Politics and Philosophy MA (PGCert PGDip)

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

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Areas of study

On our Politics and Philosophy MA you'll study key categories and concepts in political philosophy through the lens of pressing political problems of our contemporary age. This includes areas such as right wing challenges to democracy and the rise of authoritarianism and populism, climate change, gender oppression and decolonialism.

Through our unique, radical and decolonialised approach to political thought you'll become familiar with the wide range of critical and progressive literature on these topics.

Our MA sits in the rich research environment of our Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics – CAPPE.

You'll benefit from visits from many of the theorists that you will read, regular conferences and workshops, and reading groups with PhD students and academic staff.

The optional placement module is an opportunity to gain valuable work experience with an organisation to help improve your employability.

Course structure

Full-time students should expect to dedicate around 40 hours per week to their studies. For part-time students aiming to complete in two years this would be reduced to around 20 hours per week.

There will be a mixture of scheduled teaching activities, guided independent study and placement learning. Both core and option modules employ a range of teaching and assessment methods.

Core elements emphasise lectures and seminar-based learning, where you'll engage in collective exploration and discussion of key topics. It may also include student presentations, workshops, debates, simulations and reading groups. Teaching and learning methods will vary depending on the chosen options.   

Individual tutorials are a key component, offering you extended verbal feedback on assessment plans. You'll be encouraged to schedule pre-assessment tutorials to receive one-on-one guidance before your final submissions. 

Written feedback is provided for all summative assessments. You also have the opportunity to receive written feedback on draft dissertation work if submitted before a specified deadline.

The format of written assignments may include:

• essays
• blog posts
• specialist studies
• dissertations
• conference abstracts and papers
• placement reports
• research proposals
• doctoral proposals.

This diverse range of assessments reflects best practices across the academic sector. 

Modules

Core modules

• Key Categories in Contemporary Politics and Philosophy (20 credits, semester 1)

• Research Methods  (20 credits, semester 2)

• Problems in Contemporary Philosophy and Politics (20 credits, semester 2)
• The Politics of Contemporary Conflict (20 credits, semester 2)   

• Final Project (60 credits, throughout the year)

Option modules

You'll choose two option modules and study one in each semester.

• Queer and Now
• Globalisation and Global Politics
• Protecting Human Rights and Building Peace
• Extended Essay
• Heritage in a Global Context
• Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention
• Professional Placements
• Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

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

Final project

With supervisory guidance and support, you'll complete a project culminating in the writing of an 8,000 word research article or policy brief on a topic of your choice. This module allows you to build a portfolio of work that can be used to demonstrate your expertise to future employers or in applications for further academic study. 

Example topics might include:

• the impact of populism on democratic institutions
• the role of biopolitics in global health governance
• the ethical dimensions of climate change policy. 

You'll also plan and participate in a graduate student conference which will enhance your applied and logistical skills, and provide networking and presentation opportunities. 

Selected final projects will be published in an issue of the student-run journal Interfere, hosted by CAPPE, our Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics research. The best project will be published and noted in the journal as well as the student receiving £200 in book vouchers.

Professional Placement

The Professional Placements option module offers the opportunity to go on a work placement with one of our partners.

We have links with organisations including:

• political parties
• activist groups
• charities
• newspapers and magazines
• law firms
• publishers
• housing trusts
• Brighton & Hove City Council. 

The Professional Placement module will help you to develop a deep understanding of working practices through 10-days of hands-on experience.

You'll be able to extend and apply the knowledge gained during your studies and you'll write a reflective essay on the placement experience and your learnings. 

You'll be fully supported leading up to, and during, your placement. 

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

Our expert teaching team includes:

• Dr German Primera Villamizar
• Dr Clare Woodford
• Professor Mark Devenney
• Dr Toby Lovat
• Dr Andy Knott
• Dr Joanna Kellond
• Dr Zoe Sutherland
• Dr Robin Jervis
• Dr Chris Wyatt

Course fees

Course fees for students starting their course in 2026 will be published later this year.

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).

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