Globalisation: Politics, Conflict and Human Rights MA (PGCert PGDip)

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

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Top reasons to choose this course

• You will study key developments and issues in relation to politics, conflict and human rights, considering these areas within the context of contemporary globalisation
• You will be encouraged to develop an informed and critical understanding of contemporary globalisation
• Our inspiring lecturers offer close tutorial support
• On graduation you can pursue a wide range of careers as well as opportunities for further postgraduate research.
• Our students and graduates are effusive about our programme – see the ‘Meet our students’ tab
• We offer you a dynamic learning community where you can participate in and attend regular events

Modules

Modules

Core modules

• Research Methods

  This module teaches you how to effectively carry out research in order to undertake an extended research project. You will learn a range of research methods across different disciplines and consider issues such as ethics, positionality and decolonising research. You will be guided to choose a research topic, develop a clear proposal with specific goals, methods and sources, and explain how your research connects to the issues addressed.

• Globalisation and Global Politics

  This module provides an advanced introduction to the key theories, concepts and critical debates associated with contemporary globalisation and global politics. It draws on approaches developed within the academic fields of politics and global studies in areas such as the world economy and the changing global order; global governance and the United Nations system; global poverty and development; and the politics of sustainability.

• Protecting Human Rights and Building Peace

  This module offers a comprehensive overview of human rights and contemporary peacebuilding. You will gain an understanding of the United Nations Human Rights system, analysing the effectiveness of international efforts to protect, respect and fulfil human rights. You will also look at attempts to defend human rights in the context of contemporary conflict and insecurity, focusing on a range of peacebuilding initiatives.

• Research Project

  During this module you will carry out a research project which you have devised, planned and agreed guided by tutorial supervision with subject specialists. You will investigate your research topic by interpretating primary materials, analysing relevant theoretical and critical debates, and/or designing and using appropriate research methodology.

Options*

• Extended Essay

  During this module you will produce an extended piece of writing on a research topic of your choice that relates to your MA. It will help you complete a postgraduate-level submission and encourage you to engage with academic literature and key texts in your field, exploring debates in-depth through extended writing. You’ll develop strong analytical skills and learn to express your ideas clearly and effectively, aiming for a publishable standard.

• Heritage in a Global Context

  Through weekly seminars and site visits, this module will enable you to reflect on what constitutes ‘heritage’ by exploring how historical, aesthetic and cultural value is attributed to material forms of the past. Combining theoretical and political debate, you will analyse global case studies (for example, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial) and create local case studies (for example, Brighton Pier). This will involve site documentation, the identification of interpretive techniques and reflection upon meaning.

• Queer and Now

  Capitalising on Brighton’s location as the UK’s unofficial LGBTQ+ capital, this interdisciplinary module will explore traditions of LGBTQ+ community spaces and local and global writing in the context of the histories and politics of sexuality and queer identities and their contemporary manifestations. Using a wide range of case studies, you will examine current and potential forms of community and radical kinship, informed by key critical debates in queer theory.

• Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention

  This module explores human rights and humanitarian intervention, examining the role the international community plays in causing, preventing and responding to human rights violation. You will study human rights issues in the context of military intervention and the prevention of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, genocide and crimes against humanity, and question if and how human rights are being protected in a changing international order.

• Professional Placements

  During this professional placement you will learn through practice by working with, for example, a third sector organisation (such as an NGO or charity), gallery, museum or archive in order to gain experience and perspective on how issues covered in your academic courses play out in real-life work environments. The placement will involve approximately 10 days of work, either one day a week or a during a more intensive period.

• Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

  Primarily targeted at those considering a career in teaching, this module will see you attend and observe the lectures and seminars of an undergraduate course before delivering part of a lecture and facilitating a seminar yourself. You will acquire a wide range of academic, transferable and communication skills through this hands-on experience of teaching and learning.

• Caring for Collections and their Users

  Caring for Collections and Their Users explores how museums and similar organisations manage and care for their collections and visitors. It covers key topics like collection development, care, management, research and ways to engage and educate audiences. Through seminar discussions, study visits, presentations and portfolio development, you will explore the professional concerns facing museums and other collection-based organisations.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Lab facilities

Mithras House has a series of lab rooms which can be used for teaching on your course or in your independent research work.

Life lab
A skills-based lab for practice-based teaching, social work, psychotherapy and counselling, and employability. The Life lab is fitted with lounge furniture to provide a comfortable space for conducting qualitative research with larger groups. The lab can be used to conduct research activities with children of all ages and can be used for meetings and events. The room also contains a dedicated space to conduct assessed role play or interviews with children.

City lab
This is a qualitative research methods and creative methods resource for all students, staff and researchers, as well as research participants, including children, community groups and the general public. It can also be used for meetings and events. The City lab contains a kitchen, a teaching/meeting room with enhanced acoustic isolation and two meeting spaces that can be separated with a screen or combined to accommodate larger groups.

Design lab
Housing our extensive collection of historic dress and textiles, which are used in some teaching on our History of Art and Design courses, this has the space and equipment for you to work on textile projects. Displays created by students on these programmes are on view in the social spaces of the building.

Community lab
A space designed for collaborative student learning, this is used by students and staff involved in the university’s Global Challenges programme – our collective mission to contribute towards solutions to tackle the pressing issues facing our world.

Stats lab
A specialist workspace with computing equipment for statistical analysis and projects involving video and audio editing software. The lab contains eight acoustically treated booths for both recording and transcribing interviews undertaken as part of dissertation research and for recording and editing podcasts.

Applied cognition lab
A dedicated research space for psychological research involving measures such as electrodermal activity (EDA) and electroencephalography (EEG). The space is designed to allow the participant and researcher to sit at separate desks whilst psychophysiological data is being collected. 

VR and eye tracking lab
The VR and Eye-Tracking Lab is used for psychological research using equipment, such as eye-trackers and virtual reality headsets. The space has adjustable lighting and a blackout blind for maintaining consistent lighting conditions during eye-tracking research, as well as sensors set up in the room to allow individuals to move freely around the room during virtual reality research.

Meet the team

Meet our students

Rochel Canagasabey:

“The MA has been a transformative journey for me. It’s not just a course; it’s a profound exploration into the heart of contemporary issues. From day one, it pushed me beyond the confines of theory, urging me to grapple with the real-world complexities of today’s global landscape.

“What truly sets this programme apart is its dedication to diverse perspectives. It’s not about sticking to one viewpoint; it’s about embracing the multitude of voices and opinions that shape our world. In a global political arena that’s anything but straightforward, this approach feels essential.”

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Joyce Dunne:

“I was drawn to the University of Brighton as there is a very close teacher-student dynamic that allows for a personal form of learning, encouraging research and a support unparalleled in other universities.

“Other reasons include the course content itself – there are a really wide variety of modules to choose from as an MA and you are allowed to participate in modules from the other MAs, allowing a broad spectrum for learning which can be helpful when researching for the final dissertation.”

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Jayde Matthews:

“I was looking for a course which covered wide-ranging topics and dealt with important issues. I knew I wanted my research to contribute to understanding the world’s issues and this course had the added bonus of including weeks on feminist thought and women’s rights which had been my pre-existing area of interest.

“I was also drawn to the varied option modules available with this course, but it was after meeting the course leader at a postgraduate open evening that I knew this course was for me – the most important thing was learning from people who are not only experts but are also passionate about what they are teaching.”

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Jennifer Richardson-Cook:

“I chose to attend Brighton because of the programme options. I felt that the programme suited my interest and passions, and when I researched the lecturers, I felt they would bring an unparalleled level of expertise.”

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Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

Maps

Support and wellbeing

Sport at Brighton