Teaching & modules
Modules
Required Modules
You are required to take:
- International Political Economy: Theories & Issues (45 credits)
- Research Design (15 credits)
- Dissertation (60 credits)
Part-time students are required to take the 45 credit required module in Year 1, and the 15 credit Research Design module and the 60 credit dissertation in Year 2.
Optional Modules
In addition, you will take a range of optional modules totalling 60 credits offered by both European & International Studies and other departments.
Grouped here to give prospective students a sense of the breadth of our teaching offer, optional modules in this programme may typically include:
- Democratic Legitimacy of International Cooperation (15 credits)
- Capitalism, liberalism and democracy (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of International Migration (15 credits)
- Introduction to Economics for International Political Economy (15 credits)
- International Political Economy of Energy Markets (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Europe (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Platform Capitalism (15 credits)
- The Middle East in the Global Political Economy (15 credits)
- The European Union and Global Capitalism (15 credits)
- Power and Poverty in Africa-EU Relations (15 credits)
- Global Governance and International Organisations (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Development (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of the Financial Crisis (15 credits)
- The Politics of Economic Inequality (15 credits)
- China’s Global Rise: “Great Power Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics” (15 credits)
- Quantitative Research Methods (15 credits)
- Macroeconomics of demand distribution and finance (15 credits)
- Postcolonial Political Economy (15 credits)
- Evaluating Public Policy [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Corruption [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- New Political Economy of the Media (15 credits)
- Causal Inference [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- Ethics and Public Policy [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- Comparative Political Economy [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- The Political Economy of Organised Crime [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- The Political Effects of Climate Change [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- Gender, Society and Development (Department of International Development) (15 credits)
- Industrial Economics and International Development [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
- Displacement and Development in the Contemporary Era [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
- Environment and Development: Crises, Power, and Transformations [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
Theories and Methods
- Introduction to Economics for International Political Economy (15 credits)
- The Politics of Economic Inequality (15 credits)
- Quantitative Methods in Political Economy [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- Quantitative Research Methods (15 credits)
- Liberty, Equality and Justice: Political Theory and Public Policy [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- Advanced Quantitative Methods for Causal Inference (15 credits)
- Advanced Qualitative Methods [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
- People, Protest and Mobilisation: Exploring Social Movement Theory [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
Regional Focus
Europe
- Global Politics: Transatlantic, Transpacific and Eurasia (15 credits)
- Global Labour and Development [Department of International Development] (15 credits)
- Lobbying and Policy Making in the EU (15 credits)
- International Political Economy of Energy Markets (15 credits)
- The European Union and Global Capitalism (15 credits)
- Russia and the EU (King's Russia Institute) (15 credits)
- Britain & Europe Since 1945 [Department of Political Economy]
- Anglo-American Relations since 1945 [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- Election Campaigning Public Opinion and Politics in Britain [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
Africa
- Power and Poverty in Africa-EU Relations (15 credits)
Russia
- Oil, Gas and Modernisation in Russia [King’s Russia Institute] (15 credits)
- Energy Security and Energy Transition in Eurasia [King’s Russia Institute] (15 credits)
- Governance and Economic Growth in Transition [King’s Russia Institute] (15 credits)
- Russia and the European Union [King’s Russia Institute] (15 credits)
- Clandestine Side of Globalisation: Organised Crime, Terrorism and Corruption (King’s Russia Institute) (15 credits)
Middle East
- The Middle East in the Global Political Economy (15 credits)
- Islam Politics and Society [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
- Political Economy of Authoritarianism in the Middle East [Department of Political Economy] (15 credits)
East Asia
- Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change in China [Lau China Institute] (15 credits)
- Doing Business in China [Lau China Institute] (15 credits)
- China's International Relations, 1949-Present [Lau China Institute] (15 credits)
- Contemporary Chinese Society: Change and Transformation [Lau China Institute] (15 credits)
You may choose to take optional credits from level 7 modules outside of the programme’s approved module list, subject to approval by the Programme Director.
You may also take up to 30 extra credits, in addition to the required 180 credits.
Students may also take a non-assessed 15 credit language module from King’s Language Centre.
Please note, we cannot guarantee spaces on modules listed that are run by other departments outside of European & International Studies.
Teaching methods - what to expect
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You will have regular contact with our staff, who are world-leading experts in their fields, through lectures, seminars and supervision. Lectures, seminars and feedback |
Self-study |
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6 - 8 hours per week f/t |
32 - 34 hours per week f/t |
We use lectures, seminars, and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.
At King’s, all students on a taught programme are allocated a personal tutor who will play a key role in helping you to get the most out of your studies, providing support and encouragement for your time at university.
Personal tutors provide you with the opportunity to periodically take stock of your learning, academic progress, and general wellbeing as you progress through your studies, offering guidance on how to seek further support if you need it, and how to access the range of opportunities available to you as a King’s student.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work. You will typically have six-to-eight hours per week of teaching per 10-week term, as well as 32-to-34 hours of self-study per week.
Assessment
- Coursework
- Written/Practical Examinations
- Assessed Essays
- Presentations
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include written examinations, coursework, assessed essays and presentations. You may also benefit from some informal assessment during individual modules to help steer your studies and enhance your learning.
Application closing date guidance
Key Information
Course type:
Master's
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time / Part time
Duration:
One year full-time, September to September; 2 years part-time
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026