Politics

Politics (Research) MA

12 months full time; 24 months part time

Fees

Fees per academic year 2012-13

UK/EU: full time £5,500 part time £2,750
International: full time £11,165 part time fees
Please refer to our Tuition Fees section for information about changes to fees and fee discounts.

Aims

This programme is designed to provide you with both the essential skills and the advanced knowledge and understanding to enable you to proceed to doctoral research. The social and political science research training provided will also be valuable for many non-academic careers, including careers in national and local government, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, social research and the media.

Programme Description

This programme, recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) under its 1+3 system (Master’s plus PhD) for funding postgraduate studies, focuses on the development of the skills necessary to undertake research in the social sciences in general, and politics in particular.

You take compulsory modules (120 credits) which cover: information skills; thinking about political research; doing political research; qualitative methodology in the arts, humanities and social sciences; thinking about research; introduction to quantitative methods; and the nature of enquiry and explanation. You then undertake a research project culminating in a 12,000-word dissertation (60 credits).

Teaching and learning take place in workshops and practical classes, lectures, seminars, team-based problem-solving groups and in supervisory meetings for research papers and the dissertation.

Find out  more detailed information about the programme modules

Entrance Requirements

An upper-second-class Honours degree or above, or international equivalent, in international studies/politics or a related discipline. Relevant professional experience may also be considered. Applicants whose first language is not English require IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 90 (Internet-based) or equivalent. 

If you are an international student and you do not meet the academic and English Language requirements for this degree programme, you may want to consider a preparation course at INTO Newcastle University.  INTO Newcastle University is based on the University campus and offers a range of courses to help you prepare for study in the UK including the Graduate Diploma in Business and Social Sciences.

Tier 4 Student Visas (International Applicants)

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has now revised its rules for Tier 4 student visa applications regarding English language ability. You are now required to hold a minimum of IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) in all sub skills (listening, writing, reading and speaking) to be eligible to apply for a Tier 4 visa.

Please note that the University’s English language requirements are normally higher (see above).

Typical Funding

UK/EU students - full or partial fees bursaries may be available from the School.
International students - University scholarships.

See also: Funding and Finance.

How to Apply

There is no closing date for this programme. However, international students applying for September 2012 entry should apply by Friday 13 July 2012 to ensure that they have time to put appropriate arrangements in place.

For the quickest and easiest way to apply, visit our postgraduate online application site.

Further Information

For further information please contact:
Postgraduate Secretary
School of Geography, Politics and Sociology
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 5200
E-mail: gps@ncl.ac.uk