MSc Global Politics

On successful completion of this programme, you should be able to:

• Analyse the role of different actors and decision-makers in responding to variety of policy challenges.
• Identify and deepen specialisms within the broad fields of international studies.
• Articulate the various concepts involved in critical and traditional approaches and the various theoretical and methodological approaches deployed by social scientists to study these.
• Develop effective and persuasive communication skills and fluency for a wide audience, both lay and academic.
• Understand and use the basic principles of research design, and evaluate how these principles shape the investigation, analysis and reporting of research problems and data.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the range of qualitative and quantitative research methods and techniques used in social science research.
• Develop project management and IT skills for information retrieval and research management.

If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.

REF 2021 results

• 87% of the University's research has an outstanding or very considerable impact on society.
• More than 80% of Stirling research is world leading or internationally excellent.
• Joint 4th in Scotland and joint 43rd in the UK for research impact (Times Higher Education REF 2021: Impact Scores rankings).

Research environment at Stirling commended for enabling excellence and delivering impact.

Lectures, seminars, group work, student-led discussion, reading of a range of academic articles and policy documents, use of films and documentaries and discussion of these in groups will be part of the teaching approach.

The annual postgraduate symposium that takes place in spring affords you the experience of presenting your own work to a wider academic audience that includes other postgraduate and postgraduate research students as well as academic staff. Transferable skills tend to be incorporated into the modules at the MSc level through teaching, both in lectures and seminars, through one-to-one discussion between you and tutors, and through the various means of assessment like policy briefs or reviews. The MSc dissertation is the primary means by which your research skills will be evaluated.

You will experience a range of different forms of assessment, including student presentations, policy briefs, critical reviews, literature reviews, methods and analytical essays. Methods-focused essays may ask you to evaluate and utilise quantitative and qualitative approaches to their topic.

You are also assessed on research proposals as well as the research thesis. You must research, write and submit a dissertation on an approved topic under the supervision of one or two members of staff. The dissertation provides an opportunity for independent work, under supervision from academic staff, enabling you to design and carry out a research project.

Learning is primarily through directed reading, consolidated through group discussion in weekly seminars for each of your modules alongside one-to-one meetings with your supervisor.

Professor Toni Haastrup

Postgraduate tuition fee loans

Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.

English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.

Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.

Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £5,500 from Student Finance NI.

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

Connected

• with interdisciplinary knowledge, understanding and skills with a range of complex real-world issues.
• with contributions from alumni, private, public and third sector to develop your employability skills.
• with knowledge, experiences and people providing different perspectives, to understand different cultures, beliefs and traditions in both local and global contexts.
• work with one another as an inclusive learning community and with the wider community.
• and communicate effectively through digital and other media.

Innovative

• through active and ethical research.
• through using the latest global research and new technologies to develop new understandings and creative solutions.
• through independent critical and reflective thinking.
• through identifying opportunities to improve what you do and take action.

Transformative

• through your intellectual and cultural passion and excellence.
• through sharing new perspectives and broadening your horizons.
• through being professional, adaptable and resilient and equipped to succeed in the global marketplace.
• through being active global citizens who are politically, socially, culturally and environmentally aware.