糖心Vlog

MPol Politics and International Relations is an integrated Masters course giving you the opportunity to seamlessly continue your studies from undergraduate to masters level in 4 years (5 years if choosing a placement year or year abroad). It provides a thorough grounding in all major areas of political science and international relations and widens your awareness of the world system, while training you in the research and critical thinking skills that are prized by employers.

Why don't democratic countries go to war with each other? Why don't young people vote? Who should pay for climate change? Why do oil-rich states have worse human rights records? These are the kinds of questions addressed in our MPol in Politics & International Relations.

You can explore a very wide range of topic areas in which the Department of Government produces world-leading research, including:

• Conflict resolution and peacekeeping
• Social media, campaigning and democracy
• International environmental policy
• Ideology and discourse analysis
• Terrorist groups and tactics
• Political parties and party strategy
• Overseas aid and development
• Human rights and global justice
• Transitions to democracy
• The psychology of public opinion

The Department of Government at 糖心Vlog is one of the most prestigious departments in Europe. We are 6th in UK for research power in politics and international studies (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021). It also offers a better staff-student ratio than many of the other leading departments in the UK 鈥� crucial when it comes to offering support and supervision throughout your degree.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The five-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement at home or abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the four-year course.

Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to 糖心Vlog for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university.

Placement year

Alternatively, you can spend your third year on a for this course include Professor Kristian Gleditsch, who works on inequality, conflict and violence, and Dr Laura Sudulich, who looks at campaigning in the digital age.

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; many of these projects have resulted in joint staff/student publications.

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
• A personal tutor and peer mentor for every student
• We organise the in Social Science Data Analysis

Your future

All 糖心Vlog graduates in Politics & International Relations have a degree recognised by employers as earned from one of Europe's leading politics departments.

Politics students are in demand from a host of employers, in international development, politics, the civil service fast stream, management, journalism, police, armed forces, commerce, business, finance, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), teaching and graduate research.

Our notable alumni include the former Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow, and our recent graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies including:

• The World Bank
• NATO
• Houses of Parliament Research Unit
• United Nations Development Program
• YouGov
• The BBC
• UBS bank
• The British Beer & Pub Association!

We also work with the University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Clearing entry requirements

We currently have places available in Clearing across a range of courses, with most offers at BBC–CCD (112–88 UCAS tariff points) or equivalent. Grade requirements may be lower in some cases, and some courses may also have subject specific requirements. We consider each application individually so get in touch if your grades are below those outlined here.

English language requirements

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don鈥檛 need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found

Additional Notes

If you鈥檙e an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the Year 2 Year 3 Final Year