MA (Hons) Government, Policy and Society Bachelor's degree at the University of Edinburgh
MA (Hons) Government, Policy and Society at University of Edinburgh. Rather than treating these as separate domains, you'll examine how governance actually functions, the structures that shape policy, the actors who drive it, and the real-world consequences it produces.
About this course
MA (Hons) Government, Policy and Society is a Bachelor's degree (MA (Hons)) at the University of Edinburgh, based in Central. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Social sciences graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 65% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £33,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Politics & International Relations, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 29 modules
- Social Policy and SocietyCompulsory
- Politics of the Welfare StateCompulsory
- Understanding Public PolicyCompulsory
- International Development, Aid and HumanitarianismOptional
- Africa in the Contemporary WorldOptional
- Politics in a Changing World: An Introduction for non-specialistsOptional
- Introduction to British PoliticsOptional
- South Asia in the WorldOptional
- EmpiresOptional
- Social Anthropology 1B: Anthropology MattersOptional
- Introduction to Social AnthropologyOptional
- Sustainable Development 1a: Introducing Sustainable DevelopmentOptional
- Invitation to SociologyOptional
- Sociology 1b: Individuals and SocietyOptional
- Social Work: Making A DifferenceOptional
- Understanding Race and ColonialismOptional
- Technology in SocietyOptional
- Science, Nature and EnvironmentOptional
- Our Changing WorldOptional
- Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)Optional
- Wicked problems: Reason and RhetoricOptional
- Understanding decolonisation in a globalised worldOptional
- Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030Optional
- Living in the AnthropoceneOptional
- Understanding Society with Big Data: Computational Social ScienceOptional
- Health in a Changing ClimateOptional
- Understanding Gender in the Contemporary WorldOptional
- Navigating Energy TransitionsOptional
- Healthy Eating for People and PlanetOptional
Year 2 3 modules
- Research Skills for Social PolicyCompulsory
- Comparative Social Policy: Global PerspectivesCompulsory
- Evidence, Economy, and Social PolicyCompulsory
Year 3 4 modules
- Doing Survey ResearchCompulsory
- Qualitative Research: Principles and Practicalities for Social PolicyCompulsory
- Analysing and communicating Social PolicyCompulsory
- Children's Rights: Policy and PracticeOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study how politics, policy and governance work at local, national and international levels. A course like this typically begins with foundations in political systems, international relations theory and research skills. In Year 2, you'll move into comparative politics and international security, alongside training in quantitative and qualitative research methods. By Year 3, you'll choose specialist options such as global governance, human rights, political theory or public policy, and complete a supervised independent research project on a political question of your choice. Throughout, the emphasis is on analysing institutions, ideologies, conflicts and policy choices, and on developing your ability to read critically and construct evidence-based arguments.
Who it's for
You're drawn to understanding how societies are organised and how decisions made in government affect people's lives. You're comfortable engaging with complex ideas, reading widely and thinking critically about evidence. You may be planning a career in the civil service, policy research, political analysis, law, or the charity sector, or you're simply keen to develop a rigorous understanding of politics as your foundation for what comes next. Studying this course will feel like sustained intellectual conversation: wrestling with competing theories, testing them against real cases, and learning to construct and defend your own arguments persuasively.
Careers & job market
Across Politics & International Relations courses nationally, 85% of graduates were in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those in work, 60% held highly skilled roles. Typical starting salaries for graduates in this field range from £24,000 to £32,000 fifteen months after graduation; after five years, they typically earn between £27,200 and £38,400. Careers commonly lead toward the civil service, policy think tanks, local government, international organisations, law, and the not-for-profit sector. These figures come from national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data and reflect the labour market for the broader field, not individual university performance.
University & format
This is a 4-year full-time Bachelor's degree (MA Hons) taught in English at the University of Edinburgh, a public research university in the Russell Group, based in the central part of the city. Edinburgh is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; your qualification will be nationally recognised. The university was founded in 1583 and currently has 26,138 students.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 79%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 65% |
| another higher-education qualification | 20% |
| Other | 15% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L230). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at University of Edinburgh →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Politics & International Relations graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £33,500 | £28,000 – £40,000 | 50 |
| 3 years after | £32,000 | £25,000 – £38,500 | 410 |
| 5 years after | £40,000 | £30,500 – £55,000 | 455 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in politics & international relations · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Politics & International Relations nationally
National figures for Politics & International Relations graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Politics & International Relations courses at the same study level.
Compared with 690 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Welfare and housing associate professionalsSOC 2020 322 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,937
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 25; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Politics & International Relations graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Politics & International Relations graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Government & civil service (FCDO)
- Think tanks
- NGOs
- Public-affairs agencies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Politics & International Relations graduates.
Head of History & PoliticsProspero TeachingExaminer - GCE A Level Politics (2017 specification).PearsonA Level PoliticsBURNLEY COLLEGESocial & Audience Engagement Producer (Politics & World News)SkyHead of the School of Area Studies Sociology History Politics and LiteratureUniversity of PortsmouthHead of History and politicsCV-LibraryIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £33,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.3 out of 10: NSS 79.7% · in work or study 85% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Edinburgh
Social sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Politics & International Relations right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Edinburgh from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £18,552 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Edinburgh’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Edinburgh and gov.uk before you apply.
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How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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