MSc Gender

The MSc in Gender at LSE encourages an analytical approach to the subject, and explores gender from a number of perspectives across various disciplinary boundaries.

A key focus of the programme concerns the ethical and intellectual issues that arise from practicing gender studies. In addition to the compulsory courses, you’ll be able to choose from a range of options within and outside of the department.

At LSE, our experienced faculty will encourage you to develop your own gender studies pathway and to focus on research areas that interest you.

Graduates of the MSc in Gender go on to pursue various career paths, including research and consultancy for government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in countries across the globe. Some students go on to pursue humanitarian and charity work, whereas others work in civil and diplomatic services, representative politics, advocacy, and academia.

• J Butler Gender Trouble (Routledge, 1999)
• S de Beauvoir The Second Sex (Vintage, 1997)
• M Evans and C H Williams  Gender: the key concepts (Routledge, 2012)
• M Evans C Hemmings H Marsha, H Johnstone, S Madhok, A Plomien, and S Wearing The SAGE Handbook of Feminist Theory (Sage Publications, 2014)
• I Grewal and C Kaplan Scattered Hegemonies: postmodernity and transnational feminist practices (Minneapolis Press, 1994)
• T Laqueur Making Sex (Harvard University Press 1990)
• M Nussbaum Sex and Social Justice (Oxford University Press 1999)
• S M Okin Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women? (Princeton University Press 1999)
• C Pateman The Sexual Contract (Polity Press 1988)
• R Wiegman Women Studies on Its Own (Duke University Press 2002)

The Department of Gender Studies is internationally renowned for research and teaching in the field. Ours is the largest department of its kind in Europe.

The department’s research, which is arranged into four main strands, explores the tenacity of gender power relations and gendered inequalities. Our 15-strong faculty team includes world-class academics and thought leaders.

As a department, we offer eight master's programmes and a stimulating PhD programme. Each year, our programmes attract 150 students, from many different academic backgrounds and countries. Teaching covers a wide range of themes, from established gender theories to emerging topics and current debates.

We have a vibrant research culture, with resident research fellows, visiting scholars, public lectures and conferences and regular research seminars.

The department provides a focus for gender research at LSE as well as promoting collaboration between policymakers, practitioners and academics. We work closely with other departments, centres and institutes at LSE and foster strong links with institutions around the globe.

Department of Gender Studies

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two academic references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Please note: The applications, intake and ratio values below include the MSc Gender (Research), MSc Gender (Sexuality) and the MSc Gender (Rights and Human Rights).

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

You can view indicative details of hours, teaching staff, and assessment in the Calendar within each course guide.

Our students go on to work in varied career paths: research and consultancy for government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in developed and less developed countries, international organisations, humanitarian and charity work, personnel work, civil and diplomatic services, representative politics, advocacy, the legal profession, academia, media and communication and in education.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.