Related courses

• MA International Relations (Part-time)
• MA Political Science (Full-time)
• MA Political Science (Part-time)
• MA Politics (Full-time)
• MA Politics (Part-time)
• MSc International Relations (Full-time)
• MSc International Relations (Part-time)
• MSc Political Science (Full-time)
• MSc Political Science (Part-time)
• PhD Government (Full-time)
• PhD Government (Part-time)
• Graduate Diploma Politics (Full-time)
• MA Conflict Resolution (Full-time)
• MA Conflict Resolution (Part-time)
• MA Ethics, Politics and Public Policy (Full-time)
• MA Ethics, Politics and Public Policy (Part-time)
• MA Global and Comparative Politics (Full-time)
• MA Global and Comparative Politics (Part-time)
• MA Ideology and Discourse Analysis (Full-time)
• MA Ideology and Discourse Analysis (Part-time)
• MA Multilevel Governance in Europe (Full-time)
• MA Multilevel Governance in Europe (Part-time)
• MA Political Behaviour (Full-time)
• MA Political Behaviour (Part-time)
• MA Political Economy (Full-time)
• MA Political Economy (Part-time)
• MA Political Theory (Full-time)
• MA Political Theory (Part-time)
• MA Public Opinion and Polling (Full-time)
• MA Public Opinion and Polling (Part-time)
• MRes International Relations (Full-time)
• MRes Political Economy (Full-time)
• MRes Politics (Full-time)
• MSc Conflict Resolution (Full-time)
• MSc Conflict Resolution (Part-time)
• MSc Global and Comparative Politics (Full-time)
• MSc Global and Comparative Politics (Part-time)
• MSc Multilevel Governance in Europe (Full-time)
• MSc Multilevel Governance in Europe (Part-time)
• MSc Political Behaviour (Full-time)
• MSc Political Behaviour (Part-time)
• MSc Political Economy (Full-time)
• MSc Political Economy (Part-time)
• MSc Public Opinion and Polling (Full-time)
• MSc Public Opinion and Polling (Part-time)
• Graduate Diploma Politics with English for Academic Purposes (Full-time)

Introduction

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, 30 credits are compulsory 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).

Stage 1 Modules

Core: Ma Dissertation
Core: Theories Of International Relations
Advanced Research Methods
British Political Parties
Comparative Politics Of Human Rights
Conflict Resolution
Contemporary Theories Of Justice
Democracy, Citizenship And Constitutions
European Integration And European Politics
Global And Comparative Politics
Human Rights And Political Theory
Ideology And Political Discourse
International Negotiation
International Security Studies
Political Behaviour
Political Economy
Political Explanation
Political Theory
Research Design
Research Seminar In Political Theory And Methods
The Analysis Of Conflict And Peace
The Analysis Of Public Opinion
Theories Of International Relations
Theory And Explanation In Political Science

Introduction

Your postgraduate study at Essex gives you an opportunity to develop your own ideas and interests, and to engage with thinking at the leading edge of your subject as part of the research community in our Department of Government, and our wider academic and professional community.

As a student of politics your teaching mainly takes the form of lectures and classes. Some statistical modules will include computer-lab classes.

Assessment for modules taught by the Department of Government includes written coursework, assignments, end of term tests and an exam at the end of the year. Your grade for each module is calculated with a 50 per cent weighting for both coursework and exam. During the summer, you will work on a dissertation that’s included in your final grade.

Teaching methods and styles

Our courses are designed to provide you with an advanced understanding of contemporary theory, research and methods, plus knowledge of either the politics of a geographical area or an aspect of the discipline. Our courses include both compulsory and optional modules, so the course can be tailored to fit your interests and aspirations. The modules you take employ a variety of teaching methods with lectures that inform you and classes, which allow you to consolidate your learning through discussion and problem solving, accompanied by lab sessions that allow you to improve your technical skills.

Your dissertation

If you are taking a Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma, you do not need to do the dissertation.

If you are taking a Masters course, you are expected to start work on your dissertation early on in the academic year. You are given guidance on how to prepare a Masters dissertation by our Graduate Director in the spring term. There is a rigorous support system in place for the dissertation process, linking you with an appropriate supervisor at the earliest opportunity. We also have progress checks throughout the year to ensure you are on track. Our part-time students prepare their dissertation during their second year.

Seminars and conferences

Our Department of Government runs workshops and seminars that are attended by staff and students, as well as national and international conferences and research workshops. These give you exposure to cutting-edge research on topical issues, provide a role model for your own presentations and give you the opportunity to meet up with speakers and discuss your own research and ideas with them.

Career destinations

Our graduates go on to enjoy influential careers in British, European and international politics. This includes working as an MP, being the Speaker of the House of Commons and employment as political lobbyists or staff assistants to MPs and MEPs. Our graduates also work in the Civil Service and in local government, hold posts with the World Bank, the United Nations, NATO, YouGov and YouGov America, work for the armed forces or in finance and business, or undertake further research and teaching.

Our graduates acquire a wide range of methodological, analytical and statistical skills that make them highly adaptable and attractive to employers. Our academic reputation is illustrated by the fact that many of our graduates now teach or research at universities, colleges of higher education and schools. For example, recent graduates are now research fellows and academic staff at Mannheim, Germany; ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Duke University, USA; NATO/SHAPE, Belgium; and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Your employability and Essex

A postgraduate qualification is a major achievement and greatly valued by employers. Recent surveys show that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level and less likely to be unemployed. For some jobs a postgraduate qualification may be essential, for others it offers a competitive edge. Our graduates go into a variety of jobs, where the key employability skills and knowledge they have gained through postgraduate study are put to good use.

Our Languages for All programme lets you study a language, alongside your course, at no extra cost. You can take one of 50 taught language modules on a part-time day-time basis, or undertake flexible web-based learning, or opt for a language module taught in the evening. As employers can struggle to find graduates able to speak more than one language, Languages for All places Essex graduates in a very advantageous position.

If you achieve your Masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree and many who graduate from Essex choose to stay here for research study. Some of our Masters may be taken as the first part of an Integrated PhD, leading to your PhD after a further three years of full-time study.

Support for postgraduates

Our University has a range of support services designed to help you to achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies. These form a co-ordinated network of support, and are an important part of your overall student experience at Essex.

Our staff operate an 'open door' policy so are available to discuss any concerns with you throughout the year.

Research study opportunities

Within our Department of Government, we offer supervision for PhD and MPhil. We have steadily consolidated our reputation as the best politics department in the UK and in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We offer research supervision in the following fields: government; ideology and discourse analysis; international relations; political behaviour; and politics.