Department of Politics and International Studies

MSc International Politics (2022 entry)

Select year of entry: 2022 2021

Overview

Overview and entry requirements

The MSc International Politics explores key issues and debates in world politics from a variety of perspectives. We cover important questions such as: Why do wars happen? Is global peace possible? How is power exercised in international politics? What are the conditions for cooperation among states? How does migration challenge and change the international political order?

See Department of Politics and International Studies

We look at orthodox answers to such questions and interrogate them through a variety of critical, non-Western and marginalised views. Students will utilise different theoretical lenses in combination with SOAS’s rich empirical expertise, and are invited to examine the dynamics of world politics from the perspective of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

We also interrogate how international politics is informed by questions of empire, colonialism, race, gender and class.

Why study MSc International Politics at SOAS

We’re ranked 5th in the UK for Politics (QS World University Rankings 2021).

This programme is ideal for students who want to learn about key issues, themes and debates in world politics, or those who are interested in how international politics is practiced in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

It will be of particular interest to students and practitioners who want to pursue a career in international organisations, diplomacy, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and global advocacy groups.

Explore

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Entry requirements

We will consider all applications with a 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher in a relevant subject. In addition to degree classification we take into account other elements of the application such as supporting statement. References are optional, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.

Please see our 'postgraduate entry requirements' page for Overseas and EU qualifications and equivalencies.

Featured events

duration:: One calendar year (full-time) Two or three years (part-time, daytime only)

Fees 2020/21

UK fees:: £13,360

Overseas fees:: £22,840

Fees for 2021/22 entrants. This is a Band 5 fee. The fees are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. Further details can be found in the Fees and Funding tab on this page or in the Registry Postgraduate Tuition Fees page

Convenors

Dr Kerem Nisancioglu Convenor
Professor Stephen Chan, OBE Convenor

Structure

Students take taught modules to the value of 120 credits PLUS a 10,000 word dissertation (15PPOC999) worth 60 credits. Credits must be taken in the following combination;

Dissertation (15PPOC999) (60 credits) on some aspect of International Politics
Methodology in the Social Science (15PPOH060) (15 credits) AND
International Theory (15PPOH014) (15 credits)
A minimum of 45 credits from List B
A maximum of 45 credits from List C

Dissertation

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Dissertation in Politics and International Studies	15PPOC999	60	Full Year

Taught Component

Core Module

Module	Code	Credits	Term
International theory	15PPOH014	15	Term 1
Methodology in the Social Sciences	15PPOH060	15	Term 1

List B

Module	Code	Credits	Term
International politics of the Middle East	15PPOH047	15	Term 1
China and International Politics	15PPOH049	15	Term 1
International migration and diaspora politics	15PPOH012	15	Term 2
Foreign Policy Analysis	15PPOH013	15	Term 2
The Politics of Global Security	15PPOH015	15	Term 1
International Politics of Human Rights	15PPOH026	15	Term 2
Artificial Intelligence and Human Security	15PPOH048	15	Term 1
International Political Economy	15PPOH057	15	Term 2
International Relations of South Asia	15PPOH058	15	Term 2
International Security Politics in East Asia	15PPOH059	15	Term 2
African Feminisms: Theories, Politics and Action	15PGNH014	15	Term 1
Gender and Security in Africa	15PGNH015	15	Term 2

List C

Module	Code	Credits	Term
The Politics of Africa	15PPOC257	30	Full Year
State and transformation in the Middle East	15PPOH011	15	Term 1
Geopolitics and Security in Central Asia and the Caucasus	15PPOH023	15	Term 2
Political Theory, Race and Empire	15PPOH045	15	Term 1
Elections, Social Movements and Gender in Taiwan	15PPOH054	15	Term 1
State and Society in the Chinese Political Process 1	15PPOH071	15	Term 1
Market Politics: Political Economies of a Globalizing Middle East	15PPOH075	15	Term 1
Conflict, rights and justice	15PPOH018	15	Term 2
State Violence: Theories of the Leviathan and Beyond	15PPOH034	15	Term 2
Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Social Research	15PPOH035	15	Term 2
Key Concepts in Political Theory	15PPOH043	15	Term 2
Comparing Democracies in North East Asia	15PPOH050	15	Term 2
Globalising China	15PPOH056	15	Term 2
Political Economies of Northeast Asia: Japan, Korea and Taiwan	15PPOH061	15	Term 2
Politics of Island Southeast Asia	15PPOH066	15	Term 2
Taiwan in International Politics	15PPOH073	15	Term 2
Theorising Prisons, Borders and Walls	15PPOH074	15	Term 2
Political Economy of Development	15PDSC002	30	Full Year
Religion in Global Politics: Theories and Themes	15PSRC174	30	Full Year
Borders and Development	15PDSH023	15	Term 1
Global Advocacy	15PFFH012	15	Term 1
Queer Politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East	15PGNH007	15	Term 2
Colonialism, Empire and International Law	15PLAH025	15	Term 2
Neoliberalism, Democracy and Global Development	15PDSH054	15	Term 2

Programme Specification

MSc International Politics Programme Specification 2020/21 (pdf; 156kb)

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching & Learning

Modules are taught by a combination of methods, principally lectures, tutorial classes, seminars and supervised individual study projects.

The MSc programme consists of three taught modules (corresponding to three examination papers) and a dissertation.

Lectures

Most modules involve a 50-minute lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes.

Seminars

At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work taking place in two-hour sessions. Students make full-scale presentations for each unit that they take, and are expected to write papers that often require significant independent work.

Dissertation

A quarter of the work for the degree is given over to the writing of an adequately researched 10,000-word dissertation. Students are encouraged to take up topics which relate the study of a particular region to a body of theory.

Learning resources

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for 2021/22 entrants, per academic year (Band 5 tuition fee)

Full-time		Part-time 2 Years		Part-time 3 Years
UK Students	Overseas Students	UK Students	Overseas Students	UK Students	Overseas Students
£13,360	£22,840	£6,680	£11,420	£4,450	£7,610

Fees go up each year, therefore, your tuition fee in your second and subsequent years of study will be higher.

Our continuing students, on the same degree programme, are protected from annual increases higher than 5%.

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's postgraduate tuition fees page.

Scholarships

Felix Non- Indian Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2021-01-29 00:00