Overview

Course overview

  • Study a master’s in Political Science at a university ranked top 10 in the UK and top 40 worldwide for Politics (Times Higher Education World Rankings by Subject 2025).
  • Specialise in the study and research of governance and public policy.
  • Engage in unique opportunities to get hands-on with the field through contact with politicians and policy makers through Policy@Manchester , and placements with policy makers in and around the city.
  • Join one of the UK’s largest and most prestigious politics departments, internationally renowned for its public policy research centre.
  • Tailor your studies to your interests with a broad choice of optional course units.
  • Graduate from one of the UK’s most targeted universities by top employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024).
  • Seamlessly transition from master's to PhD study through a fully-funded 1+3 pathway with our prestigious ESRC North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP).

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 .

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Social Sciences
Contact name
School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 306 5500
Email
Website
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/politics
School/Faculty overview

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

Further information on accepted language requirements can be found here .

Pre-Sessional English Courses

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may 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.

Fees and funding

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MA (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £16,300
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £29,400
  • MA (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £8,150
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,700

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

For information on available scholarships please visit: Master’s Fees and Funding

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Please note, due to the high volume of applications we receive, an 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

Our MA Political Science – Governance and Public Policy explores some of the key political science and public policy issues of the 21st century.

On this master’s, you will delve into core topics of the field such as the nature and problems of policy making, citizenship and participation, and the relationship between the state and its citizens. In parallel, you will also develop academic and political research skills which will open doors to a wide range of careers.

You’ll be able to tailor your course to fit your interests, exploring topics such as:

  • Political Parties in Contemporary Britain;
  • European Politics and Policy Making;
  • Understanding Political Change;
  • Politics and Data Science.

See a full list of mandatory and optional course units below.

You will benefit from studying at an internationally renowned centre for policy research. In addition, our Policy@Manchester institute will give you the opportunity to engage with public policy and governance in deeper, hands-on ways – whether that be attending regular talks and seminars, meeting with politicians and policy makers, or finding a professional experience placement in the field.

Through the course, you will develop subject area expertise as well as highly transferrable skills such as research design, critical inquiry, and writing and communication skills, setting you up for multiple career paths in the public, private, or third sectors. You will also be well-placed to continue developing and using your research expertise, either professionally or in PhD study.

Research or Standard Route?

The key difference between our MA Political Science – Governance and Public Policy (Standard Route) and our MA Political Science – Governance and Public Policy (Research Route) is the amount and scope of mandatory course units you will take.

On the Standard Route, in addition to your dissertation, you will take four mandatory course units and four optional course units. Mandatory units on this route are:

  • POLI60312 Research Design and Skills;
  • POLI70271 Understanding Governance;
  • POLI70892 Governance and the State;
  • POLI60301 Comparative Political Analysis.

On the Research Route, in addition to your dissertation, you will take six mandatory course units and two optional course units. Mandatory units on this route are:

  • POLI60312 Research Design and Skills;
  • SOCS60230 Qualitative Research Methods;
  • SOST70511 Introduction to Quantitative Methods;
  • POLI70771 Philosophy of Politics Research;
  • POLI70271 Understanding Governance;
  • POLI70892 Governance and the State.

This course is eligible for the 1+3 studentship offered by the Economic and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC) North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP), offering a unique, fully-funded route into postgraduate research. If your application is successful, you’ll be able to seamlessly transition from master's-level study to a PhD. Find out more on our 1+3 ESRC NWSSDTP webpage.

Special features

Prestigious department

The University of Manchester boasts one of the largest and best-known politics departments in the UK. We are home to some of the world’s leading experts and academics in the subject, and co-hosts (with Oxford) of the British Election Study, one of the longest-running election studies in the world and the longest-running social science survey in the UK.

We’re also home to Policy@Manchester , our policy engagement institute which connects our academics, researchers and students to policy makers and political influencers to help inform political decisions through robust, evidence-based policy insights.

Unique city

In our biased opinion, there’s no better place to study politics and economics than Manchester. Politics and history, revolutionary ideas and radical reform, are etched into the city’s streets and character, from workers' rights to feminism, Marxism to devolution.

Interdisciplinary approach

Interdisciplinary study is actively pursued at Manchester, with many course units involving expertise and contributions from a number of different schools and departments at the University, such as economics, social statistics, and global development.

Teaching and learning

The MA Political Science – Governance and Public Policy is taught by an interdisciplinary team using a variety of delivery methods:

  • lectures;
  • workshops;
  • student-led presentations and debate;
  • group work;
  • individual research.

Coursework and assessment

Most course units are assessed by written assignments and essays. Some course units may differ and may be assessed by methods relevant to the units’ contents, such as data analyses, presentations, or research design documents.

Part-time students

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

Course unit details

A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.

120 of these credits are made up by a mix of mandatory and optional course units, worth 15 credits each. You will need to select eight of these course units. On the MA Political Science – Governance and Public Policy (Standard Route), there are four mandatory course units:

  • POLI60312 Research Design and Skills;
  • POLI70271 Understanding Governance;
  • POLI70892 Governance and the State;
  • POLI60301 Comparative Political Analysis.

You will also choose four optional course units – see the full list below.

The availability of individual optional course units may be subject to change. Information that is sent to you in August about registration onto the course will clearly state the course units that are available in the academic year ahead.

The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a 12,000-to-15,000-word dissertation. Your dissertation must be within the area of one of the course units you have chosen.

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
POLI60301 15 Mandatory
POLI60312 15 Mandatory
POLI70271 15 Mandatory
POLI70892 15 Mandatory
POLI72000 60 Mandatory
POLI60031 15 Optional
POLI60121 15 Optional
POLI60292 15 Optional
POLI60341 15 Optional
POLI70381 15 Optional
POLI70422 15 Optional
POLI70851 15 Optional
POLI70872 15 Optional
POLI71042 15 Optional
POLI71151 15 Optional
POLI71212 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 16 course units

Facilities

You will be supported by first-class resources, in addition to the networked study areas.

You will also have access to the one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the country, The University of Manchester Library .

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

The University of Manchester is one of the most targeted universities by the UK’s top graduate employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024).

Our MA Political Science – Governance and Public Policy gives you the specialist knowledge and skills required for a range of careers across the public, private, and third sectors, such as in:

  • local and central government;
  • international and supranational institutions, such as the UN and the EU;
  • research, policy, think-tanks, institutes, and NGOs;
  • management and policy consulting.

You will also acquire vital skills relevant to many different sectors and roles, such as data analysis, qualitative and quantitative research design, academic writing, and communication and teamwork. Recent graduates from our Political Science courses have succeeded in organisations such as:

  • British Red Cross;
  • Home Office;
  • The House of Commons;
  • NHS;
  • KPMG;
  • BNY Mellon;
  • Boeing;
  • Princeton University.

Another popular option is to continue specialising for a career in research and universities through a PhD in Politics or in another related field.

The University has its own dedicated, award-winning Careers Service where you can benefit from tailored careers support, practice interviews, CV and application support, job listings for Manchester students, and much more. Better yet, you will have access to our Careers Service both during your course and for two years after you graduate, so we know you’re on the right path.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.