MPol Politics and International Relations (integrated masters) including placement year

MPol Politics and International Relations is an integrated Masters course giving you the opportunity to seamlessly continue your studies from undergraduate to masters level in 4 years (5 years if choosing a placement year or year abroad). It provides a thorough grounding in all major areas of political science and international relations and widens your awareness of the world system, while training you in the research and critical thinking skills that are prized by employers.

Why don't democratic countries go to war with each other? Why don't young people vote? Who should pay for climate change? Why do oil-rich states have worse human rights records? These are the kinds of questions addressed in our MPol in Politics & International Relations.

You can explore a very wide range of topic areas in which the Department of Government produces world-leading research, including:

Conflict resolution and peacekeeping

Social media, campaigning and democracy

International environmental policy

Ideology and discourse analysis

Terrorist groups and tactics

Political parties and party strategy

Overseas aid and development

Human rights and global justice

Transitions to democracy

The psychology of public opinion

The Department of Government at Essex is one of the most prestigious departments in Europe. It has been ranked top in the UK for research in Political Science & International Studies in every single government assessment exercise since they began in 1986. It also offers a better staff-student ratio than many of the other leading departments in the UK – crucial when it comes to offering support and supervision throughout your degree.