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Democracy and Comparative Politics MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Want to get the inside view of how democratic institutions are designed, created and operated? Join our MSc in Democracy and Comparative Politics to examine and compare structures, practices and challenges of domestic politics around the world. Part of a global cohort, you will share ideas and insights and learn from UCL’s renowned Political Science academics. Excellent preparation for work in government policy, non-governmental Organisations or the private sector.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£21,500
£10,750
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; Applicants should ideally have a background in political science, international relations, law, European studies, history, philosophy, economics, or a related subject. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this course is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


Students are equipped with the theoretical tools and empirical evidence necessary for an in-depth understanding of democratic institutions and politics. They develop an understanding of the potential benefits and pitfalls of different institutional designs, reforms, and administrative practices, and are able to analyse problems raised by new and reforming democracies.

Who this course is for

The programme is aimed at future and current policymakers, analysts and researchers from both the public and private sector. 

Applicants should have a background in a relevant area, for example: economics, history, international relations, law, philosophy, politics, political science or sociology.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

By the end of the programme, you will be equipped with both the theoretical tools and empirical evidence needed to launch a career in government policy, non-governmental organisations, or the private sector. You will  explore how public participation connects with governance institutions, giving you a broad understanding of how these institutions can be adapted to fit different contexts. Throughout the programme, you will engage with how leading scholars have approached these issues and apply their theories to real-world examples of institution-building and design, gaining insights you can carry directly into practice. 

Examples of some themes of focus include: 

  • state structure, constitutional design, bureaucratic functions and the  civil service, and strategies to counter corruption 
  • electoral systems and government structure, including the implications of reform in these areas 
  • federalism, devolution, and local government powers in relation to the centre 
  • political parties, public participation, and new forms of participation 
  • functions of parliaments, including issues of representation, representativeness, and their links to political parties 
  • judicial oversight and its relation to other institutions 
  • means by which different governance institutions might manage the task of governance in divided societies 
  • non-democracies and authoritarian strategies of governing, in contrast to democratic strategies of governing. 

Our class sizes on our programme are small and allow you to get to know your lecturers and fellow students well, fostering close interaction and collaboration.  Studying in London, you will  have access to a wealth of seminars, conferences, and events focused on democratic topics—perfect opportunities to deepen your knowledge and grow your professional network before entering the job market. Throughout the programme, you will l receive consistent support and guidance on employment opportunities. Countless and diverse opportunities for student-led events help create a friendly and dynamic cohort where we discuss careers and career strategies as well as providing a support network. 

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Our graduates advance in crucial parliamentary and governmental roles or join NGOs in leadership positions soon after graduation. 

A proportion of our alumni successfully applies for PhD programmes leading to prestigious academic positions, or are employed in the business sector, in consultancies and research organisations supporting the government.  

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-2022)

Employability

The programme is designed to enhance career prospects by giving students transferable skills attractive to employers in a wide range of businesses and sectors, such as:

  • Theoretical and critical analysis.
  • Ability to design and carry out original research.
  • Excellent oral and written communicational skills.

You will also acquire problem-solving skills and the ability to  build positive working relationships, transforming you into an outstanding team player, capable of managing and delegating. 

Networking

Our cohorts benefit from an array of events and lectures with policy practitioners, both at UCL and around London, as well as trips to the London Assembly Mayor's Question time. 

 As a student in the Department, you will also have access to an impressive range of support, activities, and events that will contribute to your experience. Student societies, exhibitions, lectures, and valuable training is just a snippet of what is on offer to  you.

  • The Department hosts an eclectic list of events, ranging from our 'Policy and Practice' seminars, which include talks by high-profile policy makers, practitioners and academics, to our Departmental Research Seminars (DRS). We also organise an annual Careers Week, bringing students together with alumni and industry speakers and offering skills workshops with academics. 

  • The International Public Policy Review: a student-led forum for debate, discussion, and networking for those passionate about politics, governance and international affairs 

  • The International and Public Affairs Society: a student-run society for all students in the Department of Political Science. They society organises  social and fundraising events and endeavours to develop a strong and friendly community within the School of Public Policy (SPP). 

  • UCL Social Data Institute: led by the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences (SHS), amplifying UCL’s advanced research and teaching in social data and methods. 

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and workshops.

Assessment is through examinations, long essays, coursework, and the dissertation.

As a full-time student, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials, full-time students use their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments (approximately 20-25 hours).

As a part-time student study at a structured rate per week, normally half the rate of full-time study.

Modules

The programme comprises core modules covering key substantive and methodological concepts and skills (90 credits) as well as a dissertation (60 credits). 

In addition to the compulsory modules you must also take one qualitative and one quantitative methods module to qualify you to conduct independent research.

You will further attend optional module(s) to the value of 30 credits, allowing you to tailor your degree to your own academic or professional interests.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. Please note that all students must take one qualitative and one quantitative methods module in order to conduct further independent research.

We do encourage our part-time students to distribute their workload evenly between the two years of study. The majority of part-time students opt for one of the following patterns:

  • 75 credits in Year 1 and 105 credits in Year 2;

           or

  • 90 credits in Year 1 and 90 credits in Year 2.

Upon completion you will have undertaken modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising of compulsory modules covering key substantive and methodological concepts and skills and a dissertation. You will have further attended elective module(s) so you can personalise your programme of study to your own academic or professional interests.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules









Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Democracy and Comparative Politics.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £21,500 £10,750
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

GREAT Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27 ENTRY
Value: £10,000 towards tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Democracy and Comparative Politics at graduate level
  • why you want to study Democracy and Comparative Politics at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

When it is necessary to calculate a final average mark, the department will calculate all years of undergraduate study.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Political Science
Political Science

polsci.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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