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European Politics and Policy MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The EU is a major influence on public policy across all its member states and in global politics more broadly. It also remains a central issue within UK politics and policy-making following the Brexit decision in June 2016. Students are equipped with the knowledge, transferable skills and research experience necessary to analyse the complex challenges facing Europe's policymakers today.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£18,000
£9,000
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£29,000
£14,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university; or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this programme 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. International Preparation Courses

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


The programme provides in-depth knowledge of the EU's institutions, politics and policies. It covers legislative, executive, and judicial politics; introduces EU law-making and lobbying; and addresses key contemporary questions, such as Europe's global role, democratic legitimacy, the euro crisis, the migration crisis, Brexit and the EU's impact on member states. Students choose from a wide range of options in public policy, international politics and comparative government. In addition to research-led teaching, the programme also offers a practice-led element through a curated programme of moderated conversations with guest speakers who are practitioners in the field.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for graduates who wish to gain the knowledge, analytical competence and research skills essential to analyse and evaluate the complex challenges facing Europe’s policymakers today. Applicants should ideally have a background in political science, international relations, European studies, law, philosophy or sociology; applicants also often hold degrees in modern languages.

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

What this course will give you

UCL Political Science is recognised as a centre of excellence in the field and offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of public policy in the EU and its member states. By the end of the programme, students will have:

  • acquired an in-depth knowledge of the EU's institutions, including the Commission, the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Court of Justice;
  • gained a systematic understanding of policy-making in the EU, including the legislative process, interest representation and the implementation of European law;
  • discussed topical questions of European governance, such as EU foreign policy, lobbying, regulation and citizenship;
  • learned how the EU impacts on the political systems and policies of its Member States;
  • gained transferable skills for the analytical study of politics and policy-making.

The department acts as a bridge between the research community and policymakers in Brussels and Britain.

Launched in 2010, UCL's European Institute is a hub for cross-disciplinary research and public events on Europe, for our students to attend and engage in.

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

The foundation of your career

The MSc puts a premium on training students in the systematic analysis of European public policies and policy-making. Our teaching therefore combines a rigorous academic programme and a focus on independent research with training in pre-professional skills, for example through negotiation games and the preparation of policy briefs. Career events with alumni and topical workshops at UCL's European Institute offer our students excellent networking opportunities.

Employability

Most students choose the MSc as the foundation for a career in European affairs in the EU's institutions; in central, regional or local government; in NGOs, business, lobby groups and public affairs consultancies.

Teaching and learning

Teaching on the EU is interdisciplinary and pools the department's world-class expertise in European politics, public policy and international relations. The MSc is delivered through weekly lectures and seminars by experts, who all carry out innovative research in the field. Assessment is through unseen examinations, essays, policy-briefs and a dissertation. Several modules include negotiation games.

150 hours is allocated to each 15-credit module. This includes 20 contact hours and 130 study hours.

Modules

In term one, you will take a compulsory module on “European Union: Institutions and Politics”, which introduces the EU’s institutions and decision-making, and engages with the key questions of governance and political challenges faced by Europe’s policymakers today. You will also attend compulsory modules on quantitative methods (introductory or advanced, depending on prior training) as well as a compulsory module on "European Politics, Policy and Law in Practice."

In term two, you will take at least one of two compulsory modules on “Policy-Making & Regulation in Europe” or “The Transformation of Politics in Europe" as well as a compulsory module on qualitative methods (introductory or advanced, depending on prior training).

In terms one and two, you will also choose two optional modules from our wide-ranging offer in the fields of comparative politics, international relations, public policy, and political theory. Please consult the department’s website for an overview of modules and the annually updated UCL Module Catalogue.

In term three, you will sit exams and work on your MSc dissertation project, this will consist of attending one-to-one meetings with your dissertation supervisor and by conducting independent research.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. We encourage our part-time students to distribute their study evenly between the two years of study. The majority of part-time students opt for one of the following patterns:

  • 75 credits in year one and 105 credits in year two;

Or

  • 90 credits in year one and 90 credits in year two.

Upon completion you will have undertaken modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising four compulsory modules on theoretical foundations of human rights; international law and human rights; doing human rights work; human rights politics and practice; at least one methods module, 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






















International Trade Policy









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 European Politics and Policy.

Accessibility

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £18,000 £9,000
Tuition fees (2023/24) £29,000 £14,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme 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

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

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

Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (1yr)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

GREAT Scholarship

Deadline: 23 May 2023
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 programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study European Politics and Policy at graduate level
  • why you want to study European Politics and Policy 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 programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

Political Science
Political Science

polsci.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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