Which master's programmes in the UK suit a Political Science graduate interested in government, policy and international relations?

Government, policy and international relations sound like one goal, but they lead to different careers and different degrees. Ministries and civil service roles favour Public Policy training, while diplomacy and geopolitical work favour International Relations, so it is worth separating the two before shortlisting.

Public Policy, International Relations or Political Science: What Decides This

• Government and policymaking: LSE's MSc Public Policy and Administration or Warwick's MA Public Policy, covering how policies get made and implemented.
• Diplomacy and international affairs: LSE's or Warwick's MSc/MA International Relations, covering security, migration and global governance.
• Academic flexibility: LSE's MSc Political Science, useful if you are weighing a future PhD alongside policy work.

LSE vs Warwick vs Manchester for Your Track

My Advice

Note that the UK Graduate visa is now 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027 rather than the previous two years, so factor realistic job search time into your choice of city and network rather than assuming two full years to find work. Manchester is a sensible, less ambitious target to pair with an LSE or Warwick reach application.

This Information Is Also Available On

London School of Economics (MSc Public Policy and Administration, MSc International Relations, MSc Political Science course pages), University of Warwick (MA Public Policy, MA International Relations course pages), University of Manchester (MA Political Science, Governance and Public Policy course page).