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MA International Political Economy

Tackle today's international political challenges, drawing on theories and ideas from history's great thinkers.

Year of entry: 2025 (September)

Length

1 year full-time,
2 years part-time

Start date

September 2025 (semester dates)

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At the heart of this course are discussions on issues such as international development, global financial regulation and the organisation of production and trade.

Our expertise in the field of international political economy spans the full breadth of the discipline - from classic thinkers to debates over contemporary trade policy and trans-national financial regulation. You'll also be encouraged to look beyond your discipline, with option modules delivered by departments across the university to give you a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective on the issues you'll face.

By standing on the shoulders of history's intellectual giants, including Karl Marx and Adam Smith, you'll find new ways of exploring ideas and gain a deeper understanding of today's most pressing issues.

Experts on the global stage

Our staff advise governments and international organisations on a wide range of issues, and contribute to news media and current affairs programmes around the world

Course content

You'll study 180 credits in total. The course consists of:

  • core modules 
  • option modules 
  • independent research dissertation 

Our modules cover a wide range of topics, from policy-making to public finances, and international trade to migration. You'll learn about the different approaches to the study of international political economy, from traditional state-centred models focusing on competition over resources to works that encourage critical reflection on these approaches and why global poverty and inequality persists.

Several option modules are offered across departments, including the Department of History and the School for Business and Society, giving you the chance to tackle problems from new and diverse perspectives.

Taught modules will run throughout the Autumn and Spring terms, with core and option modules each term. You'll complete your dissertation during the Summer term and vacation, supported by dissertation workshops in the early stages of writing

Modules

Core modules

You'll take core modules which may include:

Option modules

You will also study some option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Dissertation

During the second semester and vacation you'll consolidate your interests in a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Regular meetings with your assigned dissertation adviser will help guide you through the dissertation process, and support you in the exploration of your chosen topic. You'll also have the opportunity to present your dissertation at our research seminar presentation workshops.

Previous dissertation titles have included:

  • The effectiveness of coalitions in the WTO: leadership, tactics and strategies
  • What role have grassroots movements played in the rise of Podemos in Spain and what role can they play towards electoral success
  • The North American Free Trade Agreement: The social dynamic within the political and economic integration of North America
  • "Who don't listen, does fool" The impact of promised oil on Guyanese institutions: Lessons from Nigeria
  • Kazakhstan and the WTO: exploring the foundations of effective trade integration
  • A critique of the Keynesian use of the state for resolving the economic crisis of 2008
  • Constructing the crisis differently. Why we need a new economics: a gendered analysis
  • Organised labour and neoliberalism in Mexico: clash of ideas or fusion of interests?

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Engage with, understand and identify the philosophical, normative and practical origins, evolution and contemporary dynamics of international political economy, taking account of both classic political economy literatures and more recent contributions within the sub-field of international political economy
  • Apply different theoretical perspectives, methods and concepts to specific aspects of international political economy, and use intellectual reasoning and systematic empirical testing to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses 
  • Undertake independent research relating to the field of international political economy by conceiving and operationalising research questions, by selecting and justifying the use of appropriate theories and concepts, gathering and interpreting data, and arriving at appropriate and justified conclusions
  • Construct and clearly present written reflections, vital to graduate employment
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of literature within a sub-field of international political economy and establish the foundations of an empirical and/or conceptual contribution to the sub-field through original work
  • Communicate as an academic citizen in ways that help to foster the inclusive sharing of ideas
I enjoyed the excellent learning environment and thought-provoking debates with my peers and teachers.
Marc, MA International Political Economy

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26

Study modeUK (home)International and EU
Full-time (1 year) £11,200£25,900
Part-time (2 years)
This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.
£5,600£12,950

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

  • UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
  • International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Additional costs

You may incur some additional expenses for books, but these costs are optional as most of the texts you'll need are available in the University library. If the resources you need aren't available, you can borrow via inter-library loans and order new books to our library for free.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Chevening Scholarships

We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You'll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and one-to-one supervision, with much of your teaching conducted in small groups. The number of contact hours varies depending on your chosen option modules, but most modules are delivered via one two-hour seminar per week. Contact hours should be supplemented by eight to ten hours of independent study per module per week.

Teaching location

The Department of Politics and International Relations is located in Derwent College on Campus West. Most teaching takes place in Derwent College seminar rooms and in other locations across Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

You'll submit six essays of around 4,000 words: three at the beginning of Spring term and three at the beginning of Summer term. Your final 12,000-word dissertation will be submitted at the beginning of September.

Careers and skills

The skills you'll acquire through the study of international political economy will leave you well prepared for further study or work in a wide range of sectors, from social and political research to journalism, marketing and HR.

Career opportunities

  • External affairs officer
  • Parliamentary affairs assistant
  • Civil Service Fast Streamer
  • Diplomatic services officer
  • Policy officer
  • Political risk analyst

Transferable skills

  • Independent research skills
  • Evidence analysis
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork
  • Problem solving
  • Time management

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:2 or equivalent. We are willing to consider applicants with lower qualifications, particularly if you have high marks in relevant modules and/or appropriate professional experience. Additional information may be requested.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL 87, minimum 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

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Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Dr Phil Roberts

Learn more

Department of Politics and International Relations

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