Government, Policy and Politics MSc

Birkbeck, University of London

This MSc Government, Policy and Politics gives you the chance to examine the day-to-day practice and reality of government by analysing contemporary politics and public policy in the UK and around the world. Why choose this course? It helps you develop a wealth of analytical skills and encourages the kind of rigorous, critical thought that can be easily transferred to other settings after your degree. It combines theoretical approaches with empirical knowledge and real-world case studies, exploring topics in political theory, political science and sociology. Taught by academics with expertise in researching, writing about and participating in politics, it gives you the opportunity to debate and engage with the everyday practicalities of the field. It is ideal if you wish to make progress in a career in politics, policy, research, lobbying or journalism. What you will learn This course equips you with the ideas and concepts needed to analyse political debates and engage with contemporary politics and policy in a critical manner. You will explore: the UK’s political and constitutional order central ideas in political science around the nature of social cleavages and the role of party politics the organisation of the political executive and the role of the civil service and the judiciary how and why policy is made developments in a wide range of policy areas, including health care, social policy, migration, the environment, education and macroeconomics. You will be able to tailor the course to your interests with option modules on a wide variety of topics, and you will learn qualitative and quantitative research methods that will enable you to complete a dissertation on a subject of your choice. How you will learn You will learn through lectures, seminars, online resources and activities. This course is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening, making it ideal for those wishing to balance study with other commitments. This course is part of our Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both. If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.