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MA/PGDip Politics

Start date
September
Duration
MA 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

For 2024-2025
Masters:
£10,530 FT (UK)
£5,265 PT (UK)
£24,120 FT (International)
Postgraduate diploma:
£7,020 FT (UK)
£16,080 FT (International)
More Fees and funding details.

Our Masters in Politics offers you insights into the causes and consequences of a variety of different political phenomenon across the globe.

On our MA in Politics you will explore key controversies in political science from a variety of different perspectives. You will be introduced to the major concepts in political science and learn to apply those concepts and approaches to explain the variety of political phenomena across the globe. You will learn through a blend of lectures, seminars and individual research.

The Politics MA examines central questions of political science related to power, the state and the sources of political change. It is designed for students who are either familiar with the study of political science and issues at undergraduate level or who are enthusiastic to focus on this area of study at the postgraduate level.

You will take two core modules, Doing Political Research and Varieties of Politics: The Comparative Politics of Parties, Institutions and Regimes that will provide you with a foundation for thinking about the subject. You then design the rest of the programme around your own interests by selecting four modules from a wide range of options. The flexibility of this programme is ideal for those with a broad range of interests in politics or for those who want to construct a curriculum around a particular area of interest.

As a postgraduate student studying for a Masters in Politics you will also have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events. You will be welcomed as a member of a variety of research groups, including those focused on British Politics, Asian Politics, Middle East Politics, European Studies, Political Economy, and Parties, Voters and Elections. These group includes members of academic staff and postgraduate research students who meet regularly to discuss their own research, recent publications and to organise research events including inviting visiting speakers.

Key issues and questions examined throughout this Masters in Politics include:

  • Where does power lie and how is it exercised?
  • What is the role of the state and what is its relationship to society?
  • Why are democracies not ubiquitous and why do we see a mixture of democratic and non-democratic regimes across the globe?
  • Why do democracies vary in their form and content?
  • Who wins elections and why?
  • What role do electoral systems, social context and campaigning play in determining election outcomes?
  • Why does political conflict emerge and how can it be managed?  

Why study this course?

  • Choose from an extensive range of optional modules
  • Study in a supportive environment with research-active political scientists
  • Be a part of one of more of the research groups e.g. British Politics, Asian Politics, Middle East Politics, European Studies, Political Economy, and Parties, Voters and Elections
  • Participate in a range of intellectual and social events alongside your programme

Who is the programme for?

This Masters in Politics will be of interest and benefit to those interested in government, the civil service, international organizations and NGOs. In all cases, students are encouraged to work closely with staff in a supportive and intellectually-committed environment.

Modules

Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules


Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees 2024 - 2025

Masters

  • £10,530 FT (UK)
  • £5,265 PT (UK)
  • £24,120 FT (International)

Postgraduate diploma:

  • £7,020 FT (UK)
  • £16,080 FT (International)

Please check with the Department for the latest fees information.
Learn more about fees.

Postgraduate Loans for Masters students

The Postgraduate Student Loan has increased its maximum loan amount to £12,167 (for 2023/2024 entry). For more detailed information visit our Postgraduate funding page.

Scholarships and studentships

See the departmental scholarships and funding pages.

Other funding may be available. International Students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

For further information contact the School directly or visit StudentHelp.

How To Apply

7 May 2024 is the application deadline for international students applying through the student route who wish to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2024 made after this date. The deadline for Home students is 30 August 2024.

Application fee

For international applicants this programme is subject to a £50 non-refundable application fee. At the end of the application form, before you can submit it to us, you will be required to pay, or indicate how you will pay the required fee in order for us to process your application. Please complete and submit your application before paying your application fee.

Personal statement

Entry to this programme is highly competitive and as a result your application and personal statement will be closely scrutinised by our Admissions Tutors. Please ensure that you spend some time familiarising yourself with the programme modules and outcomes. Personal Statements should be relevant to the programme and how you believe it will enable you to achieve your career goals.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

For the MA programme you require a good Honours degree or its equivalent. For those whose first language is not English, an IELTS Certificate is required.

Learn more about entry requirements.

International Requirements



International Students

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:


  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

We advocate an enquiry-based approach to learning, which means that we encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Through this Masters in Politics, we offer assistance in developing the qualities that employers value in today's university graduates - qualities that will set you apart in your future career.

To help you develop the above-mentioned skills, we adopt a range of teaching methods. They may include:

  • Lectures - listening to experts sharing their knowledge and discoveries in challenging and provocative ways. Students are expected to 'read-around' the subject matter of their lectures, adding to their understanding and developing their critical faculties and analytical skills.
  • Seminars - where you present and discuss your ideas and knowledge in smaller groups and debate interpretations and opinions with other students.
  • Tutorials - are your opportunity to discuss your work with your tutor, usually in small groups.
  • Workshops - are problem solving sessions facilitated by a member of academic staff; these sessions usually involve students working in groups.

Our lecturers and tutors will ensure you have all the resources you need to make the transition from A levels to the more rigorous demands of a degree.

Enhancing your Student Experience

In the School of Government we offer much more than a degree. As a student here, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.

Some of these are targeted to help you build skills and experience for your CV, others are more open events designed to expose you to high-level speakers on current debates relevant to all School of Government students.

Graduates from the School have gone on to work in a range of careers, with recent graduates working with organisations such as the United Nations, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, local authorities in the UK and overseas and the Department for International Development.

The School takes employability very seriously and as well as linking students to the central careers services, also incorporates opportunities to enhance their employment prospects, including highlighting work experience opportunities, encouraging volunteering in extra-curricular projects (such as student seminars and events) and by inviting backgrounds for students to meet.

Careers Network

The Careers Network provides a dedicated service to help you find work experience or internship opportunities outside of your studies, either part-time during term-time, or over the summer vacation. Right from the start of your degree you will have access to our interactive careers service, through which many regional, national and international employers advertise their vacancies, and your college internship officers will go out and about to find vacancies that will be a useful addition to your CV.