The University of Sheffield
Prospective Postgraduates

MA Politics with Research Methods

Ailin Martinez Alvarez, postgraduate in the Department of Politics

Key facts

  • Department of Politics, Faculty of Social Sciences
  • 1 year full-time/2 years part-time

Fees and funding

Financial information for postgraduate taught courses

Entry requirements

For all our courses you'll need a 2:1 honours degree, plus references from previous tutors. If you have different qualifications, we'll look at your application on its individual merits.

English language requirements: overall IELTS grade 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, 6.5 in Writing, 5.5 in Listening and 5.5 in Speaking, or equivalent.

Entry requirements for international students

Any questions?

If you'd like to know more about any aspect of our courses, contact us:

E: pol.grad@sheffield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)114 222 1642

Apply now

About the course

This course will prepare you for MPhil and PhD research, as well as a career in research. You'll develop skills in three complementary areas: politics and international relations methods training, political analysis generally, and specialist training in your chosen area of politics or international relations.

Core modules

  • Advanced Political Analysis
  • Research Methods in Politics and International Relations

Optional modules

Choose three from a range including:

  • Theories and Issues in International Political Economy
  • The Political Economy of Globalisation
  • Governance and Politics of the European Union
  • The Politics of International Law
  • Democratisation
  • Global Governance
  • Human Rights
  • Theory and Practice of International Relations
  • Political Thought and the Rights of War and Peace
  • The Global Politics of the Environment and Climate Change

Teaching

All taught modules (not the dissertation) are taught in seminars.

Assessment

You'll be assessed continuously through essays.

To complete the MA successfully you must earn a total of 180 credits. Most core and optional modules count for 30 credits each. Your dissertation, produced over the summer after the taught element, counts for 60 credits.

For the module assessments and the dissertation, you'll need a mark of 50 per cent or above. If you don't complete the dissertation, achieving 120 credits in taught modules will get you a Graduate Diploma.

Where your masters can take you

Our graduates work for government and other public sector organisations, private sector companies, consultancies and think-tanks. They are directors, private secretaries, managers, political advisers, barristers, parliamentary clerks, senior civil servants and administrators.

Our department

We work with the UK government Cabinet Office, central departments and House of Commons Select Committees. We also carry out research within Whitehall and Westminster. Our teaching is informed, policy-relevant and reflects current government debate. You’ll be part of a close-knit community of 200 postgraduate students. It’s a cosmopolitan community of students from around the world. The Politics Society runs regular activities and events. You may also get involved with our Canvas e-journal.

Apply now

You can apply for postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It is a quick and easy process.

Postgraduate Online Application Form