Government, Policy and Politics MSc

This MSc Government, Policy and Politics gives you the chance to examine the day-to-day practice and reality of government by analysing contemporary politics and public policy in the UK and around the world. <br/><br/>**Why choose this course?**<br/><br/><br/>- It helps you develop a wealth of analytical skills and encourages the kind of rigorous, critical thought that can be easily transferred to other settings after your degree. <br/><br/><br/>- It combines theoretical approaches with empirical knowledge and real-world case studies, exploring topics in political theory, political science and sociology. <br/><br/><br/>- Taught by academics with expertise in researching, writing about and participating in politics, it gives you the opportunity to debate and engage with the everyday practicalities of the field. <br/><br/><br/>- It is ideal if you wish to make progress in a career in politics, policy, research, lobbying or journalism.<br/><br/><br/>**What you will learn**<br/><br/>This course equips you with the ideas and concepts needed to analyse political debates and engage with contemporary politics and policy in a critical manner.<br/><br/>You will explore:<br/><br/><br/>- the UK’s political and constitutional order <br/><br/><br/>- central ideas in political science around the nature of social cleavages and the role of party politics <br/><br/><br/>- the organisation of the political executive and the role of the civil service and the judiciary <br/><br/><br/>- how and why policy is made <br/><br/><br/>- developments in a wide range of policy areas, including health care, social policy, migration, the environment, education and macroeconomics. <br/><br/><br/>You will be able to tailor the course to your interests and learn qualitative and quantitative research methods that enable you to complete a dissertation on a subject of your choice.<br/><br/>**How you will learn**<br/><br/>You will learn through lectures, seminars, online resources and activities. This course is available to study full- or part-time with **classes taking place in the evening**.<br/><br/>**Highlights**<br/><br/><br/>- You will have the opportunity to engage with the lively programme of seminars and conferences run by our research centres, such as the Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life.<br/><br/><br/>- You will be taught by academic staff who are international authorities in their respective fields, publishing and delivering stimulating teaching in a wide range of political topics including public policy, foreign policy, international security and terrorism, gender and the welfare state, British politics, and the politics of Asia and the Middle East.<br/><br/><br/>- Our location in central London puts you at the heart of the UK’s political life and at the centre of academic London. Parliament and Whitehall are a short distance away, while Bloomsbury contains some of the world’s most famous libraries and centres of research. One of our campus buildings was once a key location for members of the Bloomsbury Group, so you could be studying in rooms that have hosted distinguished visitors, including T.S. Eliot, George Bernard Shaw and Maynard Keynes.<br/><br/><br/>**Careers and employability**<br/><br/>On successfully graduating from this MSc, you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including: <br/><br/><br/>- advanced knowledge of British political institutions and of the relationship between state and society <br/><br/><br/>- detailed knowledge of the different actors, processes and stages involved in formulating public policies in liberal democracies <br/><br/><br/>- critical understanding of key contemporary theories, debates and issues relating to politics and policy <br/><br/><br/>- ability to critically analyse and apply theories and models to contemporary political and policy issues.<br/><br/><br/>Graduates can pursue career paths in politics, policy research, lobbying, local and national government, the diplomatic services, education, charities and NGOs, or journalism.<br/><br/>Possible professions include:<br/><br/><br/>- Civil Service fast-streamer<br/><br/><br/>- government social research officer<br/><br/><br/>- politician’s assistant<br/><br/><br/>- public affairs consultant<br/><br/><br/>- diplomatic services operational officer<br/><br/><br/>- public relations officer<br/><br/><br/>- journalist.<br/>