MSc Politics and International Relations (Political Thought)

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

SOAS University of London

Program Overview

The MSc Politics and International Relations (Political Thought) at SOAS University of London gives you a fresh take on political ideas, exploring how they shape everyday life, philosophy, and culture beyond just Western traditions—drawing on SOAS's world-class expertise in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It's perfect for students passionate about how political concepts travel globally and influence real-world practices, setting you up for roles in media, think tanks, advocacy, international organizations, diplomacy, or academia.

### Curriculum structure
This one-year full-time (or two-year part-time) program totals 120 credits of taught modules plus a 60-credit 10,000-word dissertation, blending lectures, in-depth seminars with student presentations, and independent research—often linking regional studies to political theory. You'll choose the Political Thought pathway by selecting its required modules from guided options, politics options, and up to 30 credits of open options (like languages), all tied to the SOAS Centre for Comparative Political Thought.

In your taught modules (delivered across the academic year): Dive into core ideas through a mix of lectures and two-hour seminars where you'll present and debate key topics. You'll tackle Comparative Political Thought, examining how political ideas emerge from global traditions, philosophical texts, and cultural practices beyond Europe. Guided options like Political Thought in a Global Context and Decolonising Comparative Political Thought challenge you to trace concepts across regions, building skills in critical analysis through independent papers.

For your dissertation (spanning the summer term): Spend this phase crafting a 10,000-word project on a topic blending theory with a specific region, like how political thought plays out in Africa or Asia—supervised by experts and using SOAS's top library resources. This capstone hones your research skills to ESRC standards, making you PhD-ready if that's your path.

Focus areas: Comparative political theory from non-Western perspectives, idea circulation across cultures and regions, and links between theory, political practice, and everyday thought—rooted in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Learning outcomes: Gain expertise in analyzing political thinking globally, conducting rigorous research, presenting complex ideas, and applying theory to real-world issues like diplomacy and advocacy.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Research training meets ESRC guidelines, qualifying you for funded PhDs; no specific professional accreditation, but strong ties to think tanks, NGOs, and international bodies.

Reputation (employability rankings): SOAS's Department of Politics and International Studies is renowned for global politics expertise, with graduates excelling in competitive fields—backed by the university's top rankings in area studies (e.g., QS World University Rankings place SOAS #1 globally for studying Asia, Middle East, and Africa).

Ready to take the next step? Apply now via the official page: https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/find-course/msc-politics-and-international-relations-political-thought

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In the MSc Politics and International Relations (Political Thought) at SOAS University of London, you'll build practical skills through hands-on seminar discussions, full-scale student presentations, and independent research projects that sharpen your ability to analyze political ideas from philosophical texts, cultural production, and everyday thought. Linked directly to the SOAS Centre for Comparative Political Thought, the programme emphasizes real-world application via two-hour seminars where you lead presentations and craft papers requiring deep independent work, plus a substantial 10,000-word dissertation tying theory to specific regions. You'll also benefit from lectures paired with tutorials, plus access to the renowned SOAS Library for cutting-edge resources on global political theory.

Here are some standout ways the programme delivers experiential learning tailored to political thought:
- Student-led seminars and presentations: Dive into two-hour sessions for every module, where you deliver full presentations and develop papers with significant independent research, building confidence in articulating complex ideas.
- Dissertation with regional focus: Tackle a 10,000-word project linking political theory to real-world regions, honing research and analytical skills under supervision.
- Centre for Comparative Political Thought activities: As the programme's home, it hosts reading groups, annual workshops, seminars, and guest speakers for immersive engagement with comparative political ideas.
- SOAS Library resources: State-of-the-art library supporting in-depth study of political texts, philosophy, and cultural production.

This hands-on approach will equip you with the skills employers value in policy, research, and advocacy—imagine applying these directly after graduation. Ready to take the next step? Apply now for the MSc Political Thought pathway and transform your passion into expertise at SOAS.

For the full list of facilities: https://www.soas.ac.uk/library (via SOAS Library reference).

Progression & Future Opportunities

At the MSc Politics and International Relations (Political Thought) at SOAS, you'll dive into hands-on learning that builds real-world skills in political theory through interactive formats linked directly to the Centre for Comparative Political Thought, the programme's home base. Expect dynamic seminars where you deliver full-scale presentations and tackle independent research papers, plus lectures paired with tutorials to sharpen your critical analysis of political ideas from texts, cultures, and global practices. You'll also write a substantial 10,000-word dissertation tying theory to real regions or issues, with access to the SOAS Library for top-notch resources. The Centre hosts a reading group, annual workshop, regular seminars, and guest speakers to connect you with cutting-edge political thought beyond traditional canons.

Here's how this experiential learning plays out in practice, giving you practical edge in political analysis and research:
- Two-hour seminar sessions with student-led presentations and papers requiring deep independent work, fostering debate skills on everyday political thinking and cultural production.
- Reading group and annual workshop at the Centre for Comparative Political Thought, where you engage directly with peers and experts on innovative political theory.
- Seminars and guest speakers hosted by the Centre, exposing you to diverse global perspectives and practices in political thought.
- 10,000-word dissertation with supervised individual study, encouraging you to link theory to specific regions for publishable-level research experience.
- SOAS Library as a key learning resource, packed with specialized materials for politics and international relations to support your projects.

This setup isn't just theory—it's your launchpad to stand out in policy, academia, or activism. Ready to apply? Check SOAS's full facilities list here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/facilities. Let's get you started!