MA International Political Economy (Research)

• Learn from leading academics at one of the UK’s top 5 universities for Politics (Times Higher Education 2024).
• Develop vital skills for a career in research, or research-related fields.
• Understand the structures, actors and dynamics that shape the global economy.
• Tailor your studies with an array of optional course units.

The biggest challenges facing society are international in scale. To find solutions, we need global thinkers. Led by internationally-recognised academics, the International Political Economy master’s programme will give you the tools to interrogate the politics behind global flows of money, people and capital.

You’ll learn about pressing global issues like world poverty, gender and environmental degradation.

Through mandatory course units, you’ll be introduced to a range of orthodox and critical research approaches, while developing your qualitative and quantitative skills.

You’ll also be able to tailor the course to fit your interests, with course units relating to:

• development and inequality
• environmental politics
• global governance
• economic crisis
• the politics of resistance and revolt

Upon completing the course, you’ll be well placed to pursue further academic research. You’ll also have developed highly transferrable skills in research design, critical inquiry and creative thinking, setting you up well for a career in policy, charity work and countless other sectors.

Full entry requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

• IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
• TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70

Pre-Sessional English Courses

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you will be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.

To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:

6 Week Pre-Sessional Course : IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.

10 Week Pre-sessional Course : IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill

If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.

Career opportunities