Tackle today's international political challenges, drawing on theories and ideas from history's great thinkers.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
1 year full-time,
2 years part-time
September 2025 (semester dates)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsAt 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.
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
You'll study 180 credits in total. The course consists of:
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 semesters, with core and option modules each semester. You'll complete your dissertation during the Semester 2 and vacation, supported by dissertation workshops in the early stages of writing.
You'll take core modules which may include:
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.
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:
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.
I enjoyed the excellent learning environment and thought-provoking debates with my peers and teachers.Marc, MA International Political Economy
| Study mode | UK (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) 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You'll submit six essays of around 4,000 words: three at the end of Semester 1 and three at the end of Semester 2. Your final 12,000-word dissertation will be submitted at the beginning of September.
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.
| 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 |
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.
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.
Get in touch if you have any questions
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.
