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Politics PhD Birkbeck, University of London

Birkbeck, University of London

Course options

Qualification.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Birkbeck, University of London

OCT-24, JAN-25, APR-25

  • TUITION FEES
  • ENTRY REQUIREMENT
  • UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

An PhD is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of 60,000 to 100,000 words. At Birkbeck, you are initially registered on an MPhil and you upgrade to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first year or two. You need to find a suitable academic supervisor at Birkbeck, who can offer the requisite expertise to guide and support you through your research.

The MPhil/PhD in Politics is an opportunity to undertake a major piece of research under the supervision of someone with academic expertise in your field. The Department offers supervision for a wide range of research projects, from the study of public policy to social and political theory. On completing your MPhil/PhD you will have developed advanced skills in research and scholarly writing, and will be able to use these to embark on, or further, a career in research. If, like many of our students, you choose to study part time, you may have the opportunity to apply your developing research skills in your current career.

Current research spans the broad areas of: social and political theory; modern British politics and society; comparative public policy; civil society and the state; gender; public policy; nationalism and ethnicity; religion and politics; international relations, international security and terrorism; European politics; politics of development; theoretical approaches to armed conflict and international politics; and politics and society in Russia, North America and the Middle East.

Tuition fees

  • Afghanistan
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  • Burkina Faso
  • Central African Republic
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  • Dominican Republic
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  • Liechtenstein
  • Marshall Islands
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  • New Zealand
  • Northern Ireland
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  • St. Kitts & Nevis
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  • United Kingdom
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  • Vatican City
  • Western Samoa

£ 14,175 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

Campus address.

Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London, Camden, WC1E 7HX, England

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Birkbeck, University of London

POLITICS (MPHIL / PHD)

POLITICS (MPHIL / PHD)  POLITICS (MPHIL / PHD) Birkbeck, University of London ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1563773744Birkbeck-University-1.jpg

Masters Degree , Politics

POLITICS (MPHIL / PHD) POLITICS (MPHIL / PHD) Birkbeck, University of London

Course description.

An MPhil/PhD is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of 60,000 to 100,000 words. At Birkbeck, you are initially registered on an MPhil and you upgrade to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first year or two. You need to find a suitable academic supervisor at Birkbeck, who can offer the requisite expertise to guide and support you through your research.

The MPhil/PhD in Politics is an opportunity to undertake a major piece of research under the supervision of someone with academic expertise in your field. The Department offers supervision for a wide range of research projects, from the study of public policy to social and political theory. On completing your MPhil/PhD you will have developed advanced skills in research and scholarly writing, and will be able to use these to embark on, or further, a career in research. If, like many of our students, you choose to study part-time, you may have the opportunity to apply your developing research skills in your current career.

Current research spans the broad areas of: social and political theory; modern British politics and society; comparative public policy; civil society and the state; gender; public policy; nationalism and ethnicity; religion and politics; international relations, international security and terrorism; European politics; politics of development; theoretical approaches to armed conflict and international politics; and politics and society in Russia, North America and the Middle East. 

 

Entry Requirements

Good first degree in a relevant subject.

Successful completion of a taught Master's degree.

INTERNATIONAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

If you are not from the European Economic Area (EEA) and/or Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration.
  • Courses of less than six months' duration.
  • Pre-sessional English language courses.

International students who require a Tier 4 visa should apply for our full-time courses (with the exception of modular enrolment certificates of higher education and graduate certificates), as these qualify for Tier 4 sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Tier 4 visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

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Entry requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university , or an equivalent international qualification .

Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Months of entry

Course content.

This MSc Politics also provides you with the conceptual insights and structured empirical knowledge relevant to any area where collective decision-making is needed to address societal issues. Whether you are looking to engage in traditional politics or new forms of political mobilisation, the MSc Politics will furnish you with relevant skills you will be able to apply fully to a career in this arena.

MRes Politics : Our MRes will develop your understanding of research methodologies and techniques in politics to an advanced level, enabling you to undertake your own independent research. It provides an intellectually stimulating guide to politics research and will develop your awareness of the essential requirements of in-depth research, including theory, design and methods. The flexible choice of option modules and dissertation topics on this course allows you to consider a range of subjects in the field of politics, or to develop a research specialism in areas such as Public Policy and Management, Government Policy and Politics, or Social and Political Theory.

  • Birkbeck is a world-renowned centre of original, influential research in politics. We organise a lively programme of seminars and conferences and are home to affiliated research centres, such as the Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life , which run seminars, conferences and other events where some of the world's best scholars present their latest research.
  • Our academic staff are international authorities in their respective fields, publishing and delivering stimulating teaching in a wide range of political topics including civil society and the state, public policy, development, gender, international security and terrorism, and social and political theory, among others.
  • Our location in central London puts us at the heart of the UK’s political life and at the centre of academic London. You can walk down to Parliament and Whitehall, while Bloomsbury contains some of the world’s most famous libraries and centres of research. Our departmental building was once a key location for members of the Bloomsbury Group, so you could be studying in rooms that have hosted distinguished visitors, including T.S. Eliot, George Bernard Shaw and Maynard Keynes.
  • You can take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including Senate House Library, which is right next door to Birkbeck, the British Library, which is five minutes’ walk away, and the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics, which is walkable from Birkbeck. Birkbeck Library has a large politics collection, including the major specialist journals, and provides you with access to an extensive range of online materials.
  • Birkbeck's MRes degrees are recognised by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for the award of 1+3 studentships . These studentships are designed to fund students for a four-year, full-time (or six-/seven-year part-time) course of postgraduate study combining a taught Master's degree and a PhD.

Our MSc graduates go on to a wide range of careers in the public and private sectors. Some join the civil service or parliamentary offices, and several MPs have studied their Master's at Birkbeck. Many also pursue career paths in:

  • civil society, including working for charities
  • lobby groups
  • think tanks
  • campaigning organisations.

MRes graduates can pursue career paths in government or advisory bodies where research skills are required, as well as policy research, higher education, the voluntary sector and journalism. Possible professions include:

  • Civil Service fast-streamer
  • higher education lecturer
  • government social research officer
  • politician’s assistant
  • local government officer
  • newspaper journalist
  • public relations officer.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Information for international students

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

The Birkbeck Department of Politics and its research centre, the Centre for the Study of British Politics and Public Life, hosts a range of talks, lectures, seminars and workshops throughout the year. Our events feature leading academics, public figures and commentators from a range of fields. Listen to them here.

Birkbeck Politics Department of Politics, Birkbeck College

  • 3.2 • 5 Ratings
  • 9 SEPT 2022

Birkbeck Politics Roundtable on the Truss Premiership

On 6 September 2022, Liz Truss became the third women in history to occupy the UK's highest political office and the UK’s ninth ‘takeover' Prime Minister since the Second World War. Truss inherits a Parliamentary Conservative Party which remains scarred by Brexit and divided over how to handle the cost-of-living crisis and worsening outlook for economic growth. International challenges, including the war in Ukraine, require close cooperation between the UK and European partners, but Truss enters Downing Street with a reputation as a divisive figure who plays to the domestic gallery. And yet, throughout her political career, Truss has beaten expectations and changed her policy positions. In this roundtable, members of the Department of Politics at Birkbeck discussed what to expect from Liz Truss’s premiership, as a general election and perhaps even further leadership challenges loom on the political horizon. The panel was chaired by Dr Samantha Ashenden (Reader in Politics and Sociology) and included Dr Laura Richards-Gray (Lecturer in British Politics) and Dr Ben Worthy (Senor Lecturer in Politics) as speakers.

  • 21 JUL 2022

Westminster Watch Episode 62

Westminster Watch is a podcast in which members of the Department of Politics at Birkbeck, University of London discuss current issues in British politics. In Episode 62, Professor Dermot Hodson and Dr Ben Worthy discuss the Conservative leadership election. For more information about research on politics at Birkbeck, the range of events run by the Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life and our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes in politics, please visit www.bbk.ac.uk/politics

Westminster Watch Episode 61

Westminster Watch is a podcast in which members of the Department of Politics at Birkbeck, University of London discuss current issues in British politics. In Episode 61, Professor Dermot Hodson and Dr Ben Worthy discuss Boris Johnson’s resignation as leader of the Conservative Party and his legacy as Prime Minister. For more information about research on politics at Birkbeck, the range of events run by the Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life and our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes in politics, please visit www.bbk.ac.uk/politics

  • 22 DEC 2021

Birkbeck Politics Interviews: Ben Wood

‘Studying Politics at Birkbeck prepared me for this campaign'. Listen to current Birkbeck Politics student Ben Wood talking about his experience of running for Parliament in the recent North Shropshire by-election. For more information about Birkbeck’s undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Politics, please visit www.bbk.ac.uk/politics

  • 14 DEC 2021

Westminster Watch Episode 60

Westminster Watch is a podcast in which members of the Department of Politics at Birkbeck, University of London discuss current issues in British politics. In episode 60, Professor Dermot Hodson and Dr Ben Worthy discuss Boris Johnson’s troubled premiership and Dominic Raab’s review of the Human Rights Act. For more information about research on politics at Birkbeck, the range of events run by the Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life and our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes in politics, please visit www.bbk.ac.uk/politics

  • 24 NOV 2021

Westminster Watch Episode 59

Westminster Watch is a podcast in which members of the Department of Politics at Birkbeck, University of London discuss current issues in British politics. In episode 59, Professor Dermot Hodson and Dr Ben Worthy discuss political sleaze and the government’s on-off approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol. For more information about research on politics at Birkbeck, the range of events run by the Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life and our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes in politics, please visit www.bbk.ac.uk/politics

  • © All rights reserved

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Politics MSc

Birkbeck, university of london, different course options.

  • Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MSc - Master of Science

Subject areas

Course type.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Our MSc offers you a broad yet distinctive perspective on the study of politics with the flexibility to pursue your interests further in a wide range of option modules. Drawing on the long history of cross-disciplinary collaboration in politics at Birkbeck, this master’s degree offers you sociological, geographical and historical lenses on political thought and action.

This MSc Politics also provides you with the conceptual insights and structured empirical knowledge relevant to any area where collective decision-making is needed to address societal issues. Whether you are looking to engage in traditional politics or new forms of political mobilisation, the MSc Politics will furnish you with relevant skills you will be able to apply fully to a career in this arena.

CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY

Our MSc graduates go on to a wide range of careers in the public and private sectors. Some join the civil service or parliamentary offices, and several MPs have studied their master's at Birkbeck. Many also pursue career paths in:

civil society, including working for charities

lobby groups

think tanks

campaigning organisations.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.

Birkbeck, University of London is a university which continues to change lives. In 2023 the institution marks its 200th anniversary. Established in 1823, Birkbeck is a world-class research and teaching institution, well known for being London’s premier evening university. Most classes take place in the evening, and this makes Birkbeck stand out from the crowd. Students have the freedom to use their daytimes however they like – a benefit that has... more

Politics MRes

Full time | 1 year | OCT-24

Government, Policy and Politics MSc

Social and political theory msc, contemporary history and politics ma.

Full time | 1 year | 30-SEP-24

Politics PhD

Full time | 4 years | OCT-24

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Politics, Philosophy and Economics

Application options include:

Course Overview

It is impossible to fully understand the modern world without knowledge of politics, philosophy and economics. They have long been recognised as overlapping and informing one other and it was only relatively recently in intellectual history that the three subjects were separated from one another. Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) brings together these subjects to help you understand and engage with the world. You will develop essential skills of reasoning, inquiry and analysis that are applicable to a wide range of careers, including banking and finance, law, academia and teaching, journalism and politics. 

Birkbeck's interdisciplinary MSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics introduces you to the basics of the three subjects and it will hone your ability to understand, evaluate and analyse real-world information. The study of philosophy will introduce you to critical reasoning and some of the most profound questions it is possible to ask about humanity. The study of politics will acquaint you with modern governing structures in the UK, EU and further afield and with the concepts and ideas that underpin the theory and practice of politics. The study of economics will help you grasp how business, finance and politics intersect and determine how we live and work. 

You can choose from a wide range of option modules and your learning will be informed by the cutting-edge research and expertise of academics across the three subject areas at Birkbeck. 

You will also receive one-to-one dissertation supervision on a topic of your choosing.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Politics, Philosophy and Economics (MSc).

Key information and modules

Politics, philosophy and economics msc: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting october 2024.

Central London

Politics, Philosophy and Economics MSc: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

Find another course:

  • This is the only PPE course available for part-time evening study in the UK. 
  • Birkbeck has a strong international research reputation in politics, philosophy and economics.
  • Birkbeck Library has large politics, philosophy and economics collections, including the major specialist journals, and provides you with access to an extensive range of online materials. 
  • You can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including Senate House Library , which is right next door to Birkbeck, the British Library , which is five minutes’ walk away, and the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics, which is also walkable from Birkbeck.

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Entry Requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in any subject; prior exposure to at least one of the three component subjects would be a distinct advantage, but it might be possible for able students to acquire the relevant knowledge as part of this course.

Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now  to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement,  we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our  English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country .

Visa and funding requirements

If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
  • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

For full information, read our visa information for international students page .

Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country .

Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

If you have studied at university, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Politics, Philosophy and Economics MSc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25

Academic year 2024–25, starting october 2024.

Part-time home students: £6,075 per year Full-time home students: £12,150 per year Part-time international students : £9,915 per year Full-time international students: £19,830 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy .

If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

International scholarships

We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship .

At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

Methods of teaching on this course

Lectures, guided reading and small-group seminars. You will also have one-to-one dissertation supervisions and intensive training in academic writing.

Teaching hours

Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

Indicative class size

Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

Independent learning

On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

Study skills and additional support

Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

  • academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
  • written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
  • numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Methods of assessment on this course

Essays, or examinations supplemented with coursework assignments.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in:

  • the Civil Service
  • international development
  • think tanks. 

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification .

When to apply

You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

Help and advice with your application

Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

Apply for your course

Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section .

Related courses

  • Philosophy (MA, MRes, PG Cert, PG Dip)

Course structure

Course structure listing, course structure and modules for politics, philosophy and economics msc: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2024.

You complete modules worth a total of 180 credits comprising:

  • one compulsory module in economics (30 credits)
  • one option module in politics (30 credits)
  • one option module in philosophy (30 credits)
  • one option module chosen from politics, philosophy or economics (30 credits)
  • a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation due in September (60 credits).

Compulsory module

  • Economics: Theory, Policy and Institutions

Politics option modules

  • Emerging Powers in World Politics
  • Food, Politics, and Society (Level 7)
  • Global Politics, Governance and Security
  • International Political Economy
  • Middle East Politics
  • Nationalism, Religion, and Conflict
  • Political Communications: Media, Campaigns, and Citizens
  • Political Theory and Contemporary Politics
  • Power and Politics in the UK
  • Public Policy: Interests, Ideas, Institutions
  • The European Union: Integration, Politics and Policy
  • The Geopolitics of Environment and Resources
  • The Politics of Population Change: Immigration, Ageing and Conflict

Philosophy option modules

  • Contemporary Epistemology (Level 7)
  • Ethical Traditions (Level 7)
  • Evolution, Science and Morality (Level 7)
  • Free Will and Moral Responsibility (Level 7)
  • Language and Metaphysics (Level 7)
  • Metaphysical Traditions, Ancient and Modern (Level 7)
  • Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science (Level 7)
  • Philosophy of Science (Level 7)
  • Philosophy, Art and Literature (Level 7)
  • Philosophy, Business and Society (Level 7)
  • Political Philosophy (Level 7)
  • The Biology of Evil (Level 7)
  • The Ethics of Life and Death: Humans, Animals and the Environment (Level 7)
  • The Idea of Freedom (Level 7)
  • The Philosophy of Nietzsche (Level 7)
  • Themes in Twentieth-Century French and German Philosophy (Level 7)
  • Theories of Value: Aesthetics and Ethics (Level 7)
  • Topics in Early Modern Philosophy (Level 7)
  • Women in Philosophy (Level 7)

Economics option modules

  • Economics of Public Policy
  • Financial Markets, Banking and Regulation
  • Industrial Economics I
  • International Economics I
  • Monetary Economics
  • Topics in Economic Policy

MSc PPE Dissertation (choose one)

  • Dissertation MSc PPE
  • Dissertation MSc PPE Philosophy
  • Dissertation MSc PPE Politics

IMAGES

  1. Birkbeck Politics 40th Anniversary: "S" is for Statistics

    birkbeck phd politics

  2. Birkbeck Politics @50: In-Conversation with Lisa Nandy

    birkbeck phd politics

  3. Birkbeck Explains: What is GDP growth?...And should we care about it?

    birkbeck phd politics

  4. Birkbeck Politics 40th Anniversary: "I" is for Integration

    birkbeck phd politics

  5. Birkbeck Politics 40th Anniversary: "I" is for Inequality

    birkbeck phd politics

  6. Birkbeck Politics 40th Anniversary: "P" is for Politics

    birkbeck phd politics

VIDEO

  1. Life as an undergraduate student at Birkbeck

  2. 'illiberal ideological capture' of universities

  3. Parliamentary Studies at Birkbeck

  4. Birkbeck College's Eric Kaufmann attempts to "narrow the boundaries of acceptable debate"

  5. Return of Chang'e 6: "This is fantastingly important for lunar science"

  6. Birkbeck at 200

COMMENTS

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  13. Eric Kaufmann

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  16. Social and Political Theory MSc at Birkbeck, University of London

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