MA Political Economy (Research Route)

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Arts (MA)
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements

We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MA Y Y N N

Course overview

  • Benefit from a course that draws on a long and highly distinguished tradition of political economy at The University of Manchester.
  • Learn in a unique, cross-disciplinary curriculum of study in political economy.
  • Develop your own particular interests in political economy through one of four distinct pathways.

Open days

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses.

During the open day, you will learn more about the School of Social Sciences, our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

For more information, see open days and visits .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MA (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £17,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £27,000
  • MA (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £8,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,750

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding applicants, such as the Manchester Humanities International Excellence Scholarship .

The Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 fee reduction to Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree within the last three years and are progressing to postgraduate study. 

For more information, see our  Fees and funding page.

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Social Sciences
Contact name
School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
Telephone
+44 (0)161 804 9198
Email
Website
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/politics
School/Faculty

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

  • IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
  • TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70

You are not required to submit an English language certificate at the time of application, however if you are eligible for an offer it will be subject to meeting our English language requirements.

Pre-Sessional English Courses

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you will be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.

To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:

6 Week Pre-Sessional Course : IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.

10 Week Pre-sessional Course : IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill 

If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries

If you are a national of a   majority English-speaking country   (or have studied for a full bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students, the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our  country-specific information page   for guidance on the academic and English language qualifications which may be accepted from your country.

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Please note, due to the high volume of applications we receive the course may close before the advertised deadline and as such, early application is advised.

If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

The MA in Political Economy course at Manchester offers a cross-disciplinary curriculum of study in political economy.

The MA is housed in the Centre for the Study of Political Economy, which brings together the world-class research strengths in the field of political economy at the University. The course is taught by members from across the Faculty of Humanities in the School of Social Sciences, the School of Environment and Development, and the Alliance Manchester Business School.

Each student will pursue their particular interests in political economy through one of four pathways:

  • Theoretical Political Economy;
  • Political Economy of Society, Space and Environment;
  • Political Economy of Finance, Business and Work;
  • Political Economy of Development.

Each pathway offers courses drawn from across the different disciplines in the schools, offering you unique exposure to the full breadth of the field of political economy. The research route is an ESRC recognised 1 + 3 course which offers training in both quantitative and qualitative research methods that prepares you for doctoral research.

Teaching and learning

Part-time students complete the full-time course over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time route.  

You must first check the schedule of the compulsory units and then select your optional units to suit your requirements.  

Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your unit choices during induction week with your course director.

Course unit details

All students take a core course unit in Theoretical Approaches to Political Economy, which provides a thorough grounding in both classical and contemporary theories of political economy and introduces the basic concepts of the discipline.

You will also take at least one core unit from your chosen pathway, together with one optional unit from that pathway. The research route provides a foundation in research skills for students intending to go on to undertake a PhD in the area of political economy, or seeking employment requiring advanced research skills in the public, private or voluntary sector.

You will complete compulsory core research training units in Quantitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research, Philosophy of Politics and Dissertation Research Design. Taught units comprise two thirds of the course. The remainder of the course consists of a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on a substantial issue in political economy.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Theoretical Approaches to Political Economy POEC61011 30 Mandatory
Research Design and Skills POLI60312 15 Mandatory
Philosophy of Politics Research POLI70771 15 Mandatory
Dissertation POLI72000 60 Mandatory
Qualitative Research Methods SOCS60230 15 Mandatory
Introduction to Quantitative Methods SOST70511 15 Mandatory
The Political Economy of Global Business BMAN62012 15 Optional
Poverty, Inequality and Government Policy in Less Developed Countries ECON60212 15 Optional
Economics of Environmental Policy ECON60782 15 Optional
Political Ecologies GEOG70952 15 Optional
Industrial Competitiveness and Global Transformation MGDI60002 15 Optional
Global Political Economy MGDI60072 15 Optional
Gender Inequality: Theory and Evidence MGDI60202 15 Optional
Climate, Environment and Development MGDI60552 15 Optional
Migration and Development MGDI60742 15 Optional
Gender & Development MGDI70802 15 Optional
Contemporary Issues in Development Finance MGDI72162 15 Optional
Ethics PHIL60051 15 Optional
Comparing Capitalisms in the Global Political Economy POLI60032 15 Optional
Governing in an Unjust World: Justice and International Relations POLI60182 15 Optional
Critical Globalisation Studies POLI70282 15 Optional
Theories of Rights POLI70722 15 Optional
Democracy: Theory & Practice POLI70872 15 Optional
Lies, damned lies and statistics: politics and data science POLI71212 15 Optional
Capitalism and Development in the Middle East POLI71312 15 Optional
Sociology of Consumption SOCY60552 15 Optional
Creating a Sustainable World: Interdisciplinary Applications of the Sustainable Development Goals UCIL60312 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 27 course units

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

Our recent graduates have gone on to undertake a PhD in political economy. Others have gone into careers that require advanced research skills in areas such as academia, the civil service and the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The University also has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .