Political Science (Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics)

Entry requirements

Upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in any discipline with a considered interest in the area covered by the MSc.

Months of entry

September

Course content

About this MSc programme

The MSc Political Science is a wide-ranging programme combining subject-specific study and rigorous methodological training.

The Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics stream focuses on the comparative study of political systems and looks for sophisticated analytical answers to basic political questions across a broad range of issues: Why are some countries democratic while others are not? Do constitutions matter? Why are some countries torn by conflict? How and why do conflicts change over time? What can be done to manage or resolve a conflict? What accounts for differing patterns of income distribution in different capitalist countries? How and why do economic institutions and policymaking differ across countries?

The Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics stream is methodologically eclectic yet rigorous, and students are given the tools to select an approach appropriate to their empirical interests, including narrative historical methods as well as quantitative ones. It offers courses in the fields of democracy and democratisation, nationalism and ethnicity, comparative political economy, political institutions, popular politics, and politics of the developing world as well as a wide range of country- and area-specific options. Regional foci include the developed democracies, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, India, China and South-East Asia.

This programme will be a good preparation for a career in international organisations, government, public policy, political consultancy, security agencies, finance, the media and NGOs, as well as providing an excellent foundation for further research including PhD programmes.

Department of Government

The Department of Government is home to some of the most internationally respected experts in the study of politics. Within the Department, our expertise centres on six sub-disciplinary pillars of political research: Comparative Politics, Conflict Studies, Political Behaviour and Political Psychology, Political Economy and Institutional Analysis, Political Theory, and Public Policy and Public Administration. Both our research and educational curriculum reflect these sub-disciplinary strengths. The Department produce influential research that has a global impact on policy.

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students.

Fees and funding

Fees

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme. Visit the website for more information about the fees.

Funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the Graduate Support Scheme, Master's Awards, and Anniversary Scholarships.

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.

Find out more about financial support.