Program Overview

Overview

The International Politics (Global Justice and Ethics) MA program is designed to investigate central issues of global justice and develop a deeper and wider understanding of world politics. This program focuses on global justice and engages critically with issues such as the debate between relativism and universalism, the foundations and content of human rights, responses to global poverty and inequality, cosmopolitan democracy, and environmental justice.

What You'll Learn

You will gain advanced knowledge and understanding of:

• Global justice and human rights
• Theories of ethics
• War, terror, and peace
• International and regional studies You will also develop:
• Knowledge of the more important approaches and methods in social science research and the techniques required to carry out advanced research
• Theoretical and practical research skills, including the synthesis of materials from a variety of primary and secondary sources

Modules

The program includes the following modules:

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Global Justice and Human Rights (20 credits)
  • Thinking About Politics (20 credits)
  • Dissertation (60 credits)
• Optional Modules:
  • Global Sustainable Futures: Solutions, Concepts, and Skills (20 credits)
  • Creative Methods in Social Science (20 credits)
  • Political Geographies of the Middle East (20 credits)
  • Geographical Inequalities and Policy (20 credits)
  • Migration, Displacement and Global Challenges (20 credits)
  • Cybersecurity Law and Policy (20 credits)
  • Public International Law (20 credits)
  • Law and Emerging Technologies (20 credits)
  • Social Media Regulation: Law, Policy and Society (20 credits)
  • Heritage Processes: global perspectives, practices and politics (20 credits)
  • European Union: Policy and Politics (20 credits)
  • Theories and Theorists of International Political Economy (20 credits)
  • Theories of International Relations (20 credits)
  • American Foreign Policy (20 credits)
  • Development, Environment and International Politics (20 credits)
  • Critical Geopolitics (20 credits)
  • World Politics and Popular Culture (20 credits)
  • The United Nations: Policy, Politics and Power (20 credits)
  • Principles of Data Science for Political Research (20 credits)
  • The Moral Limits of the Market: Theoretical Foundations (10 credits)
  • The Moral Limits of the Market: Public Policy Projects (10 credits)
  • Problem Solving for Defence (H4MoD) (20 credits)
  • Public Policy in Practice: from the Local to the Global (20 credits)
  • Power and Policy: Understanding Impact (20 credits)
  • Global Security: Politics, Space and Society (P) (20 credits)
  • Critical Approaches to Environment and Society (20 credits)
  • Global Sex Global Race (20 credits)
  • Inequalities: Issues and Intersections (20 credits)
  • Perpetual Wars? Crime, Policing and (in)Security (20 credits)

How You'll Learn

Assessment methods include:

• Dissertation
• Essay
• Research proposal
• Research paper
• Written exercise You will have access to support from academic staff, personal tutors, and research supervisors, as well as the University Student Services Team.

Your Future

The program prepares you for a career with international possibilities or for further postgraduate research in global justice and ethics. Our Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers.

Quality and Ranking

• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• Global Top 140 University – QS World University Rankings 2026
• Global Top 160 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• Top 125 for Social Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 200 for Politics and International Studies - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

Facilities

As a Politics student, you will be based in the newly refurbished Henry Daysh Building.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year):

• Home students: Full time: £11,400, Part time: £5,700
• International students: Full time: £26,500 Scholarships are available, and you can search our funding database for more information.

Entry Requirements

• A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in any discipline
• English Language requirements: IELTS, Pearson, Duolingo English Test, or TOEFL
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be available

How to Apply

The course starts in September, and there is no application closing date. International students are advised to apply at least two months before the course starts. A deposit of £1,500 is required for international students who need a visa to study in the UK. The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application, and you can choose to start your application, save your details, and come back to complete it later.