MSc Political Science (Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics)

The MSc Political Science is a wide-ranging programme combining subject-specific study and rigorous methodological training.

The Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics stream focuses on the comparative study of political systems and looks for sophisticated analytical answers to basic political questions across a broad range of issues: Why are some countries democratic while others are not? Do constitutions matter? Why are some countries torn by conflict? How and why do conflicts change over time? What can be done to manage or resolve a conflict? What accounts for differing patterns of income distribution in different capitalist countries? How and why do economic institutions and policymaking differ across countries?

The Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics stream is methodologically eclectic yet rigorous, and students are given the tools to select an approach appropriate to their empirical interests, including narrative historical methods as well as quantitative ones. It offers courses in the fields of democracy and democratisation, nationalism and ethnicity, comparative political economy, political institutions, popular politics, and politics of the developing world as well as a wide range of country- and area-specific options. Regional foci include the developed democracies, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, India, China and South-East Asia.

This programme will be a good preparation for a career in international organisations, government, public policy, political consultancy, security agencies, finance, the media and NGOs, as well as providing an excellent foundation for further research including PhD programmes.

You'll take assessed courses with a total value of four units, with most courses accounting for a half unit. All students are required to take the compulsory introduction to comparative politics and conflict studies course (one unit), a course in qualitative or quantitative analysis for political science (half unit), and write a 10,000-word dissertation (one unit). Part-time students may take up to four courses in their first year.

The Department of Government is an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research on politics and government.

Within our department, we have 850 undergraduates, postgraduates and research students and more than 40 faculty staff – who come from 80 countries.

Our research focuses on six main areas:

• comparative politics
• conflict studies
• political behaviour and political psychology
• political economy and institutional analysis
• political theory
• public policy and public administration.

The department’s work covers national, sub-national and global politics – with a strong emphasis on public-facing research.

Teaching within the department draws on these strengths and our central role in a prestigious social science institution. As a student, you’ll learn from internationally renowned academics and study in the heart of London, close to the UK’s political heartland in Westminster and the Houses of Parliament.

Our students gain the knowledge and skills to become sharp-minded critical thinkers who apply diverse analytical perspectives to political issues and conflicts around the globe. We encourage students to reflect on what it means to be responsible for addressing urgent public problems and engage in these issues in practical ways to prepare for their future careers. Our graduates find fulfilling roles in government, financial and professional services, teaching and research.

Learn more about our programmes, research, public events and people.

Department of Government

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 includes all the streams of the MSc Policial Science programme: Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics; Global Politics; Political Science and Political Economy; and Political Behaviour.

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, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of 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 (which in some cases may be offered online). An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Graduates from our MSc have gone on to successful careers in politics, media, NGOs, Foreign Service, finance and academia.

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.