European Politics and Policy MSc

The programme provides in-depth knowledge of the EU’s institutions, politics and policies. It covers legislative, executive, and judicial politics; introduces EU law-making and lobbying; and addresses key contemporary questions, such as Europe’s global role, democratic legitimacy, the euro crisis and the EU’s impact on member states. Students choose from a wide range of options in public policy, international politics and comparative government.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

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

• European Union: Institutions and Politics (30)
• Public Policy Economics and Analysis (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)
• Introduction to Quantitative Methods B and Advanced Quantitative Methods (15)

• Policy-Making and Regulation in Europe (15)
• The European Union, Globalisation and the State (15)

• The following are suggestions:
• The European Union in the World (15)
• Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management (15)
• Making Policy Work (15)
• Agenda Setting and Public Policy (15)
• British Government & Politics (15)
• Law and Regulation 1 (15)
• International Political Economy (15)
• The Political Economy of Development (15)
• Parliaments, Political Parties & Policy Making (15)
• Democratic Political Institutions (15)
• Foreign Policy Analysis (15)
• Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice (15)
• Globalisation (15)
• Conflict Resolution and Post-War Development (15)

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

Teaching on the EU is interdisciplinary and pools the department's world-class expertise in European politics, public policy and international relations. The MSc is delivered through weekly lectures and seminars by experts, who all carry out innovative research in the field. Assessment is through unseen examinations, essays, policy-briefs and a dissertation. Several modules include negotiation games.