Political Science & International Relations - MA course structure

The MA Social Science Research consists of a total of 180 credits. Students are required to undertake a number of core and optional modules provided by the DTP and the Politics and International Studies Department (PAIS).

DTP core modules

Students are required to undertake all DTP core modules.

Module Code

Module name

Credits

Term

IM926

Research Design, Practice and Ethics

Term 1

Day and Time TBC

IM925

Foundations in Qualitative Research

Term 2

Day and Time TBC

Core optional modules

Students are required to undertake one (20 credit) quantitative module from the options below:

Module code

Module name

Credits

Term

PO91Q

Fundamentals in Quantitative Research Methods

Term, Day and Time TBC

SO916

Quantitative Methods in Social Science ResearchLink opens in a new window

Term, Day and Time TBC

Political Science & International Relations pathway core module

Students are required to undertake the following Political Science & International Relations core module:

Module code	Module name	Credits	Term
PO943	Dissertation	60	Term 3 (preparation sessions may take place in Terms 1 & 2)

Pathway optional modules

Students will be required to study 60 credits from the following optional modules, with a minimum of 20 credits being drawn from the Political Science & International Relations pathway specific modules. Modules to be updated/confirmed summer 2026

Module code	Module name	Credits
PO909	Justice and Equality	20
PO920	International Relations of the Asia-Pacific	40
PO926	Theories and Issues in International Relations	40
PO92Q	Advanced Quantitative Research	20
PO942	Theories and Issues in International Political Economy	40
PO966	Concepts and Theories of International Security	40
PO977	Theories and Traditions in Public Policy	40
PO980	United States Foreign Policy	20
PO9A2	Borders and Migration	20
PO9A4	Normative Analysis	40
PO9B1	Contemporary Challenges in Global Economic Governance	20
PO9B2	Critical Issues in the Politics of Global Finance	20
PO9B4	East Asian Development National and Regional Perspectives	20
PO9C7	Security in an Age of Anxiety	20
PO9C8	The Global Politics of Nuclear Weapons	20
PO9D1	The Changing Nature of War	20
PO9D4	The Politics of International Trade: National, Regional, and Global Perspectives	20
PO9D9	Transitional Justice and International Development	20
PO9E8	Religion in Global Politics	20
PO9FE	Climate Justice and the Transition to a Sustainable World	20
PO9F5	Energy Security	20
PO9F7	9 Ideas in Climate Politics	20
PO9F8	Thinking Critically About Development – Knowledge, Theories and Frameworks	20
PO9F9	Development in Policy and Practice – Issues, Approaches and Skills	20
PO9G1	Politics of Governing for Climate Change	20
PO9G2	Elections, Voters, Parties and Climate Change	20
PO9G3	Wellbeing Public Policy: Welfare, equality and sustainability	20
PO9G4	China in Global Politics: Strategy, Identity, and Power	20

Alternative module options

Students may be permitted to study up to 20 credits of any modules available across the University, subject to the limitations set in the University Regulations & Module and Credit Framework, OR up to 20 credits of Advanced Training modulesLink opens in a new window offered across the 8 institutions in the Midlands Graduate School subject to availability and the approval by the Course Director. Please contact the ESRCdtp@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window in the first instance.

Module selection

Select the optional modules relevant to your training needs, in conjunction with your supervisor.
PAIS module information
Ensure you have considered any module session clashes and the module weighting between Term 1 and Term 2. This includes considering the timing of assessments. Please note some modules have multiple assessments throughout the term.
Inform esrcdtp@warwick.ac.uk of your module selection by 25 September. The ESRC DTP will confirm with the pathway department and input your choices onto the module registration system.