Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Government. This one-year full-time (or 24 months part-time) Master of Arts (MA) program in Political Science provides a broad and flexible overview of the core areas of political science. It is designed to deepen your understanding of how political scientists explain political outcomes, how normative theory informs research, and how political science differs from other accounts of political phenomena. The curriculum explores the main theoretical approaches to the study of politics and provides the basic theoretical framework required for conducting research in political science. Core modules typically include "Research Design" and "Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis I" (which introduces the R statistical package). The program is highly flexible, allowing students to choose from a wide range of optional modules covering topics such as survey measurement, economics and the state, democracies in Europe, theories of justice, and conflict resolution, tailoring the degree to their specific interests. The program culminates in an MA Dissertation, an opportunity for independent research under one-to-one supervision.

Career options for graduates of this program are diverse. All Essex politics graduates gain a qualification from one of the world's leading politics departments. Graduates can expect to find jobs in market research, the media, and central or local government. The program also provides a strong foundation for further academic research in political science (e.g., PhD). Graduates gain key employability skills such as analytical reasoning, research design, and report writing, preparing them for roles where critical thinking about political systems and data analysis are important. Alumni have gone on to work for high-profile organizations like the Civil Service, local government, the World Bank, the United Nations, NATO, and YouGov.

The University of Essex is a forward-thinking university with a diverse international community, fostering a rich and inclusive learning environment. Essex is a centre of world-leading research excellence for the social sciences, ensuring students are taught by academics at the forefront of their fields. The Department of Government is consistently one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research, and publication, and is highly rated for research power in politics and international studies (REF 2021). The university offers a location close to beautiful countryside that's only an hour away from London by train, providing a balance of campus life and access to a major global city.