Master of Arts in Social and Political Thought

at University of Warwick United Kingdom

If you see yourself as a research mathematician of the future, this course may appeal to you. For enthusiastic mathematicians, it is a chance to further develop your knowledge if you already have an undergraduate mathematics, physics or statistics degree. If your academic background is not in these areas, this course could still appeal if you are a strong mathematician looking for a return to formal education. Your studies will include a mix of lecture based modules and independent research.  

In your final year, you will be able to explore a chosen subject in depth and present your findings in a written dissertation.

Skills from this degree

• Conducting independent research on a challenging problem
• Gathering and organising data to make a case
• Preparing and delivering a technical presentation
• Scientific communication
• Technical precision
• Organising, absorbing and consolidating information and techniques
• Applying knowledge in the solution of complex problems

This challenging degree crosses subject boundaries, combining economics and political analysis. Policy-making is influenced by economics and many of the policies that we see today around the world are based on economic analysis.

By considering both disciplines, you will gain a broad perspective on how governments develop policy and the impact of this on consumers, firms and political structures. The degree is very current, looking at the key issues of the day and encourages debate and discussion around them.

You can maintain a breadth of study while focusing on areas that interest you, particularly during your final year. You can choose to major in one area and then you will have the flexibility to select up to six optional modules alongside a core module in Making of Economic Policy.

Study abroad

We currently offer an exciting range of opportunities for you to spend a year abroad studying in a higher education institution either in Europe, at the University of Monash in Australia, or with our partners in China and Canada. Studying overseas can add immeasurably to your personal development, future study and career opportunities. It will also offer you an opportunity to experience an alternative university system.

If you’re successful in gaining a Study Abroad placement, your degree programme will become a four year programme and, assuming you pass sufficient modules whilst abroad, the title of your course changes to add the suffix ‘with Study Abroad’ to the existing title (e.g. BSc Economics with Study Abroad).

This degree will equip you with the techniques to manage the strategic development of e-business based organisations and appropriate e-business technologies. You will develop the skills and knowledge to evaluate, manage, and improve the operational functions of an organisation and to apply the concepts of systems integration to the design and development of products and services through market analysis.

With the exponential growth in e-Business activity worldwide, there is great demand for e-Business professionals who bring particular specialised knowledge and skills. This MSc therefore allows you to select from one of four specialisms, providing you with a deeper understanding of one of the key areas of e-Business deployments and tailoring your modules in line with your future career path.

Big data and quantitative methods are transforming political processes and decisions in everyday life.

Local, national and international administrations are making ‘open data’ available to wide audiences; giant, world-level web organisations are putting more and more services in synergy; and some private companies or governments are developing strongly ideological projects in relation with big data. Therefore, there is a need for trained specialists who will have the capacity to compete and/or collaborate with strictly business or technique-oriented actors on the basis of sound knowledge from political and international studies.

Our programme provides you with an understanding of the implications of different approaches to issues concerning big data and public policy.

The MSc in Polymer Science is designed to not only introduce you into polymer synthesis and characterisation, but also demonstrate that macro-scale properties span into the nano- and meso- scale.

On this MSc course, you will have flexibility to choose from elective modules including business related modules from the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG). These modules will improve your knowledge in business whilst becoming an expert in polymer science. The course is ideal if you are looking for a career, not only in a manufacturing company working in the area of plastics, advanced functional materials, nano-materials, but also a PhD level study in this growing and exciting area of science.

Biomedical Science involves the study of life processes in humans. The subject provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of human and animal disease, including infection, cancer and neurological decay. The application of new biological concepts in medicine is an ever-growing and exciting process. Developments in molecular, genetic and cellular biology research continue to drive progress in areas such as vaccine development, neurogenerative diseases and metabolic diseases.

You will develop the hands-on lab, problem solving and research skills employer’s desire. If you are considering a career in medicine, we provide mentoring and support for medical school applications.

You can opt to take a year-long industrial placement or study abroad between your second and third years.

Do you want to identify solutions for global inequalities in food, education, work, and justice? Do you agree that our environment and societies are becoming increasingly unstable and volatile? Want to expand your knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental injustices that are unsustainable and demand change throughout the world?

If you are keen to search for the answers and make a difference to our world, our Global Sustainable Development (GSD) course is for you. On this degree you will explore how we can work and live in a way that safeguards environmental, social and economic wellbeing, both in the present and for future generations.

GSD students are aspiring global citizens with social consciences. They are flexible, adaptable and broad-minded.

By studying GSD, you will take a transdisciplinary approach and confront issues from a diverse array of perspectives. You will need to be ready to think creatively and embrace new opinions from your peers from across the world. We will challenge you to become an active participant in your own learning.

You can enhance your skills and studies through optional work placements, study abroad, and certificates.

Study abroad

We encourage you to take the opportunity to study abroad during your course at Warwick.

• Enjoy the freedom to take chances with your module choices.
• Push yourself outside of your comfort zone with your learning.
• You may have the opportunity to learn a new language and immerse yourself in a new learning context.

Are you keen to specialise in the academic study of your chosen language and culture, and do you have the motivation to develop an individual research path, leading potentially to PhD study? This course combines taught modules with language-specific research and offers an advanced preparation for doctoral research.

You will work with the support of leading researchers, drawing on expertise in critical theory, research skills and key research themes. You will benefit from an introduction to critical theories and perspectives across the European and North American intellectual traditions, as well as develop your own research specialism in French Studies.

Skills from this degree

• Advanced research and information synthesis skill
• Advanced report-writing and written communication skills
• Oral communication skills
• IT skills

Our programme is a disciplinary degree that focuses on the region for its case studies and offers strong disciplinary expertise combined with genuine regional expertise.

East Asia’s emergence as the most dynamic region in the global political economy continues despite a series of economic and security crises since the early 1990s. If anything, the crises reinvigorated the study of the international relations and political economy of East Asia. Instead of just focusing on economic growth, the crises highlighted key actors’ interests and historical and ideational factors behind them, the impact of globalisation on the region and existing development paradigms, US-China great power competition, and the need for greater regional cooperation to cope with future security and economic risks.

This course is for you for you if you're interested in understanding the history of people, culture and societies, and their evolution in the modern era. The two complementary subjects both involve understanding people - their interests, motivations and culture - and why societies and social groups act the way they do.

You'll be taught by staff from both departments, and will draw information from sources including film, visual images, literature and television as well as written texts. The flexible course structure enables you to choose modules from a wide range of options in both History and Sociology. Core modules in your first year introduce you to research and quantitative methods, and to the study of modern history set in a global context. Sociology core modules cover the history of sociological thought, and class and capitalism. In your second and third years you can choose from optional modules, with current options examining areas such as British imperialism, slavery, the significance of gender, crime, religious conflict or health in history, and political sociology. In your final year you can either maintain a balance between the two subjects or specialise in either History or Sociology.

Study abroad

History and Sociology students have the opportunity to join History students in Venice for a term at the start of year three and can also apply for an intercalated year at one of the partner universities offered by either the History Department or the Sociology Department.

The Student Mobility Team based in the Office for Student Opportunity offers support for these activities, and either Department's dedicated Study Abroad Co-ordinator can provide more specific information and assistance.