Strand Campus
Strand Campus feels like the heart of London—historic yet buzzing with energy. Nestled by the Thames, it offers world-class academics, vibrant student life, and endless inspiration from the city’s culture and diversity.
Overview
The Government Studies MA is the only course of its kind in the UK, going beyond the theory to provide an in-depth understanding of the personalities, policies and process involved in running the British state in practice. It is taught with and by those with direct experience of operating within British Government. The Government Studies MA provides students with deep historical knowledge with a practical edge.
You'll delve into real-life case studies and hear from the people who work within government, becoming familiar with the decision-making process in the turbulent 20th and 21st centuries. You’ll study a range of pioneering modules delivered in partnership with organisations like No. 10 Downing Street and HM Treasury and learn from renowned practitioners and policymakers, such as former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and former Cabinet Secretary Lord (Simon) Case, alongside leading academics at the forefront of their fields.
During this Government Studies MA, you’ll develop the practical skills and historical context needed to navigate the complexities of the UK’s uncodified constitution. You’ll follow a curriculum that puts precedent, history and relationships at its core, mirroring the fabric of British governance itself to give you a detailed understanding of how the policy-making process really operates in this country. The insights gained from Government Studies can be applied to the challenges faced by the British state today and into the future, as well as to governments and governance challenges around the world.
Key benefits
- The only course of its kind to focus on the British Government and apply a historical dimension to policymaking instead of teaching the theory or history of policy alone.
- Learn from a combination of practitioners and academics and get a world-class educational experience at one of the top 10 universities in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2024).
- Join an intentionally selective cohort and benefit from links with global businesses such as Amazon Web Services and Workday through a range of exciting extracurricular activities.
- Gain a detailed understanding of the policy-making process from those working in government, with a focus on discussing the political, societal, and economic challenges.
- Develop your transferable skills alongside your specialist knowledge, 'with a focus on developing confidence and soft skills like oracy, team work and emotional intelligence alongside more traditional research and writing skills.
Course essentials
This MA is delivered alongside renowned practitioners such as former shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls; The Independent’s Chief Political Commentator, John Rentoul; and the former Cabinet Secretary Lord Case. Teaching practitioners are joined by stellar guests. We’ve also welcomed a host of notable speakers, including George Osborne, Alastair Campbell, Anji Hunter, Baroness Jay and many more distinguished personalities.
This MA also has a real focus on developing the practical and historical skills you need to contextualise policymaking decisions. Thanks to a multidisciplinary curriculum that employs a range of teaching methods, including the use of case studies to help you recreate major debates or role-play key decisions, you will develop a range of practical and soft skills. Additionally, your oracy skills will be enhanced, as there will be plenty of opportunities to present to practitioners from government, journalism, and business.
Over the course of two compulsory modules, you’ll learn how Prime Ministers make decisions and how the UK government functions. Taught in partnership with No. 10 Downing Street, you’ll hear from the leaders and visit during a field trip. Every year since 2017 we’ve brought a former Prime Minister to engage with our students, offering unparalleled access to the minds behind pivotal decisions. Tony Blair, David Cameron, Theresa May, and Gordon Brown have all shared their insights with students on our modules.
The rest of the Government Studies MA is made up of optional modules. Thanks to a range of unrivalled partnerships, some will be taught by leaders within prestigious departments. For example, HM Treasury will help teach the optional module that explores its role and actions through the context of the British economy. The module is delivered by a panel that includes Ed Balls, former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Macpherson, and other senior serving Treasury officials.
You could choose to study the New Labour years through a series of intimate seminars that will allow you to interact with a range of high-profile guests. Taught in partnership with The Independent’s chief political commentator, John Rentoul, this module also draws several visiting speakers and has previously welcomed Lord Blunkett, Alastair Campbell, Anji Hunter, Baroness Jay and more.
It’s also possible to take an optional module exploring the Conservative years (2010-24) in more detail or broaden your perspective by learning about complex decision-making in practice with a case study-based module that focuses on the pivotal moments of Prime Ministerial decision making since Thatcher.
A new module focuses on the History of Prime Ministerial & Whitehall defence, security and intelligence decision making, exploring issues such as Intelligence, Cyber & AI and defence.
You also have the opportunity to learn about the history and governance of London and consider how to run a globally competitive ‘world city’ and how the UK government deals with issues such as devolution and regional policy or examine the history of the Civil Service and public service delivery, from foundational concepts to the modern realities of governance.
Your Government Studies MA will culminate with a dissertation that sees students research and produce a unique piece of original research that could include primary documents or interviews with key protagonists.
There are also several extracurricular opportunities that students on the MA Government Studies master’s students can enjoy, including plenty of opportunities to network with practitioners from government, business, and journalism. The programme offers unique events and networking opportunities alongside masterclasses with external experts.
Key Information
Course type:
Master's
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time / Part time
Duration:
Full-time: one year; part-time: two years.
Credit value:
UK 180 / ECTS 90
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026
Administrative bodies
Regulating body
Application closing date guidance
Base campus