The master´s programme Global Politics aims towards you who are interested in global political issues. You will learn how an increasing complex world, where the global and the local meet, presents us with new challenges and opportunities. The programme provides you with a solid practical base concerning concepts like justice, peace, security, power, culture and democracy. You will learn how to analyse conflicts, international relations and human rights claims and violations.
This is a multi-disciplinary programme with a core of political science which address aspects of international relations, human rights and peace and conflict studies. Focus lays on the transformation of society, especially concerning the relationship between the state and other actors such as international organisations and companies.
Changes in political control, from reduced central control towards a greater degree of network control will also be addressed. You will analyze the growing importance of international norms, such as human rights. The emergence of other conflict patterns than those related to socio-economic resources (such as culture, ideology and religion) is important parts of the courses.
This two-year Master's programme draws from the one-year master’s in political science, with additional opportunities for an internship, exchange studies or elective courses. This provides you with the opportunity to deepen knowledge and gain practical experience, as well as the chance to develop relationships and network with people and organisations working with political and global issues.
The programme is thoroughly interdisciplinary and draws on the different strengths from the Department of Global Political Studies, including International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Human Rights, Public Policy, but also ethnography and philosophy. To gain a deeper understanding of the changes in political science, we consider four key development areas:
Global politics: an increasing number of international and intergovernmental organisations impact world politics.
Government and governance: whilst new information technologies and surveillance legislation mean that the administrative powers of the state have never been stronger, the concept of ‘government’ has become increasingly surpassed by ‘governance’ at the transnational level. Few decisions affecting our lives are taken exclusively within the national context.
Existing modes of power are challenged: there has been a significant change in how organisations like NGOs, as well as everyday individuals, challenge existing governance and modes of power. For example, social media has radically changed the transnational political landscape to both enable new forms of protest and contestation, as well as facilitate new political identities.
Global concerns: issues like climate change and terrorism show that increasingly the kind of problems requiring policy solutions far exceed the confines of any nation-state. That is to say, policy problems are increasingly transnational and therefore require transnational solutions.
The programme should be of interest to individuals committed to a career in which knowledge of our changing world is an evident benefit, with relevance to employers including international agencies, non-governmental organisations, transnational businesses, and local/national administrative agencies.
For programme with start Autumn 2018:
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Master's Degree (120 credits).
Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with a major in Political Science
The master´s programme Global Politics aims towards you who are interested in global political issues. You will learn how an increasing complex world, where the global and the local meet, presents us with new challenges and opportunities. The programme provides you with a solid practical base concerning concepts like justice, peace, security, power, culture and democracy. You will learn how to analyse conflicts, international relations and human rights claims and violations.
This is a multi-disciplinary programme with a core of political science which address aspects of international relations, human rights and peace and conflict studies. Focus lays on the transformation of society, especially concerning the relationship between the state and other actors such as international organisations and companies.
Changes in political control, from reduced central control towards a greater degree of network control will also be addressed. You will analyze the growing importance of international norms, such as human rights. The emergence of other conflict patterns than those related to socio-economic resources (such as culture, ideology and religion) is important parts of the courses.
These are turbulent political times. International power bases are shifting. Political, economic and military threats merge and reform, presenting new political challenges. Examples like China and Russia prompt us to rethink the widely held belief that democratic reform will follow on the heels of economic progress. In these days of the “war on terror” it is also more and more difficult to know what a war is, who fights it, how it starts and how it can end. In the meantime, global inequality is increasing. Half of the world’s population lives in severe poverty, many of them in conflict-ridden regions and/or under failing governments. Problems of development – malnutrition, poverty, preventable diseases – can be solved by a global effort, so why does it not happen?
The one-year master's programme in Global Politics and Societal Change will help you make sense of these issues. It will give you a solid theoretical base concerning the meaning and role of concepts like justice, peace, security, power, culture and democracy.
The programme is thoroughly interdisciplinary and draws on the different strengths in the Department of Global Political studies, including International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Human Rights, Public Policy, but also Ethnography and Philosophy. It focuses specifically on the changing nature of global politics and pays particular attention to how new institutions and patterns of conflict and cooperation affects public policy on different levels, including the local level. In addition to advancing a more nuanced perspective on what ‘globalisation’ means, the programme extends to our understanding of politics as a continuous and often very complex interaction of decision-making, institutions, and advocacy on multiple levels.
After graduation you will be well prepared for qualified social scientific analysis. You will be well equipped to work with issues like international aid, development, conflict prevention, foreign policy, and human rights fulfillment. You attain up to date skills based on the latest research combined with an ability to manage projects and communicate scientific knowledge to various social actors in the field.
Potential employers are international agencies, non-governmental organisations, local and national administration agencies and the diplomatic service. You will also be able to continue for research education studies at advanced and doctoral levels after completing your degree.
For programme with start Autumn 2018:
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Master's Degree (60 credits).
Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a major in Political Science
Recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a '1+3' programme, the MA in Political Science (Research Methods) is designed for those students wishing to prepare for advanced research in political science. It requires you to take Advanced Political Analysis in addition to other research-based modules.
This pathway is designed for flexibility, allowing you to choose over half of the MA content from a wide range of optional modules.
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.
This programme offers rigorous specialist training for students wishing to prepare for advanced research in political science, particularly at the doctoral level. It offers the introduction to methods and approaches in political science that will equip students to plan and execute their own extended research projects. It also offers the opportunity to choose from a range of modules in other areas for students to round out their training.
This programme offers you the chance to develop an advanced theoretical and research-based training, especially interesting for students wishing to pursue further postgraduate studies.
Issues and topics examined include
Whos is the programme for?
Recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a '1+3' programme, the MA / Diploma in Political Science (Research Methods) is designed for those students wishing to prepare for advanced research in political science. You take a number of compulsory modules including Advanced Political Analysis, in addition to an optional module.
One of the real strengths of our masters programmes is the wide range of available modules, giving students the ability to tailor their course of study to their own academic interests.
More information on: Political Science MA (with specialist pathways)
We advocate an enquiry-based approach to learning, which means that we encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Through the programme of study we offer, we will develop 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:
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 more of our students' experiences and profiles on the school website.
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.
More information about careers and employability
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.
Find out more about support for work experience and internships, bursaries, or mentoring.
The MSc in Political Science is a broad, research oriented degree programme, providing students with highest quality teaching in and informal learning environment. The programme is the flagship degree of our top European Political Science Department, whose high ratings and research attract academics from around the globe to its vibrant community of scholars.
Want to know more about the programme? >>
The programme is very flexible, giving students the opportunity to design their own course programme. Students at the top of the class, may be offered an opportunity to work as research assistants on on-going projects. Students are allowed to go abroad and spent a semester at one of our partner universities, or work as an intern in a company or organisation.
The programme has a duration of two years, and it is targeted at students seeking a comprehensive political science education focusing on research design and methodology. These concepts will be covered in 4 semesters.
1st semester: Courses
The first semester consists of three courses. Students will be introduced to the art and craft of conducting empirical research in the area of political science in: Advanced Political Analysis I: Designing Political Research. Three major research frameworks will be focused on: the variable-oriented framework, the case-oriented framework and interpretive framework.
The students will gian knowledge about conditions and consequences of the selection and use of key concepts and approaches in a course holding the name: The Contested Concepts and the Approaches of Political Science.
Further, the first semester will be designed with Political Science Seminars.
2nd semester: Courses
The second semester focuses on two areas: political analysis and political seminars.
The course in Advanced Political Analysis II: Quantitative and Qualitative Techniques for Causual analysis introduces the students to two different approaches to the study of causality: the counterfactual/potential outcomes framework and the mechanistic approach.
Additionaly, political science seminar can be chosen by the student, depending on the area of interest.
3rd semester: Social Science Seminars
Students are offered a variety of social science seminars in the third semester. They are chosen based on the interest of the student.
4th semester: Final thesis
The fourth semester is devoted to the master's thesis. You may choose the topic of the thesis freely and get a chance to concentrate on and specialise in a specific field of interest. The thesis may be written in collaboration with another student or it may be the result of your individual effort.
Read more about the programme and the courses here >>
Fast-track your career with a 12-month Master of Political Science. This gives you Master’s-level expertise without needing an Honours degree. You can also do the shorter, coursework-only Postgraduate Diploma in Political Science.
Study politics where it happens. Located in New Zealand's capital city, the programme gives you a close-up view of the political process.
You'll also get an international perspective. The programme is global in scope. You’ll learn how to compare and contrast how politics works in New Zealand with other countries around the world. You can include courses from related disciplines like international relations, strategic studies and public policy.
Make use of the programme's connections in the capital and around the world. You’ll get the chance to apply for Victoria University's prestigious Parliamentary Internship, along with the China Field Study and the Japan Field Study, which run every second year.
You'll develop the core knowledge needed to understand political systems, policy processes and government in New Zealand and around the world. You’ll also hone your ability to design, interpret and apply political science research.
You’ll be able to choose from a range of courses spanning political thought, leadership, representation, political participation and political action. You can complement your Political Science courses with approved International Relations and Strategic Studies courses.
The MPols is in two parts—a taught and a research component.
The taught component starts with the core course and a range of approved courses.
For the research component you can choose between a 60-point dissertation and a combination of a 30-point research project and a taught course.
You may get permission from the MPols administrator to do a 90-point thesis in place of the part two research component and some part one courses.
You can choose to study the taught courses only and get a PGDipPols. If you later complete the research courses you receive your MPols in place of the PGDipPols.
If you are studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40–45 hours a week for much of the year. Part-time students doing two courses per trimester will need to do around 20–23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working full time.
You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of points you'll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10–12 hours work.
The MPols will usually take 12 months for full-time students and 24 months for part-time students.
The PGDipPols generally takes two trimesters full time and four trimesters part time.
If you're thinking of doing a research project you can check suggested thesis topics and staff research areas for the Political Science and International Relations programme.
The Department of Political Science offers a Master’s Degree in Political Science. The program provides students with the critical-thinking and writing skills required for civic engagement in a democratic society and enables them to pursue careers in the public, non-profit, and private sectors or to pursue doctoral study in political science, law, public service and administration, criminal justice, non-profit administration, global politics, and international relations. The MA Program includes opportunities for internships related to domestic and international politics. Because most of the students in the political science program are part time and employed, courses are offered in the evening, meeting once a week. Schedules for each semester become available two to three months before the start of classes.
Students may attain the MA by completing the requirements for a Specialization in 1) The American Political System or 2) International Relations. A Specialization in The American Political System focuses on American politics and public policy and U.S. urban politics and public administration. A Specialization in International Relations focuses on global and international politics, international political economy, and comparative politics. Courses are also regularly offered in political theory, constitutional law, comparative politics, and research methodology. Students may complete the Concentration in Women and Gender Studies in conjunction with the Master’s degree.
Students in the School of Law-Newark may take a concurrent Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in political science that allows up to 12 credits in relevant law courses to be applied toward the 30 credits required for the master's degree.
The MSc Political Science and Political Economy provides a sound professional training in formal political science and in quantitative-oriented approaches to political economy.
You will acquire the knowledge and techniques to analyse political processes, institutional design and public policy making in liberal democracies.
The programme offers courses in political economy, elections, legislature, executive governments, public policy, development, and international political economy within the framework of a political science-oriented programme. This MSc will provide a set of skills which are highly sought after in public policy making, policy analysis, business, political consultancy and public affairs.
This programme is an excellent preparation for further research work (including a PhD or research in quantitative political science) or for a career in education, public administration or the private sector.
This programme is an excellent preparation for further research work or for a career in education, public administration or the private sector. It will also equip you with the skills needed to pursue a PhD or conduct research in quantitative political science.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Our Masters in Political Science is a general programme providing access to all the main intellectual strands of contemporary political science. Its core module is Advanced Political Analysis, and you have the option to choose additional modules from, for example, Introduction to Social Research, and Advanced Qualitative Research Methods.
This core pathway is designed for flexibility, allowing you to choose over half of the MA content from a wide range of optional modules.
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.
This programme offers you the chance to develop an advanced theoretical and research-based training, especially interesting for students wishing to pursue further postgraduate studies.
The MA / Diploma in Political Science is a general degree programme providing access to all the main intellectual strands of contemporary political science. Its core module is Advanced Political Analysis, and students have the option to choose from a broad range of additional modules, based on their specific interests.
Who is the programme for?
This degree will appeal to students seeking widely applicable training in pursuit of careers in government, non-governmental organisations, and many areas of the private sector.
Specialist pathways
We advocate an enquiry-based approach to learning, which means that we encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Through the programme of study we offer, we will develop 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:
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.
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.
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