Overview

The Department of Politics at the University of York has a long-established international reputation as a centre for postgraduate study in political philosophy. We typically welcome 20+ postgraduate students each year to read for our two interlinked MA programmes in Political Philosophy and Political Philosophy (The Idea of Toleration).

Our postgraduate students come from all over the world, as well as from a variety of institutions in the U.K. The size of our MA programme means that we always have a lively community of graduate students in political philosophy, with events such as the bi-weekly Morrell Political Theory Workshop providing a focus for staff and students working in the area.

We are a distinctively pluralistic department, which means that students on our MA degrees in Political Philosophy and Political Philosophy (The Idea of Toleration) have the opportunity to pursue a broad range of interests, from the history of early modern political thought, to contemporary liberal egalitarianism and philosophy of law, international political theory, recent European political thought, and democratic theory.

Each year the Geoffrey Heselton Prize (worth £500) is awarded to the best dissertation written by a student on the programme. Generously funded by the Morrell Trust in memory of one of its most distinguished and dedicated Trustees, the Prize is awarded to the student producing the best dissertation on the MAs in Political Philosophy.

Structure

The structure of our two MA programmes – in Political Philosophy and Political Philosophy (The Idea of Toleration) – are similar, with students taking four modules (two each in the Autumn and Spring Terms) and then writing a 13-15,000 word dissertation on the subject of their choice during the Summer Term and over the Summer Vacation.

On both MA degrees, students are encouraged to write on whatever issue in political theory most interests them, and the pluralism of the department means that there are few restrictions on subject matter.

The Geoffrey Heselton Prize (worth £500), funded by the Morrell Trust, is awarded every year to the best dissertation written by a student on our MA programme.

The two MA degrees in political theory are closely linked to one another, with students able on one degree able to take the core modules of the other degree as optional modules. There are also a range of further optional modules available to students on both degrees.

The core modules for the MA in Political Philosophy (The Idea of Toleration) are:

• History of the Idea of Toleration
• Contemporary Issues in Toleration

The core modules for the MA in Political Philosophy are:

• Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy
• Approaches to the History of Political Thought

Optional modules available to students on both degrees include the following (this list changes slightly from year to year):

• Contemporary Philosophy of Law
• Reason and Power in European Political Thought (not running 2011/12)
• Ethics and World Politics
• (& the available core modules of the other MA degree)

Funding

Through the generosity of the C & JB Morrell Trust, we have up to eight studentships available for 2011-12 to students reading for the MA in Political Philosophy (The Idea of Toleration). These studentships cover home fees, plus a contribution of £2000 towards living costs. There is no separate application for Morrell funding: applicants to the MA in Political Philosophy (The Idea of Toleration) should simply indicate on their application that they wish to be considered for this funding. (NB. These studentships are only available for this degree, and are not available to those applying to our other MA course in Political Philosophy.)

Staff

Professor Matthew Festenstein BA, PhD (Cambridge)
Head of Department
Modern Social and Political Theory; Political Philosophy: Democratic Theory
email: matthew.festenstein@york.ac.uk

 

Professor Matt Matravers BSc (Econ), PhD (LSE)
Director of School of PEP
Contemporary political philosophy; legal and penal theory; the philosophy of punishment; dangerousness
email: matt.matravers@york.ac.uk

 

Dr Martin O'Neill MA, BPhil (Oxford), AM, PhD (Harvard)
Convenor, MAs in Political Philosophy
Political philosophy (especially social justice, liberty, equality, responsibility); issues at the intersection of political philosophy and public policy
email: martin.oneill@york.ac.uk

 

Dr Tim Stanton BA (Leicester), MA (York), PhD (Leicester)
Director of the Graduate School of Politics
History of political thought; philosophy of John Locke
email: tim.stanton@york.ac.uk

 

Dr Monica Brito-Vieira 

History of political thought; contemporary political theory and intellectual history

email: monica.britovieira@york.ac.uk

Careers

The skills of reasoning, argument, communication and research that students develop on our MA will stand them in very good stead for their future careers. Our MA programmes can be the ideal springboard to further work in academia, as well as helping to hone skills that are of use in a broad variety of other careers.

Many of those taking our MAs in political philosophy go on to do PhDs, whether at York or elsewhere, and continue to successful academic careers in philosophy and political theory. Many others leave academia after their MA, and go on to successful careers in the civil service, law, business, journalism, charities and NGOs.

Some of our recent (and not so recent!) MA alumni talk about their experiences of the MAs in Political Philosophy at York here.

Contact

If you are interested in applying to either the MA in Political Philosophy or the MA in Political Philosophy (The Idea of Toleration), and would like to discuss the programmes further, please contact the Professor Matthew Festenstein (matthew.festenstein@york.ac.uk).