Political Science

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The University of Essex is one of the UK's leading academic institutions, ranked ninth nationally for research excellence following the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

How do political scientists explain political outcomes? How does normative theory inform empirical research? How do political science approaches differ from historical accounts of political phenomenon? How can political science be used to analyse the real world? Our MA Politics gives a general overview of such topics but you have a wider choice of modules than our other Masters courses.

Graduates from this course can expect to find jobs in market research, the media and central or local government. It also provides a foundation for further research in political science.

A Masters course is an academically rigorous programme during which you explore your subject in depth, reaching a high level of specialist knowledge. You draw on knowledge and skills from your undergraduate study or your professional life to produce work of a high academic standard, informed by current thinking and debate.
This course lasts twelve months (full-time), starting in October, and consists of taught modules during your autumn and spring terms and a research-based dissertation to be submitted in September. Your research-based dissertation counts for 60 credits and you will take 120 credits of modules, one 30 credit compulsory module and the further 90 credits are made up from a selection of 30 and 15 credit modules. (If you are from the EU, then our Masters courses are regarded as second-cycle qualifications under the Bologna Declaration and consist of 90 ECTS credits).

Modules
Core modules
* Ma Dissertation
* Theory And Explanation In Political Science

Compulsory with options modules
* Advanced Research Methods
* Political Explanation

Optional modules
* Advanced Research Methods
* Comparative European Politics
* Conflict Resolution
* Contemporary Theories Of Justice
* Democracy Beyond The Nation State? The Case Of Europe
* Ideology And Political Discourse
* International Environmental Politics
* International Security Studies
* Political Economy
* Political Explanation
* Political Parties In Britain And Europe
* Political Theory
* Public Opinion And Political Behaviour
* Research Design
* Research Seminar In Political Theory And Methods
* Survey Measurement And Question Design
* Theories Of International Relations
* Theory And Explanation In Political Science

Core modules must be taken and passed.
Core with options modules selected from limited lists must be taken and passed.
Compulsory modules must be taken.
Compulsory with options modules selected from limited lists must be taken.
Optional modules are selected from course specific lists.

Upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, in relevant subject area.IELTS 6.5. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

For up-to-date information on funding opportunities at Essex, please visit:
This course has ESRC Doctoral Training Centre accreditation, meaning it can form part of a 1+3 funding opportunity for talented postgraduates. The University is one of only 21 ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centres in the UK.