Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Mile End
- Fees
- Home: £12,250
Overseas: £25,500
EU/EEA/Swiss students
What you'll study
In today’s world, it is increasingly apparent that you cannot understand politics or economics in isolation, and there is a need for a greater understanding of the relationship between the two. This is clear in the context of debates around globalisation, the relationship between states and markets, the 2008 global financial crisis and its (ongoing) aftermath, the environmental crisis, and debates around inequality and poverty.
Standard distinctions between state and market, global and local, the international and the national, limit our capacity to engage creatively with such a world.
In response, this MA Programme teaches an interdisciplinary approach to world politics that works across political science, international relations, and other social science disciplines, including economics. It aims to train new knowledge creators who are confident in working across disciplinary boundaries to engage the major challenges of today in imaginative ways.
The programme offers hands-on training in the development of the necessary conceptual and methodological tools in International Political Economy that facilitate thinking outside the box when addressing contemporary concerns in world politics.
Structure
The full-time programme is structured as follows:
Term 1:
Compulsory: Approaches to Political Economy (30 credits)
Optional module: 30 credits from the optional modules list
Term 2:
Compulsory: Current Debates in International Economy (30 credits)
Optional module: 30 credits from the optional modules list
Term 3:
- Dissertation/Project in Political Economy (60 credits)
The part-time programme is structured as follows:
Year 1, Term 1: Approaches to Political Economy (30 credits)
Year 1, Term 2: 30 credits from the optional modules list
Year 2, Term 1: 30 credits from the optional modules list
Year 2, Term 2: Current Debates in International Political Economy (30 credits)
Year 2, Term 3: MA Dissertation/Project in Political Economy (60 credits)
Compulsory/Core modules
The Masters' Dissertation is an independent programme of study of an approved topic within the field of Politics completed over the summer months (May-August) of your degree programme. It is a compulsory element of your degree amounting to sixty credits (providing one-third of the credits for your degree). It is designed to enable students to undertake independent research and, through this, allow them to develop a specialised knowledge in an area of the Politics discipline which is of particular interest to them. Thus, it may draw upon, and develop an existing topic or issue associated with a module that they have studied in the earlier part of their programme, or emerge out of a student's specific research interest in an area not covered by other module modules. Although the dissertation is meant to be an exercise in independent research and writing, each student will be offered guidance and support through the assigning of a supervisor within the department who will oversee the progress of the dissertation.
This module provides an introduction to the theoretical foundations of the contemporary analyses of advanced capitalism. How have thinkers within politics and economics theorised and analysed the relationship between the two disciplines? Is it even possible to analytically distinguish between the two? The aim of this module is to answer these two questions by reference to the major theories within the field of political economy. The module analyses both classical and contemporary theories of political economy, and explores their continued relevance to understanding the development of advanced capitalism. Towards the end of the module we will consider some heterodox approaches brought to the fore by the onset of the ongoing financial and economic crisis and consider their relevance.
This module will examine how ideas from classical political economy have been employed and adapted to understand the contemporary world of trade, international finance and global production networks. Topics such as global capital flows, the power and influence of multi-national corporations, the role of reserve currencies in global system and the regimes governing trade, labour and environmental standards will be examined, all with an eye to the diverse theoretical and methodological traditions that have shaped debates on these subjects. The module thus equips students with a strong understanding of how the global economy works and with the theoeretical and methodological tools to do advanced research in international political economy
Elective modules
The module provides students with a detailed examination - and critique - of theories of globalisation and assessment of contemporary globalising processes, and how these particularly influence the developing world. It examines these influences through detailed analysis of contemporary manifestations of globalisation, including neo-liberalism, US hegemony and contemporary imperialism, capital flows, global commodity chains, state-market relations, patterns of global inequality, international institutions, and questions of cultural homogenisation/imperialism. The module also examines the ways in which globalisation is resisted, focusing on the rise of transnational social movements and NGOs, and the politics of anti-globalisation, and how this relates to an ostensibly post-development era. In addressing these issues, the module concludes by asking the most important question: how do we think of development in an era of globalisation, US hegemony, neo-liberalism and imperialism?
This module will consider the principal forms in which US foreign policy has been practised and interpreted since the foundation of the Republic. Amongst these are American Exceptionalism and Anti-Americanism, spheres of influence, liberal interventionism and protectionist isolationism, Cold War containment, the War on Terror following 9/11, and the strains on unipolarity in the early 21st century. Amongst the case studies linked to these themes, we shall consider the role of Native Americans and immigration, the war of 1898, gunboat diplomacy in the Caribbean, the ideas of Woodrow Wilson, the Vietnam War, the consequences of the 9/11 attacks, and the challenges posed by China.
Violent conflict and the use of force remain salient issues in contemporary international relations. While some have theorised that the advent of globalisation and spread of liberal democracy would make the use of force and violent conflict less relevant to the world, war and conflict have remained an integral part of the international system, as well as forming an obstacle to providing stability and security for many states. The module offers an examination of the ways in which violent conflict and the use of force impact on international relations, how force is used by states and other actors, and how force is managed in world politics. The module surveys a variety of perspectives on the causes of war and peace in order to better examine the roots of violent conflicts and security problems in the present day. A major theme is looking at war in a global context, not only in terms of integrating contemporary concerns with globalisation, but also by looking at interconnections between north and south, and war and society. Additionally, the responses of the international community to violent conflict will also be explored, looking broadly at the contested notion of the "Just War", international law, and the role of the United Nations. Overall, the module gives a broad perspective on the place of armed force in contemporary international relations.
This module gives students the opportunity to study the international relations of the Middle East through the lens of contemporary conflict. The Middle East is often characterized as the most conflict-ridden region of the world. This module seeks to explore firstly if that is an accurate assessment and secondly why so many conflicts have occurred in this region. Focusing on the contemporary Middle East, while also discussing recent history, `conflict¿ is broadly defined to mean not just wars, but also contested politics. Exploration of these conflicts will be framed by international relations theory and the theories of civil conflicts. The module will first consider the key state (and non-state) actors involved in many of these conflicts, whether regional (Turkey, Iran, Saudi, Israel, UAE/Qatar) or international (US, Russia, China). Thereafter, we will explore different conflict case studies each week in which these rivalries have play out and interacted with domestic politics: Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Kurdistan, Palestine and Libya.
This module will provide a structured introduction to key issues and concepts in policy analysis. The module will give students a solid grounding in theories of the policy-making process while enabling students to apply those insights to practical case-studies of policy formulation and implementation in the real world. The module will also provide students with background on the key traditions and approaches to public administration and policy-making in countries around the world, both developing and developed countries. Issues to be covered on the module will include the nature of public policies; the policy context: institutions and actors; theoretical approaches to the policy process; policy problems and agenda-setting; decision-making; implementation/new public management; evaluation; governance; public policy beyond the nation-state; policy change and policy convergence; future challenges for policy-makers.
Students will get a comprehensive understanding of how migration policy works at European and International levels and of the cutting-edge debates surrounding the so-called 'migration crisis'. Students will explore and critically analyse the causes and consequences of the migration crises from a public policy perspective. The module is divided in four parts. First, migration as a phenomenon of globalisation is introduced as well as the way states and the supranational level (EU and UN) have developed policies to `manage' and `control¿ migration. Second, the module offer a theoretical and empirical explanation of security and border policies and practices developed to control migration as well as of policies of integration. Third, the course spends some time discuss the so-called 2015 migration and refugee `crisis¿, the policies adopted by the EU, the divergent policies adopted by European member states and the role of European cities and regions. Fourth, the course studies the migration policies that are in place in North Africa, with a specific focus on the Moroccan immigration reform, and in West Africa, with a focus on ECOWAS.
This module will provide an advanced examination of International Organisations (IOs) as a transnational political workspace for both cooperation and contestation between global actors. The module will be grounded in a historical and critical examination of the development of IOs in the 19th century as a tool to manage European international order, and it will emphasize the ways in which IOs developed in conjunction with the modern state. Building upon this critical grounding, the module will examine today's IOs, with a particular focus on the UN system, and their effectiveness in confronting global challenges in the 21st century. The module will conclude with a capstone day-long Model UN simulation.
The European Union has developed from a narrow organisation that sought the peaceful cooperation of certain industries into a supranational political system with executive, legislative and judicial institutions. Over the last three decades the process of European integration has made rapid progress withe the deepening of the Single Market, the creation of a currency union, successive rounds of enlargement . On the other hand, recent setbacks and crises (such as Covid-19, the War in Ukraine, the Eurozone crisis, the 'migratory crisis', Brexit and the grow euroscepticism) have rekindled debates concerning the legitimacy, speed and direction of the European project. The module explores the governance of policy areas in the EU to understand the current challenges within the EU project and the drivers of these crises.
Assessment
Assessment is varied and takes a number of forms within the programme. The nature of the assessment is closely connected to the desired learning outcomes and the mode of teaching within each module. Forms of assessment include: written coursework; examinations; presentations; and the dissertation.
Teaching
The programme is taught in accordance with the School of Politics and International Relations Education Strategy and statement of educational principles, which support excellent, inclusive, and innovative teaching practices aimed at fostering independent learning and critical thinking in our students. Our strategy is informed by Queen Mary's 2030 strategy.
Teaching takes a number of forms:
- Lectures
- Seminar
- Workshops
- Individual supervision of projects and dissertations
- Individual feedback on written work.
Learning is supported by:
- Coherently designed and effectively delivered modules
- Detailed module information shared on QMPlus
- The provision of key materials in libraries or through electronic resources
- Appropriate assessment exercises within each module
- Use of electronic teaching materials including Powerpoint, QMPlus and online reading lists
- Encouraging active learning by supporting students in seminar discussions and independent research
- Some research methods training as part of the dissertation module.
Where you'll learn
Facilities
At Queen Mary you will have access to a number of advanced facilities, some of which are designated exclusively to postgraduate students. These include:
- Mile End Institute, a major discussion forum based at Queen Mary that brings together policymakers, academics, and local communities to address national political challenges
- Brand new Graduate Centre, offering purpose-built study spaces and an exclusive rooftop common room
- Think Pod - an interactive collaboration space with presentation, recording, and video conferencing facilities
- Access to some of London’s outstanding facilities including the British Library, Senate House Library, and Copac.
About the School
School of Politics and International Relations
The School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary has an interdisciplinary structure that enables us to deliver a modern approach to educational research.
With a focus on high-quality teaching and innovation, the school ensures engaging educational pathways, alongside supportive staff and excellent research facilities. Our staff are active researchers with diverse interests across politics, international relations, and sociology, from security and war to migration and environmental politics, which is reflected in our high-level teaching and the breadth of our programmes.
We are also a member of the Russell Group of leading research universities in the UK.
Career paths
On this programme you'll advance your skills preparing you for jobs aimed at individual and collaborative knowledge creation in academic institutions, financial institutions, think tanks, NGOs, and civil service, among others. However, both the subject-specific knowledge and transferable skills will also prepare you for a wide range of employment opportunities, including careers in journalism, social work, local, national, and international governance and third-sector organisations.
Fees and funding
Full-time study
September 2025 | 1 year
- Home: £12,250
- Overseas: £25,500
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Conditional deposit
Home: Not applicable
Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits
Part-time study
September 2025 | 2 years
- Home: £6,150
- Overseas: £12,750
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Conditional deposit
Home: Not applicable
Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits
Queen Mary alumni can get a £1000, 10% or 20% discount on their fees depending on the programme of study. Find out more about the Alumni Loyalty Award
Funding
There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Postgraduate loans (UK students)
- Country-specific scholarships for international students
Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:
Entry requirements
UK
Degree requirements
A 2:1 or above at undergraduate level in a relevant social science or humanities discipline (for example Politics, Economics, Sociology, International Relations, Human Geography, History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Law, Literature).
Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.
International
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.
The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the School of Politics and International Relations falls within the following English band:
Band 5: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 7.0 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.
Visas and immigration
Find out how to apply for a student visa.