The University of Essex MA Political Science, as their most flexible postgraduate course offers students a very wide choice of optional modules. Students explore the main theoretical approaches to the study of politics and look at what the basic theoretical framework required to conduct research in political science is. Student's optional modules may cover topics including: survey measurement and research methods, the economy and the state, democracies in Europe, theories of justice, conflict resolution.

Essex's Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. They are rated top in the UK for research, and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began.

All Essex politics graduates have the distinction of a qualification from one of the world’s leading politics departments.

Essex's graduates from this course can expect to find jobs in market research, the media and central or local government. It also provides a foundation for further research in political science. Students will gain key employability skills such as analytical reasoning, research design, and report writing.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for the following high-profile organizations: the Civil Service, local government, the World Bank, the United Nations, NATO, YouGov and YouGov America.

Essex's academic reputation is illustrated by the fact that many of their graduates now teach or research at universities, colleges of higher education and schools. For example, recent graduates are now research fellows and academic staff at: Mannheim, Germany; ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Duke University, USA; NATO/SHAPE, Belgium; and University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.