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Government, Policy and Politics

MSc

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026 | January 2027
Study route:

October start:

  • One year full-time, on campus
  • One year full-time, online
  • One year full-time, flexible learning
  • Two years part-time, on campus
  • Two years part-time, online
  • Two years part-time, flexible learning

January start:

  • Two years part-time, on campus
  • Two years part-time, online
  • Two years part-time, flexible learning
Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | Flexible learning | On campus | Online

Key information for 2027-28

Start date:
October 2027 | January 2028
Study route:

October start:

  • One year full-time, on campus
  • One year full-time, online
  • One year full-time, flexible learning
  • Two years part-time, on campus
  • Two years part-time, online
  • Two years part-time, flexible learning

January start:

  • Two years part-time, on campus
  • Two years part-time, online
  • Two years part-time, flexible learning
Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | Flexible learning | On campus | Online

Course overview

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.

  • Why choose this course?
    • 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. 
    • It combines theoretical approaches with empirical knowledge and real-world case studies, exploring topics in political theory, political science and sociology.  
    • 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. 
    • It is ideal if you wish to make progress in a career in politics, policy, research, lobbying or journalism.

  • What will I learn?

    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.

    You will explore:

    • the UK’s political and constitutional order 
    • central ideas in political science around the nature of social cleavages and the role of party politics 
    • the organisation of the political executive and the role of the civil service and the judiciary  
    • how and why policy is made 
    • developments in a wide range of policy areas, including health care, social policy, migration, the environment, education and macroeconomics. 

    You will be able to tailor the course to your interests with option modules on a wide variety of topics, and you will learn qualitative and quantitative research methods that will enable you to complete a dissertation on a subject of your choice.

  • How will I learn?

    You will learn through lectures, seminars, online resources and activities. This course is available to study full- or part-time starting in October, and part-time starting in January. It has classes taking place in the evening, making it ideal for those wishing to balance study with other commitments.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time October start: Minimum two evenings a week, October to July.

    Part-time October start: Minimum one evening a week, October to July.

    Part-time January start: Minimum one evening a week, January to December.

  • Flexible Master's

    This course is part of our Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.

    If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • You can take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including Senate House Library, which is right next door to Birkbeck, the British Library, which is five minutes’ walk away, and the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics, which is also walkable from Birkbeck. Birkbeck Library has a large politics collection, including the major specialist journals, and provides you with access to an extensive range of online materials.

Modules and Teaching

School of Social Sciences

The school offers an invigorating and enriching educational experience, and students are taught by internationally renowned researchers with an exciting range of expertise. 

Visit the school

Entry requirements

Our standard entry requirements for postgraduate courses are a second-class honours degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any area of study.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • What are the English language requirements?

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study  (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Come and meet us

14 October
Postgraduate International Webinar

If you are an international student looking to start postgraduate study in January 2027, this webinar is for you. Book Postgraduate International Webinar

11 November
January Starts 2027: Postgraduate Open Evening

Are you looking to start postgraduate study in 2027? Join us on campus and discover your postgraduate study options. Book Postgraduate Open Evening

Campus tours

Join a current student for a lively 45-minute campus tour available year-round. Book a campus tour

Fees

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,000 per year
Full-time home students: £12,000 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, online, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,000 per year
Full-time home students: £12,000 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, flexible learning, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,000 per year
Full-time home students: £12,000 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

MSc: Two years part-time, on campus, starting in January 2027

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,000 per year
Full-time home students: £12,000 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

MSc: Two years part-time, online, starting in January 2027

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,000 per year
Full-time home students: £12,000 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

MSc: Two years part-time, flexible learning, starting in January 2027

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £6,000 per year
Full-time home students: £12,000 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2027

Academic year 2027-28

To be confirmed

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, online, starting in October 2027

Academic year 2027-28

To be confirmed

MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time, flexible learning, starting in October 2027

Academic year 2027-28

To be confirmed

MSc: Two years part-time, on campus, starting in January 2028

Academic year 2027-28

To be confirmed

MSc: Two years part-time, online, starting in January 2028

Academic year 2027-28

To be confirmed

MSc: Two years part-time, flexible learning, starting in January 2028

Academic year 2027-28

To be confirmed

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this MSc Government, Policy and Politics, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including: 

  • advanced knowledge of British political institutions and of the relationship between state and society  
  • detailed knowledge of the different actors, processes and stages involved in formulating public policies in liberal democracies 
  • critical understanding of key contemporary theories, debates and issues relating to politics and policy 
  • ability to critically analyse and apply theories and models to contemporary political and policy issues.

Graduates can pursue career paths in politics, policy research, lobbying, local and national government, the diplomatic services, education, charities and NGOs, or journalism.

Possible professions include:

  • Civil Service fast-streamer
  • government social research officer
  • politician’s assistant
  • public affairs consultant
  • diplomatic services operational officer
  • public relations officer
  • journalist.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more on our how to apply page.

Related courses

Study routes for Government, Policy and Politics (MSc)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Important: Applications to study starting in 2027/28 will open in September 2026.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time

Part-time

Starting in January 2027

Part-time

Starting in October 2027

Full-time

Part-time

Starting in January 2028

Part-time