research? 

Length: 600–800 words.

Option 2: Public Policy Research Analysis

Applicants select a public policy issue in Armenia and analyze it as an object of social research.

Possible topics include:

• housing policy; 
• access to education; 
• accessibility of healthcare services; 
• poverty reduction programmes; 
• community development; 
• youth policy; 
• integration of forcibly displaced persons; 
• urban transportation. 

Applicants must prepare a short analytical text addressing the following questions:

• What is the selected public policy issue? 
• Which social groups are affected by it? 
• What may be the social causes or consequences of the issue? 
• What data are necessary to understand the issue? 
• Through which research questions can the issue be studied? 
• What possible solutions or policy improvement directions can be proposed based on research data? 

Length: 600–800 words.

The research-analytical assignment is assessed according to the following criteria:

• clarity of problem formulation; 
• research thinking; 
• methodological approach; 
• ability to work with data and evidence; 
• sociological analysis; 
• understanding of public significance. 

Assessment Components

Admission Assessment Criteria

Assessment Criteria for Tuition-Free Applicants

A minimum English language proficiency level of B1 is mandatory.

A ranking list for tuition-free places is formed according to the applicants’ final competitive scores. Admission to tuition-paying places is conducted in accordance with the general admission requirements of the programme.