MA in Government Studies

This course goes beyond teaching theory to apply an in-depth perspective of how the British state is run, taught with and by those within government.

Our Government Studies MA is the only course of its kind to focus on British Government that goes beyond the theory to apply an in-depth perspective on the personalities, policies and process involved in running the British state.

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, 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 very fabric of governance itself to give you a detailed understanding of the policy-making process.

Key benefits

• The only course of its kind to focus on the British Government and apply a historical dimension to policy-making instead of teaching the theory or history of policy
• 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 political, societal, and economic challenges
• Develop your transferrable skills alongside your specialist knowledge, with a focus on soft skills like confidence, writing, oracy and emotional intelligence

Course essentials

Our Government Studies MA is as much taught by policymakers and practitioners as it is by world-leading academics. That means you’ll learn directly from a range of influential figures and visiting professors, including former shadow Chancellor Ed Balls; Sir Michael Barber, the Head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit under Tony Blair; and John Rentoul, chief political commentator at The Independent.

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.

Throughout 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 leaders past and present and visit the building itself during a field trip. Every year since 2017, these modules have brought former Prime Ministers to engage with students, including Tony Blair, David Cameron, Theresa May, and Gordon Brown.

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 government departments. For example, HM Treasury will help teach the optional module that explores its role and actions through the context of the British economy. It’s 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, Lord Mandelson, Anji Hunter, Baroness Jay and more.

It’s also possible to take an optional module exploring the Tory years 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.

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 15,000-word dissertation that could either answer a research question from within this field or apply a historical dimension to policy-making as you propose a solution to an existing problem.

There are also several extracurricular opportunities that students in the Government Studies MA can enjoy, including plenty of opportunities to network with practitioners from government, business, and journalism. You’ll be able to join King’s Policy Institute and enjoy invitations to hear from a high-profile line-up of guest speakers or engage with networking events.

Duration: One year full-time, September to September, two years part-time