3-Term Pathway - Pre-Master's in Social Sciences - Continue to Master of Science - Global and Comparative Politics

If students hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet the entry requirements for a master’s, a Pre-Master’s can help them gain a place on a postgraduate degree. For progression to the 1st year of a postgraduate degree at the University of Essex. Course length is determined mainly by students' English language level (UKVI IELTS score).

Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. If their course is longer than 2 terms, students will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

This University of Essex course provides students with an overview of classic controversies and contemporary debates in comparative politics. Students learn about the main theoretical approaches to the study of politics, as well as the major issues and topics in this subfield of political science. Students also choose from a wide range of optional modules including: global environmental issues, democracies in Europe, international relations, international security, and conflict resolution.

Essex's Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. They are rated top in the UK for research, and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began.

Some of the biggest names in the field work at Essex, giving students unparalleled access to some of the best minds in politics. Essex's staff are advising the CIA on counter-terrorism, training politicians and civil servants in democratising countries, and commentating on political events in national and international media.

All Essex politics graduates have the distinction of a qualification from one of the world’s leading politics departments.

Essex's MSc Global and Comparative Politics will help students develop key employability skills which will make them attractive in both the public and private sector, including analytical reasoning, research, communication, and essay-writing. Recent graduates have gone on to work for the following high-profile organisations: the Civil Service, local government, the World Bank, the United Nations, NATO, YouGov and YouGov America. 

Essex's academic reputation is illustrated by the fact that many of their graduates now teach or research at universities, colleges of higher education and schools. For example, recent graduates are now research fellows and academic staff at: Mannheim, Germany; ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Duke University, USA; NATO/SHAPE, Belgium; and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.