Politics
Manchester has one of the largest and strongest politics groupings in the UK, with a long and distinguished history which means you’ll be in a great place to take the next steps in your career or research.
Our diversity is our biggest asset, and you’ll have the opportunity to choose from a huge variety of highly specialised courses and pathways, as well as core political options giving you the chance to shape your degree to match your personal interests and professional aspirations.
Leading department
Study at one of the largest and best politics departments in the country, ranked 5th in the UK and Top 30 worldwide
(THE Rankings 2024)
Specialist expertise
We are the home of the prestigious British Election Study, co-hosted with Oxford University, as well as a beacon of several more research specialisms
Flexible courses
A unique range of modules, flexibility and choice of study routes create a personalised postgraduate degree
Research excellence
We're a top 10 department in the UK for Politics research, with 95% of our research rated as 'world-leading' and 'internationally excellent'
(Research Excellence Framework 2021)
Graduate Destinations
Equipped with specialist knowledge, a top education and outstanding multidisciplinary skills such as research, debate, problem-solving and communication, our Politics graduates go on to a variety of highly rewarding careers in national, international and multinational organisations.
Another popular route is academia, with graduates pursuing PhDs to become researchers and teachers at Manchester and at other leading institutions around the world.
Top job sectors*
*Information based on graduate data across all postgraduate Politics programmes, 2017-2021.
Further / Higher Education
Local / National Govt.
Third sector
Law / Legal Services
Banking / Financial Services
Example job titles
- Researcher
- Project Manager
- Political Advisor
- Civil Servant
- Policy Officer
Example employers
- Civil Service
- House of Commons
- Princeton University
- KPMG
- Red Cross
Meet the Academics
Our research shapes the world we live in, understanding communities, arguing the case for sustainability, and protecting the vulnerable in changing times.
Paul Tobin
Lecturer in Politics
"Students from all walks of life come to Manchester and that's excellent because it means we always have a range of different experiences and perspectives to learn from when we're talking about contemporary issues.
Politics is something that we can study and explain and explore as a society, but doing so requires as many voices at the table as possible."
Professor Yoram Gorlizki
Research Focus: Russia and the Soviet Union
Yoram draws his main teaching influences from those who taught him during his education. He uses examples of his own experience in education to engage his students and demonstrate his passion for politics. He believes this passion is key to the learning process of his students, reinforced by variation in teaching methods.
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester