(Full time / Part time) 2019 start
Global Governance and Diplomacy MA
Overview
This Masters programme aims to provide you with the expertise and skills required to pursue a fruitful career within an international organisation and their member states, or a non-governmental organisation operating within global politics. The skills-based teaching throughout the course will allow you to gain training in the practices, institutions, and processes that address the key global challenges of our time such as: security and conflict, climate change, migration, gender equality, humanitarian assistance, health, poverty, economic stability, development and education.
Throughout the programme you will gain a deeper understanding of the transnational nature of these issues, and how the interrelated and global scale of these challenges requires a fresh approach beyond the nation state. You will gain a deeper understanding of the governance regimes that seek to address global challenges, why such regimes succeed or fail, the politics underpinning current practice and the obstacles to change.
The practical focus of the course will ensure you are well-equipped and practiced in the skills required to succeed in this field, such as lobbying, report writing, negotiating, and campaigning.
You will also benefit from the research expertise and experience of staff contributing to the programme. Our staff have experience working with major international bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, the United Nations (UN), Joint Office for Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), the G7, the Global Fund, and the World Bank.
Course content
Compulsory modules will introduce you to governance, challenging the view of the nation state as the sole actor of change. You will analyse the power of different actors in addressing global issues and build skills required for 21st century diplomacy. You will explore ways to effectively implement changes transnationally, looking beyond ministries of foreign affairs and diplomats to include non-governmental organisations, individuals and municipal governments or cities.
Your dissertation will then allow you to critically examine an issue related to international practice.
The range of optional modules will allow you to gain specialised knowledge of particular global challenges and the related governance structure and diplomatic practices.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Diplomatic Practice 30 credits
- Global Governance 30 credits
- POLIS MA Dissertation 60 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Engaging the Modern City: The Civic Researcher 30 credits
- Global Governance through Law 30 credits
- Conflict, Complex Emergencies and Global Governance 20 credits
- Education in Development 30 credits
- Gender, Globalisation and Development 30 credits
- Global Inequalities and Development 30 credits
- International Relations and the Environment 30 credits
- Global Justice 30 credits
Learning and teaching
Teaching methods will include traditional lectures and seminars, as well as practice-based workshops to develop skills such as report writing, presentation and campaign skills, media training, and negotiation.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a range of academic and practice-based assessments including: essays, a dissertation, reports, presentations, and group-based / work-placed projects.
Applying, fees and funding
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or a non-UK equivalent in a social science, humanities, or other related discipline. Relevant experience will also be taken into account.
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information contact the School of Politics and International Studies admissions team.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Politics and Society (6 weeks) and Language for Social Sciences and Arts: Politics and Society (10 weeks).
If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.
How to apply
This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
School of Politics and International Studies Postgraduate Admissions Policy 2019
Fees
- UK/EU: £9,000 (total)
- International: £18,500 (total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Part-time fees are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.
Additional cost information
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.
The School of Politics and International Studies offers the School of Politics and International Studies Head of School International Excellence Scholarship, a partial fee scholarship for international students.
Full details of the scholarship can be found on the School of Politics and International Studies' funding page.
Career opportunities
This course provides students with the skills, experience and expertise required to pursue a fruitful career within international organisations and their member states, or non-governmental organisations. The combination of an academic and practical focus will allow you to develop both the knowledge and skills to succeed in global governance.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.