Global Political Economy
Entry requirements
A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in the social sciences or humanities or equivalent professional experience.
Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.
Months of entry
October
Course content
Ideal for developing your in-depth understanding of actors and structures governing the global economy, this MSc Global Political Economy offers you a fascinating, cross-disciplinary perspective on the interplay of political and economic forces that shape our world.
Why choose this course?
- This wide-ranging course explores different approaches to the study of political economy and prioritises you gaining in-depth knowledge and engagement with contemporary challenges.
- Our academics are active researchers in this field publishing in prominent scholarly journals and offering internationally renowned expertise on an extensive array of topics.
- The diversity of our staff and student body provides you with a unique learning environment to gain insight into fast-changing global political economic dynamics.
- This course also welcomes graduates with interests in other areas of social sciences and humanities, and without a formal background in economics.
What you will learn
You will be able to explore a wide variety of topics and their socio-political implications. Through this exploration you will develop a robust understanding of major theories in the field and the historical evolution of global political economy.
Topics explored include foundational themes, such as transnational production, trade relations, international financial regulation and economic crises. You will also examine more recent debates relating to:
- the political economy of migration
- the climate crisis
- evolving North-South relations and the rise of new powers
- the future of neoliberal globalisation amidst resurgent geopolitical tensions
- new modes of economic nationalism.
You will be able to further tailor this course to your interests with option modules on a wide variety of topics.
How you will learn
This MSc emphasises critical analytical thinking, in-depth engagement with course themes and guided independent learning. You will be able to apply your knowledge by completing a dissertation on a topic of your choice, with the supervision of an academic adviser.
The course is available to study full- or part-time, with lectures, seminars and workshops taking place in the evening in small groups. Many modules may also offer classes you can attend online, as well as on campus, though international students holding a Student visa will only be able to attend classes taking place on campus.
- We organise a lively programme of seminars and conferences and are home to affiliated research centres, such as the Birkbeck Centre for British Political Life, which run seminars, conferences and other events where some of the world's best scholars present their latest research.
- Our academic staff are international authorities in their respective fields, publishing and delivering stimulating teaching in a wide range of political topics including civil society and the state, public policy, development, gender, international security and terrorism, and social and political theory.
- You will have the unique opportunity to take a joint module with other political economy postgraduate students as part of a research partnership in this area within the Birkbeck Centre for Political Economy and Institutional Studies (CPEIS).
- Birkbeck's location in central London puts you at the heart of the UK’s political life and at the centre of academic London. You can walk down to Parliament and Whitehall, 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 also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including Senate House Library, the British Library and the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics. Birkbeck Library has a large politics collection, including the major specialist journals, and provides you with access to an extensive range of online materials.
Graduates can pursue further academic research at PhD level or follow career paths in journalism, international organisations, local and national government and NGOs. Possible professions include:
- Civil Service fast-streamer
- government research officer
- politician’s assistant
- public affairs consultant
- diplomatic services 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.
Information for international students
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.
If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MSc
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Student Advice Service
- studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 3907 0700