Global Affairs

Program Overview

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Global Affairs MSc

Overview

The MSc Global Affairs examines the politics, society, economics, and history of the world's non-western, regional, and rising powers, and their role within a changing world order.

Key Information

• Study mode: Full time, Part time
• Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time
• Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): UK 180/ECTS 90
• Application status: Open
• Start date: September 2025

Key Benefits

• The MSc Global Affairs is a unique programme that looks at the world from the perspective of non-western regions, and critically examines the connections between the local and the global.
• You will develop an in-depth and multi-disciplinary understanding of the politics, society, economics, and history of at least two of the following countries and/or world regions: Brazil, China, India, Russia, Africa, and the Middle East.
• You will gain hands-on experience of designing and executing an independent research project on a global subject – either a dissertation with research methods training, or capstone project alongside specialised policy-oriented micro-modules.
• With a flexible curriculum, the programme allows you to develop the kinds of specialist regional knowledge (including the possibility of learning a language), research skills, and awareness of yourself as a global citizen that are valued by employers, policymakers, and scholars in a fast-changing world.

Course Essentials

Our programme is designed to enable you to develop an advanced understanding of the politics, society, economy, and history of non-western countries, regions, and rising powers, including through comparative analysis. The programme allows you to build regional specialisation, alongside a consideration of cross-cutting and transnational issues in global affairs. With a firm focus on regions beyond Western Europe and North America, this programme offers a truly global perspective on our changing world.

Base Campus

• Strand Campus: Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Regulating Bodies

• King's is regulated by the Office for Students.

Entry Requirements

UK Applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor's (honours) degree.
• Programme-Specific Requirements: Minimum Upper Second (2.1) in, but not confined to, Politics, IR, Area Studies, History, Geography, Anthropology, Liberal Arts, PPE, or Modern Languages.

International Applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view equivalent qualifications.
• English language requirements: English language band B. To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment.

Teaching & Structure

Teaching Methods

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group Tutorials
• Self-Study

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

Assessment

• Essays
• Oral Presentations
• Written Examinations
• Dissertation
• Group research report
• Individual policy paper
• Individual action appeal
• Multi-media presentation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of assessment methods. Assessment methods will depend on the modules selected.

Structure

• Required modules: Introduction to Global Affairs (30 credits), Global Affairs Dissertation (60 credits) or Global Affairs Capstone Project (60 credits), and 30 credits from a range of regional introductory modules.
• Optional modules: Students would normally take a further 45 credits of level 7 optional modules offered in the Africa, Brazil, China, India, Middle East, or Russia Institutes.

Careers

MSc Global Affairs graduates will have a wide range of career options, including further academic research, consultancy, NGOs, government and international organisations, media and publishing, business, finance, and investment.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK: Full time £14,500 per year (2025/26), Part time £7,250 per year (2025/26)
• International: Full time £31,600 per year (2025/26), Part time £15,800 per year (2025/26)

Deposit

• If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

Additional Costs

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies.
• Library fees and fines.
• Personal photocopies.
• Printing programme handouts.
• Society membership fees.
• Stationery.
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses.
• Graduation costs.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's, please visit the Fees and Funding section.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview

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Overview:

This program provides a unique perspective on global affairs by specifically focusing on the lens of non-western regions and rising powers. It offers an in-depth, multidisciplinary understanding of the politics, society, economics, and history of at least two of the following countries and/or regions: Brazil, China, India, Russia, Africa, and the Middle East. Students also gain hands-on experience in conducting independent research on a global subject, choosing between a dissertation with research methods training or a capstone project with specialized policy-oriented micro-modules.

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Objectives:

• Develop an advanced understanding of the politics, society, economy, and history of non-western countries, regions, and rising powers.
• Build regional specialization alongside a consideration of cross-cutting and transnational issues in global affairs.
• Acquire specialist regional knowledge (including the possibility of learning a language), research skills, and self-awareness as a global citizen.

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Program Description:

• The program is designed to enable students to develop an advanced understanding of the politics, society, economy, and history of non-western countries, regions, and rising powers.
• Offers a truly global perspective on our changing world.
• Focuses on regions beyond Western Europe and North America.
• Allows students to build regional specialization alongside a consideration of cross-cutting and transnational issues in global affairs.
• Provides flexible curriculum allowing students to develop specialist regional knowledge (including the possibility of learning a language), research skills, and awareness of themselves as a global citizen.
• Valued by employers, policymakers, and scholars in a fast-changing world.

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Outline

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Content:

• Politics, society, economics, and history of non-western countries, regions, and rising powers.
• Comparative analysis of global issues.
• Regional specialization in at least two of the following countries and/or regions: Brazil, China, India, Russia, Africa, and the Middle East.
• Research methods training.
• Policy-oriented micro-modules.

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Structure:

• Full-time or part-time study options.
• One year for full-time students, two years for part-time students.
• 180 credits total.

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Course Schedule:

• Lectures, seminars, group tutorials, and independent study.
• Typical 15-credit module involves 15-20 hours of lectures and/or seminars, plus 130-135 hours of self-study.
• Typical 30-credit module involves 20-30 hours of lectures/seminars plus 270-280 hours of self-guided or group-based learning/project work.
• Dissertation module involves five hours of supervision and approximately 595 hours of self-guided learning.
• Capstone project involves 16 hours of lectures and supervision, 18 hours of group workshops, and 566 hours of self-guided or group-based work.

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Individual Modules:

• Required Modules:
• Introduction to Global Affairs (30 credits)
• Global Affairs Dissertation (60 credits) & Introduction to Research Methods (Global Institutes) (15 credits) OR Global Affairs Capstone Project (60 credits) & 15 credits of online modules from the International School for Government (ISfG)
• 30 credits from a range of regional introductory modules (e.g., Contemporary Brazilian Politics and Society, Contemporary India, China and the Age of Globalisation, Russia and the European Union, African Issues in Global Affairs, Politics and Economics of the Middle East)
• Optional Modules:
• 45 credits of level 7 optional modules offered in the Africa, Brazil, China, India, Middle East, or Russia Institutes.
• 15 credits from any other level 7 module offered in KCL Departments outside of these institutes (requires Programme Convenor approval and external department agreement).
• 15-credit language module offered by the King’s Language Centre (e.g., Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian).

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Assessment

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Assessment Methods:

• Essays
• Oral presentations
• Written examinations
• Dissertation (for dissertation track)
• Group research report (for capstone project)
• Individual policy paper (for capstone project)
• Individual action appeal (for capstone project)
• Multi-media presentations
• Group work

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Assessment Criteria:

• Depth of understanding
• Critical analysis
• Research skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

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Teaching

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Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group tutorials
• Independent study
• Research supervision (for dissertation track)
• Group workshops (for capstone project)

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Faculty:

• Experienced and knowledgeable faculty with expertise in global affairs, regional studies, and related fields.
• Active researchers who are engaged in cutting-edge scholarship.

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Unique Teaching Approaches:

• Focus on student-centered learning.
• Emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Use of technology to enhance the learning experience.

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Careers

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Career Paths:

• Academic research
• Consultancy
• NGOs
• Government and international organizations
• Media and publishing
• Business, finance and investment

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Career Opportunities:

• Researcher
• Consultant
• Policy analyst
• Diplomat
• Journalist
• Business executive

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Career Outcomes:

• Graduates are well-equipped to pursue successful careers in a variety of fields related to global affairs.
• The program's flexible curriculum allows graduates to tailor their studies to their specific career goals.
• Graduates are highly sought-after by employers due to their specialized knowledge and skills.

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Other

• The program is designed to be relevant to current global challenges.
• The program provides students with the opportunity to develop a global perspective.
• The program is delivered in a supportive and stimulating learning environment.
• The program is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen careers.

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UK: Full time: £13,380 per year (2024/25) Part time: £6,690 per year (2024/25) International: Full time: £27,996 per year (2024/25) Part time: £13,998 per year (2024/25) These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions. Deposit Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment. The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000. If you receive an offer between 1 March and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer. If you receive an offer between 16 July and 15 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.