Overview

The MA in Political Research is a one-year degree that has been recognized by the Economic and Social Research Council for the first year of its 1 + 3 Research Studentships. It is designed specifically to provide the necessary research training for students to go on to pursue a PhD in Politics. Students who are awarded an ESRC 1 + 3 Research Studentship are funded for four years - one year doing an MA that has been recognised for these purposes (in this case the MA in Political Research) and three years doing a PhD.

The main aim of the MA in Political Research is to provide students with training in the distinctive concepts, methods, and techniques of the social sciences in general, of Politics in particular, and of the specific branch of the discipline in which their research will be located. This will allow them to pursue doctoral research in Politics. At the same time, the MA seeks to impart skills (for example, in communication, analytical understanding, and judgement) that will be of use to graduates in their future employment, whether or not they enter the Politics profession.

Structure

As with our other master's degrees, the MA in Political Research is divided between course-work in the first two terms and a dissertation in the Summer Term and long vacation. Its detailed structure is as follows:

1. General Modules

These include modules designed to provide a general grounding in social science and Politics research concepts and methods:

Module	Credits	Weight
Political Research and Analysis	20	11.11%
Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis	20	11.11%
Qualitative Research Methods	20	11.11%

and the training that helps students to develop more general research and personal skills:

Module	Credits	Weight
Personal and Professional Skills	10	5.56%
Research Workshop	10	5.56%

These count for just over 44% of students' final assessment.

2. Discipline-based Modules

Each student selects one of three specialized pathways, depending on the aspects of Politics on which he or she intends to concentrate in doctoral research. Each consists in two modules that together count for 20 per cent of students' final assessment:

International Political Economy Pathway:

• Critical Theories in International Political Economy
• Critical Issues in International Political Economy

Public Policy Pathway:

• Understanding Governance
• Policy Analysis

Political Philosophy Pathway:

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

Conflict and Development Pathway:

• Theories and Policies of Development Governance
• Social and Political Issues in Development

3. Dissertation

During the final five months of the course, each student works on a 15,000 word dissertation under the supervision of a suitably qualified member of staff. This allows the student to use his or her research skills in a more focused way, and to lay the basis for the more sustained research that he or she will undertake for a PhD. The Dissertation counts for 33.33% of the student's final assessment. See the Staff list and staff members' individual pages for details of their research and supervision interests.

To pass the MA in Political Research students must obtain a weighted average of at least 50% overall, and at least 50% in the Dissertation.