Is the MA Political Thought a politics MA or a philosophy MA?

Both — it sits across both disciplines. Students arrive from politics, philosophy, history, law, sociology and adjacent humanities. The core modules treat the history of political thought as serious philosophy and contemporary political philosophy with the historical and institutional context politics offers.

Do I need to read non-English texts in the original for the MA Political Thought?

No. All primary texts are read in established English translations. Students with Greek, Latin, French, German or other relevant language backgrounds are welcome to engage with original texts in their dissertation work, but it is not a course requirement.

Can I do the MA Political Thought part-time alongside a policy job?

Yes. The MA is widely taken part-time by working policy professionals, civil servants and political journalists. The two-year part-time route accommodates full-time employment, with most teaching scheduled in evenings and weekends.

What does a typical MA Political Thought dissertation look like?

A 15,000-word piece of sustained theoretical argument on a chosen question — a re-reading of a classical text, an intervention in a contemporary debate, an application of a theoretical framework to a current policy or political question. Each student is supervised by a tutor with relevant expertise.

Will the MA Political Thought prepare me for a PhD?

Yes — directly. The MA's research-methods training, primary-text reading and supervised dissertation are designed as PhD preparation. Graduates have progressed to doctoral study in political theory, political philosophy, intellectual history and adjacent fields at UK and international universities.

MA Political Thought in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Political Thought at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for graduates moving into serious engagement with the history of political ideas and contemporary political philosophy. The course covers classical political thought from Plato to Marx, the major twentieth-century traditions (liberal egalitarianism, communitarianism, republicanism, critical theory, feminist political philosophy, postcolonial theory), and contemporary debates on legitimacy, justice, democracy, sovereignty and political agency.

This MA is for people who want to think rigorously about politics rather than commentate on it. You will read primary texts, write substantial extended argument, complete a 15,000-word dissertation supervised by a political theorist with relevant expertise, and emerge equipped for doctoral research, public-policy work where intellectual depth matters, or a career in political journalism and analysis.

Key Features

UK master's degree from a specialist humanities institution in central London — one year full-time, two years part-time, with online and distance routes.
History of political thought module — Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Smith, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Hegel, Marx, Mill.
Contemporary political philosophy module — Rawls, Nozick, Sandel, Walzer, Habermas, Pateman, Fraser, Mouffe, Young, Mills, Sen.
Methods in political-philosophy research — reflective equilibrium, analytical political theory, history-of-ideas approaches, critical methods.
Option modules in democratic theory, theories of justice, feminist political philosophy, postcolonial political thought and global justice.
15,000-word dissertation on a political-thought question of your choice with named-supervisor support.

What You Will Learn

The MA Political Thought is structured around the analytical, historical and interpretive skills political theorists deploy in their work. You graduate able to read primary political-philosophy texts in their context, engage with contemporary debate at the level of original argument, and write a sustained piece of theoretical research to publishable standard.

Close reading of foundational political-thought texts from Plato to contemporary writers.
The history of political thought as a discipline — the Cambridge school, contextualist methods, and their critics.
Twentieth-century political theory traditions and their continuing influence.
Contemporary debates — legitimacy, justice, equality, freedom, democracy, sovereignty, global justice.
Feminist political philosophy and its impact on the canon.
Postcolonial political thought — Fanon, Said, Spivak, contemporary decolonial work.
Critical methods — ideology critique, deconstruction, genealogy.
Dissertation research design — framing the question, building the literature review, sustaining a 15,000-word argument.

Who This MA Is For

BA graduates in politics, philosophy, history or related humanities ready to deepen their theoretical foundation.
Civil servants, parliamentary staff, think-tank researchers and political journalists whose work would benefit from sustained theoretical training.
Career-changers from law, public service or the third sector moving toward applied policy or political analysis.
Prospective doctoral researchers using the MA as a research-training year toward a PhD in political theory.

Career Pathways

The MA Political Thought is the standard postgraduate qualification for serious work in political theory and a strong foundation for adjacent professional fields. Typical destinations include:

Think-Tank Researcher (Centre for Policy Studies, IPPR, Fabian Society, Resolution Foundation and similar)
Policy Adviser (central government department, parliamentary office, devolved administration)
Political Journalist or Commentator (specialist political title, longform political podcast, public-affairs publication)
NGO Policy and Advocacy Officer (campaigning organisation, human-rights NGO, international development)
Higher Education Lecturer (post-doctoral, after PhD)
Doctoral Researcher (PhD programmes in political theory, philosophy, political science)

The MA is also a recognised foundation for doctoral work in political theory, philosophy and intellectual history.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended dissertation area.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.