Our flagship MA in Political Economy is situated in the renowned Centre for the Study of Political Economy at The University of Manchester. The Centre brings together world-class research strengths and teaching from across the Faculty of Humanities to deliver a rigorous, impactful, and highly interdisciplinary course that critically examines the relationships between national and global economies, political landscapes, and public policies.
Studying our master’s in Political Economy via the Research Route, you will be introduced to a range of core orthodox and critical theories while also developing skills in quantitative and qualitative research design. Your course will be shaped by your interests, and you will choose one of four pathways to specialise in:
Each pathway offers course units drawn from the four different schools within the Faculty of Humanities:
Through this interdisciplinary approach, you will benefit from unique exposure to the full breadth of the field of political economy.
Through the course, you will develop subject area expertise as well as highly transferrable skills such as research design, critical inquiry, and writing and communication skills, setting you up for multiple career paths in the public, private, or third sectors. You will also be well-placed to continue developing and using your research expertise, either professionally or in PhD study.
The Research Route is an ESRC recognised 1 + 3 course. This means it offers training in both quantitative and qualitative research methods that prepares you for doctoral research and sets you up well for countless similar careers.
Research or Standard Route?
The key difference between our MA Political Economy (Research Route) and our MA Political Economy (Standard Route) is the amount and scope of mandatory course units you will take.
On the Research Route, in addition to your dissertation, you will take five mandatory course units and two optional course units. Mandatory units on this route are:
On the Standard Route, in addition to your dissertation, you will take two mandatory course units and five optional course units. Mandatory units on this route are:
Prestigious department
The University of Manchester boasts one of the largest and best-known politics departments in the UK. We are home to some of the world’s leading experts and academics in the subject, and co-hosts (with Oxford) of the British Election Study, one of the longest-running election studies in the world and the longest-running social science survey in the UK.
Unique city
In our biased opinion, there’s no better place to study politics and economics than Manchester. Politics and history, revolutionary ideas and radical reform, are etched into the city’s streets and character, from workers' rights to feminism, Marxism to devolution.
Interdisciplinary approach
Interdisciplinary study is actively pursued at Manchester, with many course units involving expertise and contributions from a number of different schools and departments at the University, such as economics, social statistics, and global development.
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.