MRes Political Science

Program Overview

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How do political scientists explain political outcomes? How can political science be used to analyse the real world? Our MRes gives you additional rigorous training in research design and methods compared to an MSc or MA, preparing you for PhD research in any sub-field of political science. You learn how to ask questions across political science, developing theories, conducting research, analysing data and exploring the empirical implications of theoretical models empirical methods. You learn to draw your own conclusions as to which approaches are appropriate for the questions they want to ask and answer, and gain a thorough and rigorous understanding of such research tools. You study modules on theories of political explanation, research design, and empirical and mixed research methods across your two years, whilst developing a 35,000-word dissertation. Our Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We’re rated top in the UK for research ( REF 2014 ), and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began. Why we're great.

• We’ve been ranked first in the UK for political science research since national league tables began
• You have unrivalled one-to-one access to the best minds in politics and international relations
• We are the only political science department to receive the prestigious Regius Professorship

Our expert staff

Some of the biggest names in the political science work at Essex, giving you unparalleled access to some of the best minds in the field. You join an active and prolific research team, with the opportunity to work alongside a member of staff on their research instead of completing a dissertation; some of these projects have even resulted in joint staff/student publications. Our key academic staff for this course are Professor Jonathan Slapin, who specializes on political organizations and political parties and whose research has received multiple awards. Dr Simone Dietrich, who uses laboratory, field, and survey experiments to study foreign aid provision and its effect on economic and political development around the world. Dr Daina Chiba, who has interests in the areas of militarised conflict, international institutions, and political methodology. Dr Anna Getmansky, who works on the electoral impact of terrorism. Laura Montanaro, who works on democratic theory in the area of non-electoral representation and Dr Alejandro Quiroz Flores, who studies the political economy of natural disasters as well as research methods.

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Specialist facilities

• Laboratories of networked computers featuring extensive software for political analysis
• ESSEXLab provides opportunities for experimental lab research
• Student societies for politics, debating, and Model UN
• We organise the Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
• A programme of seminars and events run by the department

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Your future

An MRes puts you in a particularly strong position to succeed in a research degree. We offer supervision for PhD and MPhil in the following fields:

• government and politics
• ideology and discourse analysis
• international relations
• political behaviour
• political economy

Our academic reputation is illustrated by the fact that many of our graduates now teach or research at universities, colleges of higher education and schools. For example, recent graduates are now research fellows and academic staff at: Mannheim, Germany; ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Duke University, USA; NATO/SHAPE, Belgium; and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Other recent graduates have gone on to work for the following high-profile organisations:

• The Civil Service
• Local government
• The World Bank
• The United Nations
• NATO
• YouGov and YouGov America

We also work with the University’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Program Outline

Course structure

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

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Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose. Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

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Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits. In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available. Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code . For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

HR	100	4	FY
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.	The module number.	The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.	The term the module will be taught in. AU : Autumn term SP : Spring term SU : Summer term FY : Full year AP : Autumn and Spring terms PS: Spring and Summer terms AS: Autumn and Summer terms

Year 1 Final Year View GV900-7-FY or GV903-7-FY on our Module Directory View GV958-7-FY on our Module Directory COMPONENT 03: OPTIOL Government option(s) from list (30 CREDITS) COMPONENT 04: OPTIOL Government option(s) from list (30 CREDITS) COMPONENT 05: OPTIOL One option from EH 7 Intro or EH 7 Inter or EH 7 Adv (30 CREDITS) COMPONENT 06: OPTIOL One option from EH 7 Intro or EH 7 Inter or EH 7 Adv (30 CREDITS) COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS GV903-7-FY or Government option(s) from list (30 CREDITS) View GV914-7-SP on our Module Directory You replicate an already published paper to better understand the details of the empirical analysis, assess its robustness, and develop the paper in a new direction by changing one element. For example, include a new control variable, introduce an interaction term, or extend the time period or the sample size. View Applied Research Design on our Module Directory Your dissertation gives you an opportunity for independent learning on a topic of your choice, with one-to-one supervision from a member of staff. You write a dissertation of up to 35,000 words, which is due at the end of your second year. View MRES Dissertation on our Module Directory COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS Government option(s) from list (30 CREDITS)

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Teaching

• Courses are designed to provide you with an advanced understanding of political science research and methods while exploring substantive questions across the sub-fields of the discipline
• Courses include both compulsory and optional modules, so the course can be tailored to fit your interests and aspirations
• Learn through discussion and problem-solving
• Lab sessions allow you to improve your technical research skills
• We encourage students to attend national conferences to meet researchers and discuss their work

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Assessment

• Your coursework comes in the form of problem sets, essays, simulations, presentations and in-class tests

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Dissertation

• You are given guidance on how to prepare a Masters dissertation by our Graduate Director in the spring term
• We link you with an appropriate supervisor at the earliest opportunity