Politics and International Relations (Middle East Politics) - MA / MRes
The Middle East is one of the most diverse, dynamic and important regions on earth. On this programme, you will learn about its traditions, histories, cultures and identities. You will explore its domestic and regional politics, and analyse its strategic importance to stability and security both in the region and the rest of the world. With these skills, you will become equipped to pursue a wide range of careers in government, diplomacy or foreign affairs, international organisations, security, and many other fields in the public, private, or voluntary sectors.
Month of entry
- September, January
Mode of study
- Full time, Part time
Fees for 2025/26 academic year
- UK - Full time £10,100 per year. Part time £5,600 per year.
International - £20,200 per year.
Duration of study
- Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years
Why study Politics and International Relations (Middle East Politics) at Keele University?
Course summary
The MA/MRes in Politics and International Relations has a pathway structure, allowing you to gain knowledge and understanding of the key elements of the discipline and giving you the opportunity to focus on the topics, questions, and issues that interest you the most. We have pathways in Middle East Politics, International Relations, Global Security, Politics, and US Politics. Whichever pathway you choose, you will be taught by academic staff who are experts and have long-standing reputations within these areas.
The Middle East Politics pathway explores the traditions, histories and cultures of the Middle East, investigating the area’s domestic and regional politics, and analysing the geopolitical significance of this important region and its strategic impact on the rest of the world. Our modules focus on a wide range of topics, including the identities and ideologies of the region, its state structures and political organisations, its stability and security and the related international implications, and the challenges it faces from environmental change and resource scarcity.
You will take core modules which explore the key philosophies and approaches to the study of Politics and International Relations, and the ways in which research in this field is designed and conducted.
You will then select five (on the MRes) or six (on the MA) optional modules, tailoring your studies based on your interests. You may explore the domestic politics of various states in the Middle East, examine patterns of inter-state relations in the region, or analyse the international impact of regional tensions and conflicts. You may select modules that explore themes from a theoretical perspective, or choose modules that engage in empirical research.
Finally, the dissertation offers you the chance to further pursue your particular interest in Middle East Politics, giving you opportunity to examine a topic of your own choosing in considerable depth.
Other courses you may be interested in:
Course structure
This course is offered either as a Master of Arts (MA) or as a Master of Research (MRes). Both have similar overall aims, giving you the opportunity to study Middle East Politics at an advanced level, but the MRes route includes a higher component of research training. It is therefore suited to those who wish to go on and pursue future research, be it in academia (e.g. through a PhD) or in research-intensive employment.
On the MA, students take:
- Two 15-credit core modules.
- Six 15-credit optional modules.
- At least one optional module must be Middle East Politics pathway-specific.
- You will then complete a 15,000-word dissertation on a Middle East Politics topic of your choosing (worth 60 credits).
On the MRes, students take:
- Three 15-credit core modules.
- Five 15-credit optional modules.
- At least one optional module must be Middle East Politics pathway-specific.
- You will then complete a 20,000-word dissertation on a Middle East Politics topic of your choosing (worth 60 credits).
To achieve the MA or MRes you must complete 180 credits. Both the MA and the MRes can be studied as either a one-year full-time course, or a two-year part-time course, each with a September or January start date.
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Core modules for the Master of Arts (MA)
- Research in Action (PIR-40095)
This module provides an in-depth and hands-on advanced introduction to the various ways in which empirical research in Politics and International Relations is designed and conducted. It examines how research topics and questions are identified, explores key types of research design, and considers the different approaches to evidence gathering, including interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, documents and texts. Working in small teams, you will then design and conduct your own small-scale practical research project on a topic of your own choosing. Students have devised a range of projects on this module in the past, including, for example, on attitudes towards the place of religion in politics, environmental values of young people, opinions on immigration policies, views on humanitarian intervention in conflict zones, and perceptions about the global war on terror. By taking this module and undertaking your own project, you will acquire key research skills that will assist you later on in your dissertation work, and that will also equip you well for a range of future careers.
- Advanced Approaches to Politics and International Relations (PIR-40144)
This module explores the philosophies, assumptions and approaches underlying the study of Politics and International Relations, and examines how scholars have approached the questions of what to study and how to study, and the ways in which these issues are bound up with historical and current power structures in the world. In doing this, the module equips you with a solid understanding of the conceptual and methodological underpinnings of key approaches to the study of Politics and International Relations, and the skills to apply these successfully in your own work. The critical thinking and analysis skills that you will develop on this module will serve you well in your dissertation research, and will also prove very valuable in future employment.
Core modules for the Master of Research (MRes)
- Research in Action (PIR-40095)
This module provides an in-depth and hands-on advanced introduction to the various ways in which empirical research in Politics and International Relations is designed and conducted. It examines how research topics and questions are identified, explores key types of research design, and considers the different approaches to evidence gathering, including interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, documents and texts. Working in small teams, you will then design and conduct your own small-scale practical research project on a topic of your own choosing. Students have devised a range of projects on this module in the past, including, for example, on attitudes towards the place of religion in politics, environmental values of young people, opinions on immigration policies, views on humanitarian intervention in conflict zones, and perceptions about the global war on terror. By taking this module and undertaking your own project, you will acquire key research skills that will assist you later on in your dissertation work, and that will also equip you well for a range of future careers.
- Advanced Approaches to Politics and International Relations (PIR-40144)
This module explores the philosophies, assumptions and approaches underlying the study of Politics and International Relations, and examines how scholars have approached the questions of what to study and how to study, and the ways in which these issues are bound up with historical and current power structures in the world. In doing this, the module equips you with a solid understanding of the conceptual and methodological underpinnings of key approaches to the study of Politics and International Relations, and the skills to apply these successfully in your own work. The critical thinking and analysis skills that you will develop on this module will serve you well in your dissertation research, and will also prove very valuable in future employment.
- Quantitative Research and Data Analysis (GRT-40020)
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of quantitative social science research. You will become familiar with the different ways in which quantitative research is designed, and then, using real-world data, you will learn about the different ways in which quantitative data can be analysed and evaluated. In the process, you will gain hands-on experience of SPSS software. You will also examine many of the fundamental conceptual issues in quantitative research such as questions of causality and inference, operationalisation, sampling and representativeness, and testing for significance and association.
Please note, on the MRes route, you must either take this module or Qualitative Research Methods (GRT-40021) as a core module. You can take the other as an optional module if you wish.
- Qualitative Research Methods (GRT-40021)
Through discussion of the principles and practices of qualitative social research, this module explores the wide range of qualitative methods used in social science research. You will examine how qualitative methodologies inform research design and learn to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different methods of investigation, such as interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and visual research. You’ll be introduced to associated methods of data capture, including field notes, audio and/or video recordings, and transcripts, and the ways in which this evidence and data can be managed and analysed, including by using NVivo software.
Please note, on the MRes route, you must either take this module or Quantitative Research and Data Analysis (GRT-40020) as a core module. You can take the other as an optional module if you wish.
Optional modules (for MA and MRes)
Any pathway-specific module is also open to students on all other Politics and International Relations pathways. Please note that optional modules are indicative and subject to change.
- Politics and Security Dynamics in the Middle East (PIR-40162)
This a Middle East Politics pathway-specific module.
The Middle East is a region with immense cultural, economic, political, and security impact, and one that has far-reaching implications for the rest of the world. On this module you will gain a deeper understanding of this diverse, dynamic and strategically significant region, and explore how and why it is crucial for navigating today's complex global landscape. We examine the delicate interplay between modernity and tradition in this region, the state structures and nation-building processes, the conflicts and the revolutions, and the ideologies, identities, and beliefs of the different actors, peoples and states. We also delve into the intricacies and tensions of interstate relations, and their lasting consequences on the international stage. - The Global Politics of Islam (PIR-40158)
This a Middle East Politics pathway-specific module.
This module examines the historical and contemporary politics of Islam across the Muslim-majority world. You will explore a variety of manifestations of Islamic politics across a range of case studies, covering various strands of Islamism, Muslim conservatism, Muslim reformism, and Muslim militancy. You will also investigate a number of different explanations for the emergence and evolution of Islamic politics, focusing in particular on ideas, ideologues, structures and organisations across the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia. - The Geopolitics of Nationalism and Populism (PIR-40142)
This a Middle East Politics pathway-specific module.
This module examines the geopolitical aspects of nationalism and populism. You will explore theories of nationalism and populism from an International Relations perspective, and will lean about the relationship between nationalism/populism and foreign policy, and the effects of nationalism/populism on security, war and peace. You will also explore specific narratives and ideologies of nationalism and populism such as the new right and white nationalism. - Crises, Conflict and Diplomacy (PIR-40138)
This module critically analyses the role of diplomacy in addressing contemporary conflicts. Using in-depth case studies from a range on international settings, you will explore diplomatic practices and processes and examine how a variety of actors, states, international and regional organisations have attempted to resolve conflict through diplomacy, and how diplomacy has shaped the outcomes of crises. In doing so you will gain practical insights into the intricacies of negotiations and mediations and their effects on conflict resolution, and you will be able to reflect on the changing nature of diplomacy. - The Theory of Global Security (PIR-40088)
This is an International Relations and Global Security pathway-specific module.
Engaging with key concepts like threat, risk, securitisation and vulnerability, this module offers an advanced introduction to the analysis of global security, from classical International Relations theory to what is known as Critical Security Studies. You will learn about the main theoretical traditions through which security has been understood since the end of World War II, focusing in particular on the post-Cold War period, and how shifting conceptions of security are allied to changing understandings of the state, society, the economy, and culture. By doing this, you will be able to critically engage with contemporary debates on security studies. - International Development: Environment and Conflict (PIR-40152)
This is a Global Security pathway-specific module.
Environmental change creates a central challenge for human life and politics in many areas of the world, and shapes the relationships between the Global North and Global South. As such, environmental change and the challenges it creates is at the heart of issues of international development. This module examines approaches to development, and focuses on issues of ecological disaster, climate change, resource scarcity and the ways these shape politics and conflict in key areas of the world, particularly the Middle East and Africa. - Post-Conflict Development: Cases and Approaches (PIR-40146)
This is a Global Security pathway-specific module.
Post-conflict reconstruction and security is one of the most critical challenges facing international development. This module uses in-depth case studies to address challenges of development after conflict, and to put those challenges into contemporary context, both practically and conceptually. The module also examines how understandings of and approaches to post-conflict reconstruction and development have evolved over time. The module gives you the opportunity to study a case in depth, and to devise your own post-conflict development plan, drawing on concepts and challenges of development and applying them to real-world examples. - The Changing International Agenda (PIR-40093)
This is an International Relations and US Politics pathway-specific module.
In the period since the end of the Second World War, we have witnessed radical shifts in the nature of the international system, such as the rise and fall of the Cold War, the birth of the UN, European decolonisation, and the 'war on terror'. This module offers an in-depth critical assessment of the development, change and nature of the international system post-1945. Engaging with key themes in contemporary International Relations, you will explore the reasons underlying these transformations: the policies made within states or non-state actors; how policy makers are constrained by the international system; why various actors behave in the ways that they do; and the implications of their actions. You will examine some of key debates that serve to question the contemporary nature of the international system, such as the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention, the meaning of the 'war on terror', and whether globalisation makes nation states irrelevant. - International Diplomacy (PIR-40136)
This is an International Relations pathway-specific module.
This module provides an advanced introduction to the field of diplomatic studies. It explores the ideas and concepts of contemporary diplomacy, and then examines how diplomacy, both within and between states, is conducted and regulated. In doing so, it considers a range of mechanisms and processes, including negotiation, multinational conferences, the creation of international organisations, the evolution of international trade, covert diplomacy and international norms and regulations. - The International Politics of War and Memory (PIR-40156)
The module explores the social and political forces that enable and perpetuate wars and the international, national and local politics that influence the memorialisations of war. You will examine particular case studies as examples of these themes. In doing so, you will develop an understanding of why wars happen, how and why violence occurs, and what shapes the aftermaths of violent conflict, as well as an appreciation of how different wars have been memorialised, and the ways that war memory shapes and is shaped by contemporary politics. - Maritime Security (PIR-40128)
The study of international relations and of global security has traditionally focused on territory, state and sovereignty in terms of the land; the impact of events and developments at sea have largely been ignored. In light of recent technological developments, changes in international law, environmental concerns and the emergence of maritime economies, this module seeks to readdress this imbalance. It explores the developments, changes and challenges that have made the sea increasingly important in contemporary international relations and security, examining these in both a theoretical and a practical perspective. - Human Rights and Global Politics (LAW-40046)
This is a Politics pathway-specific module.
This module explores political and legal strategies to advance human rights in a global political framework. You will be introduced to the main debates on the ways that political structures shape human rights: the relationship between democratisation, development, human rights and violence; the possible emergence of a global civil society with an understanding of human rights practices; the expansion and role of transnational human rights monitoring and activism; and the need for an understanding of political violence and terror to assess and address causes of human rights violations. To deepen your understanding of the connections between global and local causes and responses to contemporary human rights issues, you will examine a number of key topics, such as the responsibility to protect, humanitarian interventions, aid and development, security in the post 9/11 era and more. - Foundations of Human Rights (LAW-40048)
The module provides a foundation with which to study and critique human rights theory and practice. Focusing on gender, sexuality, race, class, ethnicity, religion, and power in relation to human rights, you will develop a practical and theoretical understanding of human rights law, politics and philosophy at domestic, regional and international levels. You will explore historical, philosophical, and structural aspects of human rights, including Enlightenment perspectives, theories of rights, universalism/relativism debates, sovereignty and non-intervention concerns, and other issues pertinent to international law and relations. - Equality, Discrimination and Minorities (LAW-40047)
This module focuses on issues of equality and discrimination in international human rights policy and practice, centring on religion, race, ethnicity, and caste/descent. You will explore conceptual and normative aspects of ethics, equality, and non-discrimination, and examine and critique a range of equality issues through a number of case studies from the UK and further afield. - International Refugee Law (LAW-40058)
This module explores international refugee law in its historical, political, and social context. It examines international refugee conventions, national immigration and asylum rules and legislation, and international refugee protection regimes. In doing this, it offers an insight into the plight of asylum seekers as they seek international protection. - International Environmental Law (LAW-40043)
This module offers a critical perspective on the development of international environmental law. It provides a grounding in the legal norms, institutions and processes of the field, and explores current environmental global issues such as biodiversity loss, trade and environment, food security and climate change through specific treaty regimes. Drawing on a range of legal, policy and other literature, the module highlights key challenges facing the regulation of the environment today. - Race and Justice: Civil Rights in the US (PIR-40119)
This is a Politics and US-Politics pathway-specific module.
The 1960s American Civil Rights Movement is one of the most iconic protest movements for political and social equality in recent history. The fight for legal and social equality for black people in the United States greatly influenced further fights for equality for other racial or ethnic groups, women, and the disabled. It continues to influence protest movements throughout the world. But, despite its successes, discrimination remains a major issue. On this module, you will examine discrimination, inequality and civil rights from the second half of the 20th Century. You will also explore the state of civil rights law and the extent to which the courts have effectively enforced social change, using legal cases and case studies to analyse the state of civil rights in the US today. - The US Presidency and Public Policy (PIR-40130)
This module is a US Politics pathway-specific module.
The US Presidency is a phenomenally high-profile institution, yet its power is constrained in a range of ways. This module considers how a Bush, Obama or Trump should be studied by researchers. How much attention is the role of the individual worth? Can the institution's behaviour be understood regardless of which individual occupies the Oval Office? What forces shape presidential behaviour; systemic, electoral, partisan or intellectual? Using a swathe of contemporary research, you will consider the different ways of understanding the Office and its behaviour, particularly with reference to its policymaking powers. You will be given a broad introduction to researching the presidency with particular emphasis on the presidency's capacity to change public policy. - Comparative European Politics (PIR-40096)
This is a Politics pathway-specific module.
This module examines political participation, political parties, elections, governments, and parliaments within the context of European democracy, comparing and contrasting processes and systems, and adopting an empirical focus. It also explores broader issues relating to socio-political and electoral change, such as declining political loyalty, falling turnout levels, and decreasing trust in political institutions and actors, and considers the consequences of these changes and the challenges they pose not only to the state and to citizens, but also to the future of liberal democracy. - Philosophy of the Social Sciences (SOC-40014)
This module provides an advanced introduction to the philosophy of the social sciences and philosophical debates around methodology and methodological approaches to research. It includes a discussion of topics such as naturalism, falsification theory, paradigm shifts, the interpretive tradition, critical theory, and structuralism. The module also covers the work of a range of key thinkers, including Durkheim, Popper, Kuhn, Weber, Adorno and Foucault, who have informed the ways in which researchers think about social science knowledge. - Quantitative Research and Data Analysis (GRT-40020)
On the MRes route you must either take this module or Qualitative Research Methods (GRT-40021) as a core module. You can take the other as an optional module if you wish. On the MA route, you can choose this module as an optional module.
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of quantitative social science research. You will become familiar with the different ways in which quantitative research is designed, and then, using real-world data, you will learn about the different ways in which quantitative data can be analysed and evaluated. In the process, you will gain hands-on experience of SPSS software. You will also examine many of the fundamental conceptual issues in quantitative research such as questions of causality and inference, operationalisation, sampling and representativeness, and testing for significance and association. - Qualitative Research Methods (GRT-40021)
On the MRes route you must either take this module or Quantitative Research and Data Analysis (GRT-40020) as a core module. You can take the other as an optional module if you wish. On the MA route, you can choose this module as an optional module.
Through discussion of the principles and practices of qualitative social research, this module explores the wide range of qualitative methods used in social science research. You will examine how qualitative methodologies inform research design and learn to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different methods of investigation, such as interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and visual research. You will be introduced to associated methods of data capture, including field notes, audio and/or video recordings and transcripts, plus the ways in which this evidence and data can be managed and analysed, including by using NVivo software. - Modern Foreign Language
On both the MA and MRes, you can choose to take one modern foreign language module over the course of your programme. Choices currently include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian or Spanish. Modules are offered at various levels, ranging from absolute beginners, to intermediate and advanced level. If you wish to take a language module, the Keele Language Centre will undertake an assessment of your proficiency, based on your existing language qualifications and skills, and will register you on the appropriate module. You may only take one foreign language module as part of your programme.
Dissertation
In addition to taking your taught modules, you will also research and write a dissertation on a topic of your choice. You will be supported in this by participating in a number of workshops that will help you focus and refine your ideas, and prepare a dissertation research proposal. Then, you will work under the guidance of a supervisor who has expertise in your chosen field of interest.
To graduate with a degree in your chosen pathway, you must select a topic for your dissertation that falls within the subject remit of that pathway. On the Master of Arts (MA), your dissertation will be 15,000 words in length (module PIR-40105). On the Master of Research (MRes), your dissertation will be 20,000 words in length (module PIR-40140). Your dissertation will count for 60 credits.
Researching and writing a dissertation gives you an exciting and rewarding opportunity to examine and investigate a topic, question, or issue of your own choosing in considerable depth. In addition, it enables you to develop key transferable and employability skills, including advanced research, problem-solving, analysis, information handling and written communication skills. It also shows that you have a sound ability to work independently, plan your work and manage your time. These are all skills are highly valued by prospective employers.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
2:2 degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any humanities or social science subject from a public university
or
CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any humanities or social science subject from a private university
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in any humanities or social science subject or 65% in a degree in any humanities or social science subject from a '211' university
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years in any Humanities, or Social Science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nigeria
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience.
You will also need an English language qualification (see below)
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in any humanities or social science subject
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Uganda
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Second class degree in any humanities or social science subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group B.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
Professional qualifications and work experience
The majority of our courses will consider relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications at the appropriate level, as an alternative to an undergraduate degree for entry. The work experience should be for a sustained period and at a suitable level, based within a relevant sector to your chosen course.
Admissions staff will review your work experience and/or professional qualifications during the assessment of your application to ensure suitability in terms of relevancy, level and appropriate learning outcomes.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
Funding
Living costs
Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.
Scholarships and funding
We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage for more information.
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2025 start date falls in the 2024/25 academic year. Please see the January 2025 fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2025
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Your career
You will develop a wide range of skills as you progress through this programme. These include critical thinking and analysis skills, advanced research skills, information handling, and oral and written communication skills. You will also be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to work independently, and to plan activities and manage your time effectively.
These skills, together with authoritative knowledge and understanding of, and critical insight into, a range of political and global concerns place you in an excellent position to pursue a wide range of careers in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Depending on your interests and passions, you could pursue a career in party politics, in local or central government and administration, in the civil service, in foreign affairs or diplomacy, or in international organisations. Alternatively, you could work for a range of non-governmental organisations, including charities, campaign or lobby groups, or you might choose to join a think-tank, a public affairs or public relations company or consultancy, or a social research organisation.
Some of our former students on the other MA/MRes pathways have gone on to work for Members of Parliament, or have been active in political parties and political foundations, while others have secured jobs, both in the UK and abroad, in government ministries (including the UK Ministry of Defence and the UK Home Office), the civil service, and the diplomatic service, as well as in other government agencies such as Border Force, the police, and revenue and customs.
Other graduates have also pursued careers in healthcare management, environmental policy, transport policy, public relations, media and journalism, IT, and finance, as well as in a variety of non-profit organisations and charities, both in the UK and around the world.
During your studies on the MA/MRes, Keele’s Careers and Employability team can help you think about your future options, consider how to enhance your employability, and support you in finding placements, internships, and graduate jobs.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching on this programme is delivered in seminars that are led by academic members of staff who are specialists in their field of research. The majority are small group seminars, and classes take the form of structured discussions and debates around key themes and questions. This format makes for an interactive and stimulating learning experience and also promotes a supportive community to develop your academic interests, build upon your skill-set, and share your experiences.
You will also engage in independent study, both when preparing assignments for your taught modules, and when researching and writing your dissertation. You will be supported by the academic member of staff/module leader, and then later by your dissertation supervisor who will be a member of academic staff with expertise on your chosen dissertation topic. You will be further guided in your dissertation work by a number of workshops which will help you develop and refine your ideas.
Your assessments will take a variety of formats. Some modules are assessed on the basis of traditional essays, while others include commentaries on, or reviews of, specific texts or approaches, briefing papers, case studies, or reflective research reports. Some modules also include individual or group presentations. Your final assessment will be your dissertation. These various types of assessment allow you to showcase the broad range of knowledge and skills that you will develop over the course of the programme.
Students whose first language is not English can draw on the support and guidance of Keele’s Language Centre. The Centre runs language and academic skills modules for international students.
Our expertise
This programme will be delivered by a range of staff in the School of Social, Political and Global Studies.
Events and activities
Outside of your taught modules, there are plenty of other opportunities to immerse yourself in, such as stimulating academic discussions, taking part in social activities, and building friendship groups.
The School regularly hosts visiting speakers who come to talk about a range of political and international topics and issues. This includes the Spotlight series of lectures, focused specifically on international relations, and the Royal Institute of Philosophy Invited Lectures. Previous events have included talks on what career paths are possible within the UK Foreign Office, what it is really like to be a diplomat, the challenges to small nations directly threatened by climate change, plus lectures by senior civil servants and UN officials.
We have also organised a number of trips to various places of political and international interest. For instance, we previously took a group of students to the National Memorial Arboretum to explore how lives lost in combat are memorialised and commemorated, and we also arranged a guided walking tour of Manchester during which we learned about the battle for suffrage and visited key sites where this struggle unfolded. We also regularly organise a hiking trip to the Staffordshire countryside once spring semester assignments have been submitted, and we host an end-of-year social event.
Keele has an active postgraduate community, and is one of only a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students’ union for postgraduate students. This is the Keele Postgraduate Association (KPA). With its clubhouse it serves as a focus point for social life, and it also represents the interests of postgraduate students in the University and offers a range of support services.
Alongside this, there are numerous student-run societies or sports clubs that you can join, all run from the Students’ Union, as well as opportunities to get involved with volunteering. The Students’ Union also offers advice on finding employment while at Keele, and guidance on matters such as financial concerns, accommodation, and mental health support services.