Taught Masters - MA in Global Politics and Law

There is convincing evidence to suggest that world is increasingly interdependent and that this condition of globalization creates new collective challenges for human coexistence. Many of these crucial collective problems are addressed at the global and international level, where various national, international and global institutions and movements shape policies and law. Mutual security, human rights, the global environment, the mitigation of global health risks, crimes against humanity, trade and the economy, are just some of the key areas where global politics and international law have significant impact and relevance.

The Global Politics and Law Masters Programme is a jointly taught programme between the Department of Politics and the Department of Law and is the only programme of its kind in the United Kingdom. This unique programme is designed for graduates who already have some knowledge of law, international law or politics and who wish to deepen their understanding of selected global issues, or those who wish to transfer into this area from related disciplines (for example, History, Philosophy, Economics and Development Studies).

The Department of Politics was ranked joint top in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise with 95% of published work deemed of international quality, 45% of which was considered world leading. 85% of the School of Law’s published work was deemed of international quality, 15% of which was considered world leading.

Designed to investigate exciting new interdisciplinary areas between global politics and law, the programme is centered on understanding the relationship between political and legal theory, international practice, and how these practices respond to contemporary issues of globalization and cohabitation. You will be encouraged to think critically, to take intellectual risks, and to utilize the intellectual and academic resources involved with both disciplines. The core module will cover key foundational issues such as human rights, global justice, global constitutionalism, critiques of universalism, international legal theory and areas of international legal practice (such as the making of international law, the International Criminal Court and case studies in humanitarian intervention). The programme also allows you to explore a range of options that fit with your particular concerns and interests.

This programme is also available as a two-year, dual-award Masters programme, delivered jointly with Doshisha University, Japan.
Doshisha Pathway

Course Structure

All students must undertake 180 credits of modules as follows:

• One core module, POL615 Politics of International Law (30 credits);
• Option modules to the value of 90 credits (at least 30 in each of the disciplines) - details below
• POL616 Dissertation for MA in Global Politics and Law (60 credits)

Option Modules

• Politics Options
• Law Options

All modules are subject to availability.