MPhil in Technology Policy
The Cambridge Judge Business School MPhil in Technology Policy – integrating science, economics, and engineering.
Programme details
Length
9 months
Start
Microeconomics pre-course September 2024
Format
Full-time
Location
You must be resident in Cambridge during your programme
Shape the future of technology policy and governance
Prepare for a career in the governance of science and technology. Our MPhil in Technology Policy is an intensive 9-month masters programme integrating technology, management, economics, and policy. With a strong focus on business-government interaction you will learn to:
- anticipate technology trends
- analyse and influence legislative developments
- identify business opportunities created by policy initiatives, regulation, and legislation
- understand wider political and institutional context.
We take scientists and engineers from the engine room to the bridge giving you deep insights into dynamic sectors like energy, ICT, biomedicine and logistics.
Dr David Reiner (Associate Professor in Technology Policy): “So the MPhil in Technology Policy, which is based at Cambridge Judge Business School, is a really unique opportunity for students who have had a very strong technical background – whether that’s in the sciences or engineering or perhaps even in some of the social sciences – to come to Cambridge for a year to learn about economics, to learn about policy, to confront some of the really toughest issues of our age. I think there are a number of real benefits of coming on the course that really are fairly unique globally if you look at the landscape of programmes in this area.
“We aren’t narrowly focused on a specific sector. The name ‘Technology Policy’ is intentionally meant to bridge a range of sectors which share some really interesting and confront some really interesting challenges. So whether that’s a big tech, whether that’s the energy sector and meeting the challenges of achieving carbon neutrality and net zero, or whether that’s biomedical policy and the challenges that we’ve all faced over the course of the global pandemic in 2020 and 2021. I think these sort of policy areas often operate in silos. And one of the things that we try and do here is bridge those different silos, bring together the lessons across sectors and I think also uniquely bring together insights from around the world.”
Zara Cheema (MPhil in Technology Policy alumna): “I decided to do the MPhil in Technology Policy as I have a background in technology management. And I wanted to see how involved the government would be when regulating technology such as autonomous vehicles or nonfungible tokens. The programme also offers electives from the Engineering Department so you are able to really personalise the course to whatever you’d like to study. And you can dive deeper into the elements that interest you the most.
“The Technology Policy programme has taught me how to maintain professional working relationships. As part of our course, we had to undertake a Final Group Project, which kind of acted like a consultancy project. So we had to come up with a solution for an established firm. And that taught me how to think creatively which is something that I wanted to achieve when I started this programme.”
Jonathan Chan (MPhil in Technology Policy alumnus): “I applied to the MPhil in Technology Policy programme because I knew that it would help me make the transition from scientist to policy maker, and also provide me with valuable perspectives and frameworks for dealing with really complex emerging issues like climate change, regulating big tech, and guarding our civil liberties in the digital age. So students in the Technology Policy programme take a series of interdisciplinary modules that provide solid grounding in economics, policy analysis, and business strategy. And through these modules, I really felt that I was able to develop a strong foundation for approaching a wide variety of policy issues, such as evaluating a government’s decarbonisation strategy, as well as learn some useful practical skills for identifying business opportunities created by new technologies.
“I feel so grateful to have met such incredible people through the programme and to have developed close friendships with many of my peers who have such an incredible range of interests and backgrounds and talents. I’ve definitely made lifelong friends here, and I’m just really excited to see how each of us makes a positive difference in the world after we leave Cambridge.”
Why Cambridge Judge Business School?
Cambridge Judge is uniquely positioned as a nexus of business and government. You will be supported throughout the programme by world-class faculty, who have expertise in operations, strategy, marketing, finance, and especially in economics and policy. You will join an international group of exceptionally bright, wonderfully diverse and highly motivated individuals, making for an ideal environment to learn and expand your network.
- Immerse yourself in a comprehensive and stimulating learning environment.
- Benefit from studying at one of the world’s foremost academic institutions with an over 800-year history of excellence, producing over 90 Nobel Laureates.
- Elevate your status and graduate as an alumnus of the University of Cambridge.
- Enjoy lifetime membership of your Cambridge College.
- Get the full support of the University Careers Service.
- Develop your global network and socialise with friends and colleagues of great diversity and talent.
- Spend an academic year based in the dynamic, historic and beautiful city of Cambridge.
Curriculum
Prepare for future leadership in a policy-making institution or an organisation that operates at the intersection of public and private sectors. Learn to conceptualise, analyse and assess how technologies emerge and create value for society. Explore the governance of science and technology in areas such as energy, health, ICT and transport.
Our MPhil in Technology Policy curriculum builds on a foundation of economics and policy. Our core courses introduce students to key concepts and utilise case studies on policy issues. Our Sectorial & Skills electives, Enterprise electives and Open electives allow you to tailor your learning experience.
You will collaborate on a capstone Final Group Project, based on work with a major public or private technology-intensive organisation. Establish a depth of knowledge and develop a unique skillset to help shape the future of our world.
Why did you choose the MPhil in Technology Policy?
I’ve taken this MPhil in Technology Policy because I have a background in engineering science. And I wanted to better understand the social and political dimensions of technology more generally. So this course allows me to understand how governments, and how businesses, can use technology to make the world a better place.
What it’s like being based in a business school?
So I’m really happy that the course is based in the business school. It’s got fantastic resources available. The library is amazing, the staff are really, really helpful. It’s a great social hub as well. It brings together a whole range of different courses, business and otherwise.
It’s also a fantastic location in Cambridge itself. It’s right in the centre of town. It’s a two-minute walk from King’s Parade, and it’s really close to a bunch of restaurants and cafes. And it’s just a lovely place to be.
What are the classes like?
So the teaching is of a very high quality, I would say. It’s fantastic having some of the world experts lecture you about what they know and love. The classes are incredibly interactive as well. So we often end up having furious debates which last hours amongst students and amongst teachers as well. So that’s one of the things that I like the most about this course actually.
… and the electives?
So the programme offers a wide range of electives. You can focus on engineering electives, on more political electives. So for example I’ve been focusing on autonomous vehicles, drones. There’s the options take nanotechnology courses. There’s the option to learn about the EU.
It gives a very broad understanding of technology generally. I think that’s among the most impressive parts of the programme. I like the fact that it’s based both in Cambridge Judge Business School and in the Engineering department. It gives a very broad understanding of technology and society.
Why do you think that technology policy is important?
I basically think that technology is a unstoppable force. And it’s up to us — governments, businesses, individuals — to understand it as best we can, and use it to be a force for good in the world.
Who we’re looking for
The MPhil in Technology Policy attracts bright and highly motivated individuals with a science, engineering or other quantitative background and a strong interest in technology policy.
This programme is right for you if:
- you have a UK First Class Honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in science or engineering. Other disciplines are considered if you have a solid quantitative background
- you have good interpersonal, communication and team-working skills, in addition to numeracy, problem-solving and reasoning skills
- you have English language proficiency, maths and stats proficiency
(English proficiency: English as the native language or IELTS minimum overall score of 7.5, with not less than 7.0 in each element or TOEFL minimum overall score of 110, with not less than 25 in each element).
Applying for the MPhil in Technology Policy
We are delighted that you are considering applying for the Cambridge MPhil in Technology Policy and we are excited to learn about you. Our application process is selective and thorough.
My time at the University of Cambridge was extremely rewarding. The MPhil in Technology Policy was a great opportunity to develop the skills required to meet the challenges of integrating technology, economics, policy, and law. The programme was no doubt challenging, but also extremely stimulating and rewarding. In my current role working for an EU institution, the MPhil has helped me understand the strategic importance of today’s complex social, economic, and political issues. I make use of the skills I learned on a daily basis.
MPhil in Technology Policy programme news
Read the latest news and features on our programme, faculty, students and alumni.
David McKay, an alumnus of the MPhil in Technology programme (MPhil 2010), seeks to make complicated topics understandable through his ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’ podcasts.
Each of our research centres has unique ways to engage with non-academic organisations and, through that, to generate real world impact. This month we decided to share with you the work of the Centre for India & Global Business at Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS).
A startup connected to Cambridge Judge Business School that is developing holographic 3D technology closed a new funding round of £11m.