The ambition of the Bennett School is to become a leading school of public policy in the UK and wider world, for public policy thinking, research, teaching and engagement with practitioners from policy, business and civic organisations. Drawing on Cambridge’s broad talent base, it supports effective decision-making through research, training, and collaboration.
About the Bennett School of Public Policy
The School embraces a multidisciplinary approach—combining insights from computer science, engineering, economics, law, and history to break traditional academic silos. At a time of economic shocks, conflict, and political uncertainty, the School aims to prepare future policymakers and foster a climate of ideas to help navigate today’s complex policy landscape.
The School houses the Bennett Institute for Public Policy which conducts academically rigorous research which informs the teaching on the Masters and PhD programmes as well as policymakers worldwide.
The Bennett School has taken over the management and delivery of the well-established M.Phil in Public Policy, previously located in the Department of Politics & International Studies, and will launch a new M.Phil in Digital Policy in October 2026. A PhD programme will commence in 2027.
Message from the Head of Department
Welcome to the Bennett School of Public Policy, a new department at the University of Cambridge. We bring together the world-class research expertise of the Bennett Institute and the distinguished teaching of the MPhil in Public Policy. Our new Master’s in Digital Policy further expands our offerings, addressing the evolving demands of modern governance.
Our goal is simple: to equip the policymakers of tomorrow with the skills, insights, and experiences they need to tackle the complex challenges of our time. Global issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and political instability transcend traditional disciplines, and addressing them requires integrated solutions. The Bennett School is designed to provide this interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from across the university to train future leaders who can drive meaningful change.
The need for a new school of public policy has never been more urgent. In a world of increasing turbulence, governments need policymakers who understand the deep, underlying forces shaping global change. At the Bennett School, we will ensure that our graduates are not only equipped with the analytical tools to understand these challenges but also with the practical skills to address them effectively.
Our vision is for the Bennett School to become a leading centre for public policy thought, recognized for both the quality of our teaching and the impact of our research. The success of the school will ultimately be measured by the influence of our graduates, who will apply the knowledge and skills gained here to solve real-world problems.
We are excited for you to be part of this journey as we prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle the world’s most pressing policy challenges.
Michael Kenny
Professor of Public Policy