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MA Gender and Politics

Gain a unique insight into the relationship between gender and politics.

Year of entry: 2024 (September)

Length

1 year full-time

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

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Respond to the increased salience of sex, gender and sexuality in transnational politics.

This course will provide the opportunity to study the relationship between sex, gender, and sexuality - including their intersection with race, ability and class - within the contemporary postcolonial world order.

You will have the opportunity to take modules that are explicitly focused on the intersection of gender and politics, as well as studying modules centred on key aspects of domestic and international politics in different sub-disciplines in political science.

16th in the UK

for Politics, according to Complete University Guide (CUG) 2024.

Experts on the global stage

Our staff advise governments and international organisations on a wide range of issues, and contribute to news media and current affairs programmes around the world.

Course content

This course will give you a firm grounding in the fundamental relationship between gender and politics by taking an intersectional approach.

You'll study 180 credits in total. The course consists of:

  • core modules 
  • option modules 
  • independent research dissertation

Our option modules will allow you to tailor the course to your interests.

Dissertation

During the summer term and vacation you will consolidate your interests in a 12,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice. You'll have a dissertation supervisor who will provide regular guidance and will be able to comment on your dissertation.

Dissertations could cover topics such as:

  • A post-colonial critique of the UK Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative

  • 'Don’t Let it Distract You': Why Race and Gender Matters in Drone Warfare

  • 'A man’s world and I am just playing into it!': A Feminist Examination of Women’s Experiences and Behaviours on Mobile Dating Apps

  • Transnormativity, Sexuality, and Gender Conformity: Trans Acceptance within the Heterosexual Matrix

  • Human Rights and the decriminalization of abortion in El Salvador"

  • Race and Gender under Neoliberalism: Austerity and labour in Chile and the UK'

  • Human Rights Campaigners and Masculinity: Threat to life, self care and collective action in South American Peasant Movements'

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Draw on the productive synthesis between the theories and methods offered by the disciplines of politics and gender studies to gain an indepth understanding of sexed, gendered, heteronormative and intersectional structures in domestic and transnational politics. [Skill: Knowledge Base]
  • Critically assess, empirically study (where appropriate) and apply theories, concepts and methods developed in gender and  LGBTQ+ studies to issues in domestic and transnational politics, such as the rise of the populist radical right, neoliberalism, migration, and the postcolonial order.  [Skill: Evaluation]
  • Conduct persuasive, systematic and nuanced independent research that is informed by feminist and LGBTQ+ studies methodology and ethics, by conceiving research questions; justifying the use of theories and concepts; generating and interpreting data and reviewing existing literatures. [Skills: Autonomy/Management of Information]
  • Identify and employ different feminist and LGBTQ+ studies methodologies of research and enquiry to create and interpret knowledge in political science (including its sub-fields) [Skill: Disciplinary Methodologies]
  • Communicate effectively and fluently, demonstrating a sophisticated awareness of the topic and constructing and conveying complex ideas. [Skill: Communication]
  • Demonstrate intercultural awareness by critically engaging with differing points of view in light of the values of tolerance and inclusivity.  [Skills: Interpersonal, intercultural and professional]

The study of gender as both a topic within and a lens to view politics is a really insightful and interesting endeavor. It makes you consider how the world around you operates differently, and the exposure to a wide range of theorists makes you see things in new and exciting ways!

Rachel Yeldham, former Politics student

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

Study modeUK (home)International and EU
Full-time (1 year) £10,590£23,900
Part-time (2 years) £5,295£11,950

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

  • UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
  • International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Additional costs

Although students may decide to purchase some textbooks or other resources, we have an extensive physical and electronic library, so that there is no requirement to do so.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Departmental funding

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You'll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-ones. We offer a personal approach to learning with much of our teaching conducted in small groups (typically fewer than 15 students in a seminar group). Your personal supervisor provides support and guidance throughout your studies, offering weekly feedback and guidance hours.

Research-led teaching

You'll be taught by academics at the forefront of research across a number of political areas such as conflict, security and development, political economy, international politics, political theory and public policy. As international experts in their field, our staff advise governments and organisations and regularly contribute to news and current affairs programmes. Our expertise and experience feed directly into our teaching.

Teaching location

You will be based in the Department of Politics and International Relations on Campus West. Most teaching will take place nearby.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

‌Assessment varies from module to module and includes a combination of exams, written essays and project work.

Your tutors will give you feedback in a variety of forms depending on the specific needs of the module. This may consist of written feedback, in-class discussion, model answers, one-to-one discussions or online responses.

PEP students sat in lecture theatre

Careers and skills

Our students go on to careers in international organisations, the media, law, the civil service, politics, journalism and business.

This MA course is an excellent pathway to careers in a wide range of private and public sector organisations, and for further academic study.

Career opportunities

Our recent graduates have gone on to work with:

  • Government social research officers
  • Journalists
  • Researchers
  • Translators
  • Policy Analysts

Graduate profiles

Transferable skills

  • Logical thinking
  • Analysis of complex ideas, arguments and theories    
  • Problem-solving
  • The ability to present succinct reports    
  • Intellectual independence
  • Communication skills
  • Team work and organisation

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:1 or equivalent. We are willing to consider applicants with lower qualifications, particularly if you have high marks in relevant modules and/or appropriate professional experience. Additional information may be requested.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
KITE 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL 87, minimum 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

If we make you an offer, we'll invite you to visit us between November and April. You can meet current students and chat one-to-one with our academic staff.

Apply for this course

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Dr. Joe Turner

Learn more

Department of Politics and International Relations

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