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MA Gender and Politics

Gain a unique insight into the relationship between gender and politics.

Overview

Year of entry: 2026 (September)

Course Details

• Start date: September 2026
• Length: 1 year full-time
• School/department: Department of Politics and International Relations

Course Content

This course will provide the opportunity to study the relationship between sex, gender, and sexuality - including their intersection with race, ability and class - within the contemporary postcolonial world order.

• You will have the opportunity to take modules that are explicitly focused on the intersection of gender and politics, as well as studying modules centred on key aspects of domestic and international politics in different sub-disciplines in political science.

Modules

Core Modules

• Semester 1: Gendering Politics: An Intersectional Approach
• Semester 2: Backlash and Co-optation: Feminism, Anti-Racism and Human Rights Politics

Option Modules

You will study four option modules. Examples include:

• Women, Citizenship and Conflict
• Feminism and Sexuality
• Africa and International Politics
• Transitional Justice and Human Rights
• New Security Challenges
• Ethics and World Politics
• Justice Legitimacy and Democracy
• Themes and Theories in International Relations
• Governing for the Environment
• Critical Theories of International Political Economy
• Theories and Issues in International Political Economy
• Comparative Institutions and Public Policy
• Project Placement
• Women's and Gender Studies Now: Concepts, Theories, Histories

Dissertation

During the second semester and vacation, you'll consolidate your interests in a dissertation on a topic of your choice. You'll have a dissertation supervisor who will provide regular guidance and will be able to comment on your dissertation.

• Dissertations could cover topics such as:
  • A post-colonial critique of the UK Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative
  • 'Don’t Let it Distract You': Why Race and Gender Matters in Drone Warfare
  • 'A man’s world and I am just playing into it!': A Feminist Examination of Women’s Experiences and Behaviours on Mobile Dating Apps
  • Transnormativity, Sexuality, and Gender Conformity: Trans Acceptance within the Heterosexual Matrix
  • Human Rights and the decriminalization of abortion in El Salvador
  • Race and Gender under Neoliberalism: Austerity and labour in Chile and the UK
  • Human Rights Campaigners and Masculinity: Threat to life, self-care and collective action in South American Peasant Movements

Learning Outcomes

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers.

• Learning outcomes for this course include:
  • Draw on the productive synthesis between the theories and methods offered by the disciplines of politics and gender studies to gain an in-depth understanding of sexed, gendered, heteronormative and intersectional structures in domestic and transnational politics.
  • Critically assess, empirically study (where appropriate) and apply theories, concepts and methods developed in gender and LGBTQ+ studies to issues in domestic and transnational politics.
  • Conduct persuasive, systematic and nuanced independent research that is informed by feminist and LGBTQ+ studies methodology and ethics.
  • Identify and employ different feminist and LGBTQ+ studies methodologies of research and enquiry to create and interpret knowledge in political science.
  • Communicate effectively and fluently, demonstrating a sophisticated awareness of the topic and constructing and conveying complex ideas.
  • Demonstrate intercultural awareness by critically engaging with differing points of view in light of the values of tolerance and inclusivity.

Fees and Funding

Annual Tuition Fees for 2026/27

• Study mode:
  • Full-time (1 year):
    • UK (home): £12,000
    • International and EU: £26,900
  • Part-time (2 years):
    • This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.
    • UK (home): £6,000
    • International and EU: £13,450

Fees Information

• UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
• International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Additional Costs

• If you choose to undertake a placement in the UK through the Project Placement module, you'll need to account for additional costs related to this placement over and above MA tuition fees and living expenses, such as transport and accommodation.

Funding Information

• Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
• We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2026/27 throughout the year.
• If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York, you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding Opportunities

• UK government Masters loans
• Funding for UK students
• Funding for international students
• Chevening Scholarships
• Departmental funding

Living Costs

• You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching Format

• You'll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-ones.
• We offer a personal approach to learning with much of our teaching conducted in small groups (typically fewer than 15 students in a seminar group).
• Your personal supervisor provides support and guidance throughout your studies, offering weekly feedback and guidance hours.

Research-led Teaching

• You'll be taught by academics at the forefront of research across a number of political areas such as conflict, security and development, political economy, international politics, political theory and public policy.

Teaching Location

• You will be based in the Department of Politics and International Relations on Campus West.
• Most teaching will take place nearby.

Assessment and Feedback

• Assessment varies from module to module and includes a combination of exams, written essays and project work.
• Your tutors will give you feedback in a variety of forms depending on the specific needs of the module.

Careers and Skills

Career Opportunities

• Our recent graduates have gone on to work with:
  • Government social research officers
  • Journalists
  • Researchers
  • Translators
  • Policy Analysts

Transferable Skills

• Logical thinking
• Analysis of complex ideas, arguments and theories
• Problem-solving
• The ability to present succinct reports
• Intellectual independence
• Communication skills
• Team work and organisation

Entry Requirements

Qualification

• Undergraduate degree: 2:2 or equivalent
• Other international qualifications: Equivalent qualifications from your country

English Language

• If English isn't your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
• We accept the following qualifications:
  • IELTS (Academic and Indicator): 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
  • Cambridge CEFR: B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
  • Oxford ELLT: 7, minimum of 6 in each component
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: 136, minimum 126 in each component
  • Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all other components
  • LanguageCert SELT: B2 with 33/50 in each component
  • LanguageCert Academic: 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
  • Kaplan Test of English Language: 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components
  • Skills for English: B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
  • PTE Academic: 61, minimum 55 in each component
  • TOEFL: 87, minimum 21 in each component
  • Trinity ISE III: Merit in all requirements

Applying

• You can apply and send all your documentation online.
• You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.