Global Political Economy MA

The Global Political Economy MA is a postgraduate program that explores the most pressing global political economy challenges facing humanity today. The course provides a firm grounding in the key theories and concepts of global political economy, analyzing powerful global economic governance agencies, firms, and sectors that generate many of the global conflicts, instabilities, crises, and challenges.

Course Overview

The program focuses on how governance agendas and their impact are experienced, negotiated, and responded to in everyday lives, allowing students to compare and assess how policymakers and communities seek change. The course also explores the frontiers of global political economy in a new module that examines how other disciplines engage with political economy topics and concepts.

Course Highlights

• The course features research-led teaching in the dynamic field of global political economy.
• The research approach is grounded in the real-world experiences, conflicts, challenges, and struggles of communities and classes living in the global north and south.
• Students will have access to an interdisciplinary teaching team with expertise in political economy, International Relations, Development, Anthropology, Public Health, and Sociology.

Course Structure

The course includes the following compulsory modules:

• Theories and Concepts in Global Political Economy (30 credits)
• Capitalism in Practice (30 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)

Learning and Teaching

The program uses a variety of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, seminars, online learning, and workshops. Tutors provide individual advice on written work, and students develop expertise in improving their work through face-to-face discussion with tutors, formative assessment, and detailed feedback.

Assessment

Each module is assessed separately, through assessments that range from long essays to projects and assignments, offering students the opportunity to work in their particular field of interest within each topic area. Students will also carry out a dissertation in a research area of their choice.

Entry Requirements

• A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or a non-UK equivalent in a social science, humanities, or another related discipline.
• IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.

Fees

• UK: Ł12,750 (Total)
• International: Ł26,500 (Total)

Career Opportunities

The course equips students for various career paths, including working in international development agencies, international organizations, governments, politics, NGOs, research organizations, policy-making, companies, sectoral/economic analysis, media, and academia. Students will gain a wide range of professional skills, including project design and management, data analysis, and decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations.

Careers Support

The School of Politics and International Studies has a dedicated Careers Consultant who provides support and advice throughout the year. The School also arranges guest speaker events where students can engage with prospective employers and hear from leading figures in the field. Additionally, students have access to the University's award-winning Careers Service, which offers one-to-one appointments, advice on starting their own business, careers events, mentoring schemes, and support with CVs, applications, and interviews.

Related Courses

• International Law and Global Governance LLM
• Global Development MA
• Global Governance and Diplomacy MA
• Global Security Challenges MA
• International Relations MA

Rankings and Awards

• 22nd in the world for Development Studies (QS World Rankings by Subject 2025)
• Top 20 in the UK for Politics (The Complete University Guide 2026)

University of Leeds

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Overview:

The University of Leeds is a public research university located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a large and prestigious institution with a strong reputation for academic excellence and a vibrant campus life.

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Academic Programs:

The University of Leeds offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various faculties, including:

• Arts, Humanities and Cultures
• Biological Sciences
• Business School
• Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Environment
• Medicine and Health
• Social Sciences