Countries and governments face increasingly complex, multifaceted problems – from the cost-of-living crisis and rampant inflation to the climate emergency and the erosion of democratic institutions.
Political economy, in analysing the relationship between political systems, institutions and markets, is an invaluable discipline in understanding these complex problems, the multifaceted nature of their causes and routes to potential solutions.
Our Political Economy Masters will equip you with a systematic understanding of how political and economic systems interact. It encourages students to think of politics and economics as interdependent spheres in which governments, firms and citizens influence each other.
The programme brings together domestic and international analyses of economic policy processes, allowing you to develop a thorough understanding of the political dynamics involved in the making of economic policy.
If you're interested in public policy or consultancy you'll also have the opportunity to develop the methodological skills required for conducting statistical analysis with economic and political data.
You'll study a range of compulsory and elective classes which will give you an advanced understanding of the study of political economy. You'll learn about the design and implementation of advanced research projects in political science and about social sciences more generally.
You may apply to do a client-based project as part of your dissertation research. Following a career workshop session, and on the advice of the Department, you can contact host organisations including local, city, and national governmental organisations to arrange a work-based MSc dissertation.
These projects will normally be unpaid and may need to be developed further to meet the requirements of an MSc dissertation.
Across our politics courses, students have undertaken placements in a range of organisations, including:
The MSc in Political Economy teaches a systematic understanding of how political-economic systems interact. It encourages students to think of politics and economics as integrated systems in which governments, firms and citizens interact.
You'll:
Academic requirements First-class or Second-class Honours degree, or international equivalent, in social science.