MSc in Political Science
Course Overview
If you want to study politics as a rigorous social science rather than commentary, the MSc in Political Science at the London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is built for that step. It sits within our Law & Social Sciences department, takes one year full-time or two years part-time, and is delivered on-campus in central London, fully online and by distance learning.
The MSc in Political Science covers political theory, comparative politics, international relations and the quantitative and qualitative methods that distinguish serious political analysis from opinion. It culminates in a 15,000-word dissertation on a question of your choice, built under tutor supervision and defended in a viva-style oral examination.
Industry Context
UK political research and policy work has shifted under sustained pressure: the post-2024 Westminster reset, devolution settlements moving in Scotland, Wales and the English combined authorities, and the rise of structured methods inside think tanks and the Civil Service Analytical Function. The MSc in Political Science is sequenced against those changes so graduates carry talking points and methods that map to current vacancies at the IFS, IFG, RUSI and equivalent bodies.
Key Features of the MSc in Political Science
- Political Studies Association-aligned content drawing on UK political-science teaching standards.
- Three study modes — on-campus, online or distance learning.
- Methods stream across statistics, R basics and qualitative analysis.
- UK Parliament module on Westminster, Whitehall and devolved governments.
- Comparative politics module on European, US and Asian systems.
- 15,000-word dissertation on a chosen political-science question with viva-style defence.
What You Will Learn on the MSc in Political Science
The MSc in Political Science trains you to read political phenomena with theoretical depth and methodological discipline. You will graduate able to design and defend a piece of original political research, brief a non-academic audience cleanly, and read both a Hansard transcript and a regression table with the same critical eye.
- Political theory — ancient to contemporary.
- Comparative politics and political systems.
- UK politics and policy-making.
- International relations and global governance.
- Political economy.
- Quantitative methods and political data analysis.
- Qualitative research methods and case-study design.
- Public policy analysis.
- Election studies and survey research.
- Dissertation and academic writing for politics.
Assessment Approach
Assessment combines critical essays, a coded methods portfolio, a policy brief written in Civil Service analytical-paper style, a comparative case-study report and the dissertation. The dissertation is supervised across the year with structured milestones, a mid-point review and a final viva-style oral defence. Students leave with a publication-quality paper draft they can take into PhD applications or think-tank recruitment.
Who the MSc in Political Science Is For
- Politics, history and IR graduates progressing to postgraduate study.
- Civil servants and policy professionals wanting a research-grounded credential.
- NGO and think-tank researchers building methods literacy.
- International students seeking a UK-aligned political-science Master's.
- Journalists and political consultants formalising analytical training.
Career Pathways for MSc in Political Science Graduates
LSCT MSc in Political Science graduates typically progress into research, policy and analytical roles across UK government, parliamentary research, think tanks, NGOs and major UK consultancies. The qualification supports applications but does not by itself guarantee employment or visa outcomes. Typical destinations include:
- Policy Officer (Civil Service Fast Stream)
- Parliamentary Researcher (senior)
- Think-Tank Researcher
- NGO Policy and Advocacy Officer
- Public Affairs Consultant
- Doctoral candidate (PhD route)
- Election and Polling Analyst
The MSc in Political Science also opens the door to PhD study and to Diplomatic Service Fast Stream applications.
Entry Requirements
- A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in politics, IR, history, sociology or a related subject.
- Applicants from non-cognate fields may apply with five years' senior professional experience in policy or research.
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- A personal statement, two references and (where applicable) a research proposal of 500-800 words.
Why Study at LSCT
The London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. We teach in small cohorts so every student is visible to their tutor, run a single intake schedule that students can rely on, and partner with UK professional bodies so qualifications carry weight with employers. London puts Whitehall, the City, Silicon Roundabout, the Royal Courts of Justice, the West End and the NHS estate within a short tube ride of every classroom — and our students use that proximity in their projects, placements and graduate job hunts. Political-science students benefit from a campus a short tube ride from Westminster and the UK's largest think-tank cluster.
Research Environment
The MSc in Political Science runs a fortnightly research seminar where students present working dissertation chapters to peers and a working researcher from a UK think tank or academic department. The format mirrors a doctoral upgrade panel, so students arrive at PhD applications already practised in defending a research question. Seminar guests across recent years have included staff from the Institute for Government, the IFS and political-science departments at UCL and Birkbeck, drawn into the cohort through working relationships rather than one-off lectures.
Apply for the MSc in Political Science
Specialise at postgraduate level with the MSc in Political Science. Click Enrol Now to apply; admissions teams reply within one working day with scholarship and funding guidance.
