Democracy and Comparative Politics MSc

Students are equipped with the theoretical tools and empirical evidence necessary for an in-depth understanding of democratic institutions and politics. They develop an understanding of the potential benefits and pitfalls of different institutional designs, reforms, and administrative practices, and are able to analyse problems raised by new and reforming democracies.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of five compulsory core modules (75 credits), optional modules (45 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

• Democracy and Constitutional Design (30)
• Democratic Political Institutions (15)
• Introduction to Qualitative Methods: Researching Politics using Interviews, Observations and Fieldwork,
• or Introduction to Qualitative Methods: Researching Politics using Texts, Transcripts and Images or Advanced Qualitative Methods (15)
• Dissertation

• Parliaments, Political Parties and Policy Making (15)
• Governing Divided Societies (15)
• The European Union, Globalisation and the State (15)

• The following are suggestions:
• Public Policy Economics and Analysis (PPEA) (15)
• NGO, Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management (15)
• Making Policy Work (15)
• Equality, Justice and Difference (15)
• Public Ethics (15)
• Agenda Setting and Public Policy (15)
• British Government & Politics (15)
• Law and Regulation I (15)
• International Political Economy (15)
• Governing Divided Societies (15)
• Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice (15)
• Conflict Resolution and Post-War Development (15)
• Democracy and Accountability: Holding Power to Account (15)

All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars. Assessment is through unseen examinations, long essays, coursework, and the dissertation.