Course Aims

This course is designed to:

• Equip you with a combination of the philosophical grasp, the specific techniques and the specialised knowledge required for research in politics;
• Address central issues in the philosophy of social science, political research methods and data analysis in its core research modules;
• Allow you to specialise in a particular area of politics by taking two option modules from our MA programmes. These research skills and detailed subject-specific knowledge are then applied in an extended dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Course Detail

The objectives of the course involve a variety of teaching and learning strategies, which guide you gradually towards the implementation of your own, supervised, research-based dissertation. At each stage in the course you are made aware of the selections you need to make between competing theoretical and methodological approaches and the implications of their choices on their own research in politics. In this way, you gain an understanding of a breadth of issues raised by the research process and also have the opportunity to pursue particular strategies and areas of interest in some depth.

Course Structure

You must complete four research based modules shown below plus a further three option modules from the list of optional modules. If you wish to continue on to the MSc these modules will be followed by your dissertation.

Duration and Mode of Study

One year full-time or two years part-time campus-based.

Start Dates

September each year.

Entry Requirements

Either a first or a good second class honours degree from a British university or its equivalent, in Politics, History, International Relations or other related subjects.

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to have a qualification such as the British Council International English Language Testing System (score 6.5 or above) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (score 90/575).

How to Apply

For further details and an application form for the MSc in Political Research please contact us:

Next Step: Request an Information Pack

These pages should be read in conjunction with the University of Leicester’s Postgraduate Prospectus and Postgraduate Regulations.