Global Political Economy (MA)

Gain a cutting-edge perspective of economic and financial dynamics, state strategies, and questions of global order and change with this advanced world-class MA.

Who is it for?

The Global Political Economy MA will help you broaden your understanding of the complex contemporary global economic system and its socio-political relationships. The course is designed for inquisitive students that want to develop a cutting-edge perspective on global economic and financial relations, inter-state competition, mechanisms of global governance and processes of transformation and change.

You don't need any formal economics education for this course. Students come from a wide range of subject fields, including Politics, Law, Business Studies, Media Studies, the Humanities and more.

From global inequality and tax evasion to financial regulation and financial crises, the expertise that you develop on this advanced MA will enable you to pursue a wide range of rewarding career options in the public and private sectors.

Objectives

The Global Political Economy MA will help you:

• Get an advanced specialist education in the field of global political economy.
• Develop your analytical skills and the ability to examine and critically evaluate the complex structure of relationships between markets, governments, transnational actors and networks in the setting of the globalising economy.
• Acquire an advanced conceptualisation of the problems of global capitalism in the
  21st century.
• Critically examine rapid economic change and its socio-political roots in the contemporary world.
• Analyse and articulate your analysis of complex issues and debates to a high level.
• Prepare for a diverse range of careers and develop contextual knowledge that will be applicable for life-long learning in a rapidly changing economic environment.

Requirements and how to apply

Entry requirements

• You should have an upper second class honours degree or the equivalent from an international institution in social sciences, humanities, law, business studies or another related discipline.
• However, we will also consider applications from students with a degree in any other subject where applicants have gained significant professional experience in a related field of employment or research.
• No formal training in economics is required.

INTO City, University of London

Don't meet the entry requirements? INTO City, University of London offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare you for study at City, University of London. You'll learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry. To prepare for this degree course, learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Social Sciences and the Arts programme.

Kaplan International College London

City works in partnership with Kaplan International College (KIC) London to provide preparatory courses for international students. Pre Masters courses at KIC London offer comprehensive support to students wishing to complete their postgraduate study at City. Progression to this degree is guaranteed if you complete the KIC London Pre-Masters course at the required level.

English requirements

If your first language is not English one of the following qualifications is also required:

• IELTS: an overall score of 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 for each sub-test)

Please note that due to changes in the UKVI 's list of SELT s we are no longer able to accept TOEFL as evidence of English language for students who require a CAS as of April 2014.

INTO English Language Programmes

Don't meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.

• Academic English
• Pre-sessional English

Visa requirements

If you are not from the European Economic Area / Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:

• Students on courses of more than six months
• Students on courses of less than six months
• Students on a pre-sessional English language course.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK, you cannot undertake any City courses on a part-time basis.

For more information see our main Visa page.

How to apply

The application process for 2018 is now open.

Apply for MA Global Political Economy (full-time)

Apply for MA Global Political Economy (part-time)

You can apply online and will be expected to submit the following:

• One application form
• A short personal statement (c800-1200 words) outlining why you are applying for this programme
• A copy of your degree transcript: We require an original transcript or a copy certified by your institution. If you have not yet graduated, you will be required to send us your degree transcript as soon as it is available. You will not be able to register as a City student without having supplied your degree transcript.

Please note: Academic references are not required when you submit your application. However, the admissions tutor may request them at a later date to help make a decision on your application.

If you have any enquiries please contact :

SASS-Enquiries
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44(1)20 7040 0249/3721
Email: SASS-enquiries@city.ac.uk

Teaching and learning

You will benefit from our internationally renowned expertise in the field of global political economy, exemplified by:

• The leading academic staff who deliver the course.
• The vibrant research culture at the City Political Economy Research Centre.
• City's central London location.

The MA in Global Political Economy is taught by internationally renowned, world-leading scholars in the field, including the next-generation of academics engaged in cutting-edge research. As a result, City boasts one of the UK's best teams in the critical study of global finance.

Our staff includes Ronen Palan, Anastasia Nesvetailova, Stefano Pagliari, Amin Samman and Sandy Brian Hager amongst others.

Academic staff

The staff within our Department of International Politics are research active, enthusiastic and passionate about their work. Often this research and influence leads to policy change and many media appearances. Find out more about International Politics staff.

Watch our academics talk about China's future on Al Jazeera.

You can follow our staff's activity through their Twitter feed: @cityintpolitics

Student activities

In many modules, you will be encouraged to give presentations. We use group discussions, brain-storming, role-play and mini-roundtables on thematic issues in addition to conventional teaching techniques.

As an MA student, you are also invited to attend PhD workshops organised by doctoral students in the Department.

Assessment

All modules are assessed through a written essay of 4,500 words.

In addition to coursework, you must complete a final MA dissertation of 15,000 words based on your independent research. The dissertation is worth one-third of the overall MA mark. The Global Political Economy MA dissertation is grounded in a specialised stream of the Research Design module (IPM111). During the module, you will receive specialised training in research methodology, tailored for your dissertation in the field of global political economy.

Modules

You will complete 180 credits in total.

The course consists of core modules on the history of global capitalism and contending approaches from across the political economy traditions. You will then develop specialist knowledge through elective modules, which cover issues such as economic and financial crises, international organisations and economic diplomacy, poverty and inequality, regionalisation and globalisation, states and sovereignty, and the rise of new economic powers.

You will take two core modules and a range of electives. Core modules are typically taught as a weekly one-hour lecture and one-hour tutorial, and optional modules as a weekly two-hour seminar session.

Teaching is supported by a personal tutorial and supervision system, as well as organised seminar series with outside speakers, both professional and academic.

Core modules

• Global political economy: contemporary approaches (30 credits)
• Global capitalism: past, present, future (30 credits)
• GPE dissertation (60 credits)

Elective modules

You choose 60 credits from:

Typical modules offered by the Department of International Politics:

• Understanding Security in the Twenty-First Century (15 credits)
• Development and World Politics (15 credits)
• Political Economy of Global Finance (15 credits)
• The Politics of Forced Migration (15 credits)
• Global Governance (15 credits)
• International Politics and the Middle East (15 credits)
• Global Financial Governance (15 credits)
• Strategy, Diplomacy and Decision-Making (30 credits)
• Economic Diplomacy (15 credits)
• Foreign Policy Analysis (15 credits)
• Religion in Global Politics (15 credits

Typical modules offered by The City Law School:

• International Law and the Global Economy (30 credits)
• International Tax Law (30 credits)
• International Trade Law(30 credits)
• Money Laundering Law (30 credits)
• International Investment Law (30 credits)
• International Banking Law (30 credits)

In Term 3 you will complete your dissertation project.

Download the relevant programme specification

Career prospects

This specialised MA degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to enter a range of careers related to the global political economy. It enables graduates both with and without prior knowledge of economics to engage competently and confidently with economic and financial developments and pursue professional careers in the public and private sectors, including:

• Finance and banking.
• Transnational corporations.
• Civil service and international diplomacy.
• The media.
• Development agencies.

Should you want to take your academic studies further, the MA also provides you with a solid foundation to pursue doctoral research in politics and political economy.

International Politics Careers Day

During your MA year you are encouraged to attend the Department's International Politics Careers Day which explores career opportunities and provides:

• Talks by speakers within the field (including City alumni). Previous speakers have included staff from the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Justice, UNESCO, the EU Commission and the UN Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO).
• Talks by careers consultants and volunteering coordinators.
• CV and application advice, and volunteering drop-in sessions with career professionals.

100% of graduates in employment or further study six months after completing the course

Find out more about the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2015-16