Social and Political Thought (MA) (2025 Entry)

This image shows a female Sociology student

Course code

P-L3P8 full-time

Start date

29 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time;
2 years part-time

Qualification

Led by

Sociology

Location

University of Warwick

Course code

P-L3P8 full-time

Start date

29 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time;
2 years part-time

Qualification

Led by

Sociology

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

Apply now

Explore our Social and Political Thought taught Master's degree.

The MA Social and Political Thought is a long-established programme that uses conceptual, historical and theoretical resources to make sense of the complex and fast-changing social and political worlds of which we are a part.

Course overview

The MA in Social and Political Thought at Warwick was founded by the world-leading social theorist and philosopher, Gillian Rose. This MA provides students with a thorough grounding in the classics of social and political theory, and a deep and varied engagement with their 20th and 21st century offshoots. The emphasis on all modules is the development of intellectual curiosity about how the social intersects with the political. Attention is paid, in particular, to the study of capitalism, (post-)colonialism, crisis, democracy, enlightenment, freedom, individualism, liberalism, knowledge, and power.

Skills from this degree

Ability to analyse and evaluate complex intellectual ideas
Ability to analyse and evaluate competing approaches to understanding the contemporary world
Ability to build sophisticated and persuasive arguments from an array of sources
Ability to carry out independent research
Ability to write about complex ideas in a clear way

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

Band B
IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

Read our departmental advice on applyingLink opens in a new window to ensure your application has the best chance for success.

Modules

Core modules

Politics and Social Theory

This module examines some of the core debates within social and political thought. We will read and discuss extracts from the ‘classics’ of enlightenment political thought juxtaposed alongside poststructuralist, (post) colonial/decolonial and Indigenous texts. Through these juxtaposed readings, we will examine the lively debates and ‘politics’ of social theory. This endeavour will demonstrate the ways in which an enlightenment legacy underpins social theory and its relation to contemporary normative political rationalities and practices of sovereignty, law, democracy, religion, race, gender, and sexuality. Contestations of this legacy from the perspectives of decolonial, postcolonial, poststructural, and queer thought reveals the significance of grappling with social theory towards the praxis of social justice.

Capitalism, State and Market

This module analyses the changing character of capitalism and looks in detail at the rise of ‘neoliberal’, libertarian and populist forms of politics that confront and oppose the welfare state, and which seek to marketise and/or fincancialise all things ‘social’. The module addresses the role of crisis in making social and political change possible through consideration of two key examples: the 2008 global financial crisis and the recent Covid pandemic. The module draws on a wide-range of literature to place these developments in historical and sociological context, including the writings of Stuart Hall, Wendy Brown, Michel Foucault, and Anthony Giddens. It invites students to examine state/market configurations within different national contexts, and to ask how sociology can be used to realise different political futures to those that currently appear possible.

Dissertation

The dissertation module gives you the opportunity to complete an independent piece of research on a topic of your own choice with the support of your dissertation supervisor, plenary teaching, and other online resources. The aim is for you to creatively use the substantive and methodological training acquired in the earlier part of your course to critically analyse a research topic of sociological relevance.

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

Postcolonial Theory & Politics
Feminist Theories and Epistemologies: Debates and Dilemmas
Indigenous and Global South Feminisms
Critical Readings in Social Theory
Transnational Media Ecologies
Religion and the Planetary Crises
Sociology of End Times
Decolonising Ecology: Race, Coloniality and the Climate Crisis
Key Problems in Criminal Justice
Gender, Imperialism and International Development
Gender Analysis and Development Practice
Market Life: Wealth and Poverty in Global Capitalism
Social Research for Social Change
State of the Art of Sociology
Understanding Social Science
Feminist & Queer Thinking: Contemporary Challenges
Queering Sociology
Sexualities
Reproductive Justice
Archival Encounters
Ethnography and the Anthropological Tradition
Social Data Science
Researching Inequality: Race, Class, Gender in Global Perspective
Creative Research Methods
Qualitative Methods in Social Research
Quantitative Methods in Social Research

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Sociology Funding Opportunities

Find out more about the various funding opportunities that are available in our department.

Teaching

Each of our MA courses has specified core modules which will be studied alongside a range of optional modules. You will be required to choose four optional modules from our departmental list. All our MA courses follow a consistent structure meaning that you will follow a programme of taught modules, followed by a 15,000-word dissertation.

Class sizes

Class sizes can range from 6 to 30 students, depending on the module.

Typical contact hours

Each module will consist of at least 20 hours of teaching. Many modules are taught in 2 hour seminars of 10-15 students. Others follow a 1 hour lecture and 1 hour class format. You will also have a supervisor for your dissertation, who you will meet regularly to support this independent research project.

Assessment

Taught modules are assessed through written assignments. You will focus on your 15-000 word dissertation after the end of Spring Term.

Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform.

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Careers

Your career

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including various national and international Universities, NGOs and the charity sector, or the civil service. They have pursued roles such as: business and financial project management professionals; higher education teaching professionals; IT project and programme managers; legal professionals and research and development managers.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

Make Your Mark - Careers with a degree in Sociology
Working for More than Profit
Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
Your Sociological future: Sociology Alumni Evening
My Sociological Future- What next? Career planning for undecided Sociology finalists

Department

Sociology at Warwick

We have an international reputation for research excellence, a global and cosmopolitan perspective, and high-quality teaching. Our curriculum offers a comprehensive and up-to-date foundation with a diverse range of specialist options.

What does it mean to understand the world in which you live? What will your contribution be to this changing world? How do your own experiences and life chances compare to those of others?

Sociology – the study of humans in society – attempts to capture the rich variety and complexity of human social life. Indeed, it is difficult to think of any area of social existence that a sociologist wouldn’t be interested in examining, from the most intimate of personal relationships to the worldwide circulation of ideas, beliefs, products and people.

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate courses

Gender and International Development (MA)
Gender and Sexuality (MA)
Social and Political Thought (MA)
Social Inequalities and Research Methods (MSc)
Sociology (MA)
Sociology (PhD)
Women's and Gender Studies (PhD)

Apply now

How to apply checklist

Our how to apply checklist helps you prepare for your application

Read the checklist

I'm ready to apply

Learn more about the Applicant Portal.

Apply now

Application deadlines

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2026 opens on 2 October 2025.

Applications close on 2 August 2026 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

Useful links

Applicant portal
After your applied
Admissions statement
Join a Live Chat

2024 entry

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

Warwick hosted events
Postgraduate Fairs
Live chats
Talk and Tours
Department events

See 2025 entry »

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

8th in the UK

in the Guardian University Guide 2025

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

StudyStudy Postgraduate Postgraduate

Explore our Social and Political Thought taught Master's degree.

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

Sociology Funding Opportunities

How to apply checklist

I'm ready to apply

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

Explore ways to connect with us

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

8th in the UK

6th Most Targeted University

69th in the World

5th best student city in the UK

Gold standard teaching

92% of our research

Page updates

About the information on this page

Connect with us

Talk to us

Find us