Politics and International Relations (Africa)

MSc Politics and International Relations (Africa) applicants should apply for MSc Politics and International Relations but can decide to follow the Africa pathway upon arrival by choosing the pathway's required combination of modules.

The Africa pathway explores contemporary debates regarding ideology, power, and political relationships across the African continent: from philosophies of liberation and race to forms of state-building and social protest, from the politics of gender to new forms of global influence and diplomatic power.

These themes are not only central to the continent’s politics, but to understanding how the world works and how political ideas are shaped more broadly. From negotiations over the structure of the international economic system to the politics of international justice, human rights, military intervention, and the climate emergency, the politics of Africa cannot be seen as separate from, or peripheral to, politics in the rest of the world.

Placing Africa at the very centre of global politics, the African Politics pathway sees African dynamics as essential to any adequate understanding of the most important political ideas and forces shaping the world today.

The MSc Politics and International Studies is designed to train students in research skills to the level prescribed by the ESRC's research training guidelines. As a result, students are eligible for ESRC funding if they plan to study for our MSc degree followed by a PhD in our department.

Why study MSc Politics and International Relations (Africa) at SOAS?

• We’re ranked 6th in the UK and 28th worldwide for Politics (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• We’re ranked 3rd globally for Academic Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• We're ranked 7th in the UK for African and Middle Eastern Studies (Complete University Guide 2025)
• SOAS is unique - our global student body, multi-disciplinary approach, critical and questioning attitude contribute to a vibrant learning environment that stretches students beyond the focus on basic ‘skills training’
• Eligibility for ESRC funding for students who want to follow their MSc degree with a PhD