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MA Political Economy at University of Essex

University of Essex, United Kingdom

Programme overview

The MA Political Economy is a one-year full-time Masters run jointly across Government and Economics, studying how political institutions shape economic outcomes and how political decisions influence markets. Optional modules are drawn from both departments.

Faculty: Department of Government  |  Department: Government (with Economics)  |  Duration: 1 year  |  Intake: October 2027  |  Study mode: full-time; part-time  |  Location: Colchester, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Core with options (60 credits), Comparative Political Economy and International Political Economy (15 credits each), Championing Your Research Idea, 45 credits of Government options and 40 credits of Government or Economics options, plus dissertation and policy portfolio preparation.

Career pathways

Suited to careers at international organisations, government bodies, private enterprise or as a political consultant; graduates have gone to the Civil Service, local government, the World Bank, the UN, NATO and YouGov.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

2:2 degree or international equivalent in American Studies, Economics, Finance, International Relations, International Studies, Political Science, Political Studies, Statistics or United States Politics; or a 2:2 degree in any subject that includes study of two relevant modules (for example comparative political systems, democratic theory, econometrics, foreign policy, game theory, human rights, international law, international security, microeconomics/macroeconomics, peace studies, political economy, public policy analysis, security studies or terrorism). Also considered: applicants with an unrelated degree and at least five years of relevant work experience (for example with an NGO, the UN or government; CV required), applicants with a lower-class degree where relevant modules were passed at 2:2 level or above, and applicants with a first-class degree in any subject. International applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all components. A pre-sessional English pathway is available for applicants who do not meet the IELTS requirement.

Domestic applicants: GBP 11,600 for the whole programme. Fee stated as a single figure for the one-year course; academic year not stated on the page. Source

International applicants: GBP 25,075 for the whole programme. Fee stated as a single figure for the one-year course; academic year not stated on the page. Source

Intake: October 2027

Duration: 1 year

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