The objective of the course is to develop comprehensive skills to deepen understanding of the complex socio-political situation and to be better equipped to take action in this area. Thecourse is therefore aimed at students who wish to develop both basic and applied research skills in the field of political science, especially comparative politics, and theoretical and practical skills in the field of public policy making, since students are required to select a main area of study (focus). A teaching focus is also available.

At the end of this course, students will have acquired both theoretical and practical knowledge of how political systems function and the various players in the political decision-making process. By making particular use of rigorous comparative strategies, they will be able to understand specific contexts more clearly (for example at the level of a particular country or region) and therefore become better equipped to play a part in such situations.

Students must attend teaching sessions and also do projects in both French and English. They should also be prepared to be geographically mobile throughout the course.

The first year programme of the 120 credit Master in Political Science (general) is made up of wide-ranging core subjects (45 credits), a choice of courses (13 credits) and the writing of a dissertation (2 credits). The different focuses form half (30 credits) of the second year: research focus, teaching focus, professional focus in policy and administration. The production of the dissertation represents 25 credits. Finally, students may choose either regional studies or language courses (7 credits) in addition to those taken in the first year.

The research focus aims to develop research skills in the field of political science using different established forms of research, including comparative politics. Special emphasis is placed on using in-depth methodologies, becoming part of research teams and being able to work independently during the training period.

The teaching focus is intended for teachersand therefore concentrates on improving teaching skills, communicating knowledge and managing groups during lesson time. Against this background, this focus includes vital teaching practice which includes practical experience, observation and teaching strategies.

The research focus in policy and administration prepares the student for a professional career. Through a series of cross-disciplinary courses which bring together comparative politics, the analysis of public policy and related disciplines (law, communication, sociology, ethics), students develop practical skills in the field of public policy, in the widest possible sense. This focus also includes a period of compulsory work placement supervised by a lecturer from the Department.

The Erasmus scheme and, to a lesser extent, the Mercator scheme provide finance for study visits abroad for a semester.

In the context of the “‘Louvain Academy”, UCL and FUCAM (Facultés Universitaires Catholiques de Mons à Mons – Catholic University Faculties of Mons in Mons) offer jointly Masters’ programmes (120 credits) in Political Science either as a general subject or with the emphasis on international relations or public administration. Students may choose to study the focus at a partner institution and gain a degree issued jointly by the two institutions. These exchanges are made possible by specially coordinated courses and timetables.

Doctoral programme: post-graduate research school in Political Science (FNRS), or other schools approved by the Graduate College in Political and Social Science

Students must have gained an undergraduate degree with the following credits:

•          35 credits for political science courses including three of the following four courses (or their equivalent): POLS1328 Comparative Politics (5 credits), POLS 1319 Geopolitics (5 credits), POLS 1320 Analysis of the International System (5 credits) or POLS 1223 Theory of Organizations and Public Policy (5 credits)

•          10 credits from courses on the methodology of social sciences

•          6 credits from English language courses. Students must have reached intermediate level.

Courses which have not already been taken may be added to the Master study programme, up to a total of 15 credits. It is up to the  academic coordinator to agree the equivalences between different courses. 

If the total of prerequisite subjects is more than 15 credits, entry to the Master programme is conditional on the successful completion of a preparatory year and gaining a maximum of 60 credits.

-          10 credits for courses on the methodology of social sciences

-          6 credits for English language courses. Students must have reached intermediate level.

• methods which reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the programme: interdisciplinarity in both in the core subjects as well as the area studies
• variety of teaching strategies (including e-learning):
  - most of the teaching staff are familiar with new multi-media technology and innovations introduced by the University Teaching Institute (l'Institut de pédagogie universitaire). The overall rhythm and workload of the programme is carefully coordinated each year.
  - the seminars are designed to help students with the methodological structure of their final piece of work (either research focus or professional focus)
• different learning situations :
  - possibility of a period of work experience (professional focus and research focus)
  - seminar work (core subjects as well as professional focus and research focus)
  - help to prepare for the entrance examinations for the civil service (professional focus)
  - possibility of joining a research team (research focus)

Students are able to take advantage of various international elements of the course:

•  each year, UCL students can attend lectures given by the Chair of Political, Administrative and International Reform. Given by internationally renowned researchers, these lectures are either in French or English. 

•  area studies courses

•  study visits abroad lasting one semester are available under the Erasmus scheme and, to a lesser extent, the Mercatorscheme.For the research focus, discussions are ongoing to establish special agreements with a limited number of partners (established research centres) to organize targeted student exchanges for research, worth 10 of the 30 mobility credits.  

•  becoming part of the international networks (Europe, North America, Japan and North East Asia) of the Centre for Comparative Politics (Centre de Politique Comparée - CPC), the research group COMPASSS, and the  University Research Association for Public Policy (Association Universitaire de Recherche sur l’Action Publique – AURAP).

Special partners :

•  KULeuven : (**ongoing discussions) Discussions with a view to  reaching an agreement which would enable:  1/ special access to specific courses up to 15 credits ; 2/ special access to courses which together form a natural group (for example groups of area studies or different seminars on methodology)
• Political Science Lille (**ongoing discussions) Discussions with a view to  reaching an agreement which would, ideally, enable the award of a double degree (by spending one year in Lille and one at UCL), or failing that, the award of a joint degree
• Marie Haps (see above)
• the Socrates European network for comparative politics (intensive module)