Politics MA/PGDip

Course details: Details | Modules | Fees and funding | Entry requirements | How to apply.

The Masters in Politics examines central questions of political science related to power, the state and the sources of political change. Our Masters in Politics offers students insights into the causes and consequences of a variety of different political phenomenon across the globe. 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.

On this Masters in Politics you will follow a flexible programme with a wide choice of modules.

You will take two core modules, Developments in Contemporary Political Analysis and Varieties of Politics 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.

Postgraduate Open Day - Wednesday 20 March 2019

open-days

Our Postgraduate Open Day will give you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our Masters and research opportunities. 

  Register now  

Course details

Course details: Modules | Fees and funding | Entry requirements | How to apply.

The  Masters in Politics explores key controversies in political science from a variety of different perspectives. It will introduce you to the major concepts in political science and help you learn to apply those concepts and approaches to explain the variety of political phenomena across the globe. This Masters in Politics promotes the study of those problems through a blend of lectures, seminars and individual research.

 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?  

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.

Please note these courses have changed for 2019/20. For students studying in 2018/19 please refer to the Programmes and Modules handbook.

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

Modules

This degree programme comprises the following modules:

Core modules

Optional modules

Please note these courses have changed for 2019/20. For students studying in 2018/19 please refer to the Programmes and Modules handbook.

The optional modules listed on the website for this programme may unfortunately occasionally be subject to change. As you will appreciate key members of staff may leave the University and this necessitates a review of the modules that are offered. Where the module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you make other choices.

Fees and funding

Masters degree fees 2019-20
  Full time Part time
Home/EU students £9,250 £4,625
Overseas students £17,910  -
Postgraduate diploma fees 2019-20
  Full time Part time
Home/EU students £6,167 £3,083
Overseas students £11,940  -

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

Postgraduate Loans for Masters students

The Postgraduate Student Loan has increased its maximum loan amount to £10,609. For more detailed information view our Postgraduate funding page.

Scholarships and studentships
Scholarships 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.bham.ac.uk. 

Scholarships and bursaries in the Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS).

For EU students applying for the 2020/21 academic year

The UK Government has confirmed that EU students will continue to be eligible for 'home fee status' for entry in September 2020, and will continue to have access to financial support available via student loans for the duration of their course. For more information take a look at the gov.uk website.

Entry 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 students:

Academic requirements

We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:

How to apply

Monday 1 July 2019 is the application deadline for international students (Tier 4) who wish to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2019 made after this date. The deadline for Home/EU (non-Tier 4) students is Monday 12 September 2019. Applications will reopen for 2020 entry in early October 2019.

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply now

OverviewLearning and teaching

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.

More about teaching and learning at the University of Birmingham.

Enhancing your Student Experience

In the School of Government and Society 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 Government and Society students.

Read our students' experiences and profiles on the school website.

Course detailsEmployability

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 Networks

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. 

Find out more about support for work experience and internships, bursaries, or mentoring.

Learning and teaching