School of Social Sciences

Political Science MA

Year of entry: 2025

Course Length: full-time 12 months | part-time 24 months

About the course

The MA in Political Science at Manchester offers a wide variety of specialised pathways allowing you to fine-tune your studies to your interests and career ambitions:

Each pathway has been designed for those who want to combine strong transferable skills with focused expertise in their chosen specialism.

Courses are taught through a combination of methods including interactive lectures and seminars. The research routes available for each pathway are particularly suited to those wishing to pursue PhD study.

Click on the links above to see the full course profiles on our website.

Join one of the UK's Top 5 universities for Politics and International Studies

(Times Higher Education Rankings 2024)

Develop specialised knowledge in a field that interests you

Our graduates are among the most targeted by top UK employers

(High Fliers 2024)

Compulsory Units

Research Design and Skills
Dissertation

Optional Units

Global Governance
Political Parties in Contemporary Britain
The Politics of Money & Finance
The European Union: Politics and Policy Making
Gender in Comparative Politics
Democracy & Autocracy in Eastern Europe and Latin America
Democracy: Theory & Practice
Theories of Rights

Compulsory and optional units vary by pathway. These are examples of units offered in 2023/24 and are subject to change.

See the full list of units and find out more on the full course profiles >

Where will your degree take you?

Equipped with specialist knowledge, a top education and outstanding multidisciplinary skills such as research, debate, problem-solving and communication, our Political Science graduates go on to a variety of highly rewarding careers in national, international and multinational organisations.

Another popular route is academia, with many graduates, particularly those from the research pathways, pursuing PhDs to become researchers and teachers at Manchester and at other leading institutions around the world.

George Bolton

Political Science MA, Democracy and Elections Pathway

“I have been interested in all things political for years! I did philosophy, history and politics at A-Level and have done plenty of political writing, campaigning, protesting and volunteering since I was young. I thoroughly enjoyed my undergrad at Manchester and was always keen to carry on to a MA. The lecturers in this area are top of the game."