MA Geopolitics
Queen's University Belfast
Key Information
Campus location
Belfast, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 3 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 19,100 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
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* international fee
Introduction
How does climate change reshape global politics? What will the world look like with the rise of China as a new superpower? Can regional conflicts shift the international power balance? How will a mainly urbanised world sustain itself? As the international scene becomes increasingly complex, understanding the fundamentals of how people, governments, international institutions and the environment interact is becoming increasingly important. If you are interested in understanding the intersections of space and politics then the MA in Geopolitics is specifically designed for you.
Contemporary issues require advanced analysis that recognises the intersections of space, power and politics. From security challenges to cultural practices or climate change; from the global to every day, the connections between politics and space are increasingly complex. Integrating historical, cultural and political perspectives, the MA Geopolitics at QUB is an innovative interdisciplinary programme that seeks to build the knowledge and skills needed to engage these challenges.
Taught by academic experts in Human Geography, Politics and International Relations, with a broad range of regional expertise and research perspectives, this new MA enables students to explore the questions which are shaping our lives. It is not just for geographers, international relations students, and political scientists but anyone with an interest in the core course themes. You will come to understand these intersections through a range of themes developed across the modules. These include nations, states, landscapes, mobilities, urban spaces, environmental change, sovereignty, identity, gender, empire and postcolonial relations, territory and borders, the politics of human rights and others. You can either specialise or learn across a range of issues such as culture, media, ethics, security and conflict, environmental politics, and democratic participation. You will be taught by experts in regions including East Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, the UK and Ireland.
As you engage the intersections of space, power and politics you will develop advanced conceptual and analytic skills and subject knowledge needed to explore their intersections in a range of historic and contemporary issues. These skills will enable you to investigate problems shaping environments, places and landscapes and to challenge accepted wisdom. They are also particularly important skills for those pursuing careers in all sectors of government and the public sector, NGOs, international corporations, regional and international agencies, media and information industries.
Geopolitics Highlights
An interdisciplinary programme taught across disciplines of Geography, Politics, International Relations this MA offers a unique opportunity to develop a grounding connected by a shared concern with space, power, and politics.
World-Class Facilities
- Politics was ranked joint 1st in the UK for Research Intensity (Complete University Guide 2021).
- Queen’s is ranked 14th in the UK for research quality (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020).
- Queen’s is ranked 22nd in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020)
- Queen’s is ranked in the top 140 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020)
- Queen’s currently has over 3,000 international students from 85 different countries. 11% of the Queen’s student population are international students.
- Queen’s is ranked in the top 75 universities in Europe for Teaching Excellent (Times Higher Education, 2019
- Queen’s was ranked 3rd out of 199 universities worldwide and 2nd out of 44 UK universities for our Graduate School.
Student Experience
- Research-led teaching by world-leading experts who have been awarded grants by UK and EU funding bodies to undertake research on the intersections of geography and politics.
- The chance to apply theoretical insights to the real world through a range of assignments, field trips, engagements with practitioners, guest speakers and seminars.
Career Opportunities
The MA in Geopolitics was launched in September 2021.
MA in Geopolitics can lead to a Ph.D. in Geography, Politics, International Studies, or environmental studies. It would also train you for employment in all sectors of government and the public sector, international agencies, NGOs, international corporations, media, and information industries.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports, and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognized by a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Gallery
Curriculum
Course Structure
The program has three different components: Core modules, Elective modules, and an MA dissertation.
Students undertake two core modules in each taught semester and a further optional module.
The dissertation is completed over the summer.
Each taught module is worth 20 CATS points. The dissertation is worth 60 CATS points. The MA requires the completion of 180 CATS.
- Students will be taught a wide range of research methods in the field and would need to identify, critically evaluate, and apply a range of methodologies
- In their taught modules particular emphasis would be given to the study of theory. Students would then be required to reflect on their own theoretical approaches in their independent study.
- Students would be exposed to these issues through their study of the scholarship in this field. Their selection and development of independent research would allow them to demonstrate and be assessed on their understanding of such issues.
Course Content
The program has three different components: Core modules, Elective modules, and an MA dissertation.
Students undertake two core modules in each taught semester and a further optional module.
The dissertation is completed over the summer.
Each taught module is worth 20 CATS points. The dissertation is worth 60 CATS points. The MA requires the completion of 180 CATS.
Semester 1 (Autumn)
In the Autumn Semester students undertake two required core modules and one optional module. Each module is worth 20 CATS.
Core modules
- GGY7001: Critical Geopolitics – this is an introductory module, covering key thinkers and core issues in contemporary geopolitics.
- HAP7001: Approaches and Debates in Research Design – this workshop-based module provides you with the methodological tools for conducting independent research covering a range of methods used across humanities and social sciences.
Optional modules
one of which is taken:
- PAI7032: Gender, Peace and Security
- PAI7051: Contemporary Security
- PAI7098: Democratic Challenges
- PAI7099: The UK and Europe
- PAI7021: The politics of Northern Ireland
- PAI7038: Theories of Comparative Politics
Semester 2 (Spring)
In the Spring Semester students undertake two required core modules and one optional module. Each module is worth 20 CATS.
Core modules
- GGY7002: Geo-power: States, Sovereignty, Territory
- GGY7003: Culture and the Geopolitics of the Everyday
Optional modules
one of which is taken:
- CSJ7009: Conflict Mediation and Transformation
- PAI7007: Global Terrorism
- PAI7027: Conflict Intervention
- PAI7030: International Political Economy
- PAI7032: Gender and politics
- PAI7036: Low Carbon Economies
- PAI7050: Ethnic Conflict and Consensus: the Power of Institutions
- PAI7052: Institutions and Politics of the EU
- PAI7100: Engaging Citizens in Democratic Institutions
- PAI7058: From Cold War to Cold Peace: The Transformation of International Order (1979-1999)
- PAI7102: Global Ireland
- PHL7057: Social Injustice
Summer: Dissertation
Students complete their dissertations over the summer months. While you will begin work on their dissertations in the Autumn and Spring Semesters, most intensive research and analysis are over the summer months.
A dissertation (GGY7099) of up to 15,000 words will be produced through an independent research project. This is worth 60 CATS points.
Students are guided in this by an academic expert supervisor. Supervisors for GGY7099 may be drawn from experts in either the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Politics, or from Geography in the School of Natural and Built Environment.
Learning and Teaching
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have gained knowledge and understanding, subject-specific skills, and transferable and cognitive skills.
Cognitive skills
Through this course, students will develop the ability to:
- Retrieve, sift, and select information from a range of sources.
- Plan and execute a piece of independent research, including independent data collection, interpretation, and argumentation.
- Comprehend and be able to deploy qualitative and quantitative research designs.
General Skills
Class discussions and debates and their independent preparation and coursework will develop skills in constructively and critically engaging the work of others, as well as self-reflection on their own work.
Through independent study and class preparations, peer engagement in class, dissertation supervision, etc.
Their independent study (e.g. writing a dissertation; module coursework) will require working to deadlines, effective written communication, locating, sifting, and prioritizing information, and time management. Seminars will include collaborative working and discussion.
Their experience in applying qualitative and quantitative approaches to real-world political puzzles will be of invaluable use to them - either in further research or in their careers - when they conduct research into any social phenomenon.
Students will be able to structure and communicate their ideas effectively both in oral and written form; through participation in all class activities and completion of the coursework.
Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be able to demonstrate:
- Comprehensive and systematic knowledge and understanding of the key issues in the study of Geopolitics.
- Familiarity with the range of key thinkers in the field of Geopolitics.
- Awareness of different methodological approaches, and a conceptual grasp of current research and advances of scholarship in the study of Geopolitics.
- Awareness of theoretical debates, and an appreciation of analytical frameworks and historical evolution of the area.
Learning and Teaching
You will be part of a community of learners situated across two academic Schools and will be able to avail of research activities and seminar series in both.
Vibrant debate and discussion form a core part of class time. You will gain experience in applying qualitative and quantitative approaches to real-world political concerns.
All teaching staff are at the forefront of contemporary research and debate in their fields.
Subject-specific skills
Students will be able to:
- Show evidence of understanding of the range of methodological approaches available to engage geopolitical issues, and be able to select appropriate techniques relative to the overall research design.
- Locate political problems in particular spatial contexts and critically reflect on their production and possibilities for intervention.
- Apply conceptually informed forms of analysis to contemporary geopolitical problems and identify their practical political implications.
Transferable skills
A wide range of transferable skills is developed through this course including the ability to:
- Constructively and critically engage the work of others.
- Find, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information from a range of sources.
- Work independently and in groups.
- Problem-solving.
- Communication skills.
- Problem-solving: applying research to real-world political issues.
- Communication skills: structure and communicate ideas and arguments effectively in oral and written forms.
Assessment
You will be part of a community of learners situated across two academic Schools and will be able to avail of research activities and seminar series in both.
Vibrant debate and discussion form a core part of class time. You will gain experience in applying qualitative and quantitative approaches to real-world political concerns. All teaching staff are at the forefront of contemporary research and debate in their fields.
Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
- Continuous assessment will be across a range of various outputs.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Master's courses in all subject areas. Criteria, eligibility, repayment, and application information are available on the UK government website.
International Scholarships
English Language Requirements
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