Home

Global Governance and Ethics MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The economic, social and political benefits of good governance are high on the agenda of many world organisations. This MSc combines normative and empirical approaches to international justice, organisations and processes, and applies them to the analysis of global political institutions and policies.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£20,500
£10,250
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; Applicants should ideally have a background in a social science subject (e.g., political science, economics, international relations), law, European studies, history, philosophy, or a related subject. 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.

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


Students of this MSc will benefit from research preparation and tailor-made interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary training of the highest quality at one of the world's best universities.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for graduates with an interest in global governance who wish to develop a career in this field, or use the MSc as a foundation for further research. 

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  stimulating environment for the study of global governance and ethics.

Weekly seminars offer students an unrivalled opportunity to meet and engage with some of the leading figures in the field. By the end of programme students will: 

  • Have a deeper appreciation of how global governance works and how this complex arena of global political interaction may be approached in a theoretically-informed systematic manner. 
  • Be aware of the variety of ethical issues raised by the structures of global rule, and the effects of globalisation on global public goods objective, in light of a range of normative questions surrounding accountability, responsibility, and equity in international affairs.
  • Be equipped with the theoretical tools and empirical evidence necessary for an in-depth understanding of empirical theories and studies of global governance, globalisation and international policy-making on the one hand, and of normative theories of international justice, democracy and public ethics,  on the other.
  • Attain proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, covering their theoretical, ethical and practical dimensions.
  • Possess the skills essential for the analytical study of politics and for the development of a normative assessment of the main issues currently facing the design of global institutions and policy making at the international level.

UCL Political Science offers a broad array of global governance-related expertise and teaching able to accommodate a wide scope of student interests within a university that has in recent years put emphasis on global governance issues, including the climate crisis, global health and pandemic preparedness, among various other initiatives.

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

The foundation of your career

Most students choose the MSc as the foundation for a career in intergovernmental institutions; in central, regional or local government; in NGOs, business, lobby groups, charities and public affairs, and for funded PhD study.

Employability

Our students receive excellent training to think critically and creatively. Through our methods training, students also possess sophisticated skills in demand by employers in the public and private sector as well as the skills necessary for further academic study.

Networking

As a student in the Department you will have access to an impressive range of support, activities, and events that will contribute to your experience. Student societies, exhibitions, lectures, and valuable training is just a snippet of what is on offer for you.

  • The Department host an eclectic and impressive offer of events, these range from our 'Policy and Practice' seminars which include talks by high-profile policy makers, practitioners and academics, to our Departmental Research Seminars (DRS).
  • The International Public Policy Review is a student-led forum for debate, discussion, and networking for those passionate about politics, governance and international affairs
  • The International and Public Affairs Society is a student-run society for all students in the Department of Political Science. They organise social and fundraising events and endeavour to develop a strong and friendly community within the School of Public Policy (SPP).
  • UCL Social Data Institute is led by the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences (SHS), and the Institute amplifies UCL’s advanced research and teaching in social data and methods.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars, and is taught by scholars that combine extensive expertise in relevant theoretical and empirical research fields with institutional, policy and country-specific knowledge. Programme assessment varies across modules and can be conducted through unseen examinations, long essays, policy briefs, and the dissertation.

Assessment is through examinations, long essays and the dissertation.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Example of time spent if a Full-time Student versus Part-time Student

  • Full-time: Students study for 40 hours per week. Additionally, students retaking a year will be deemed Full-time, when retaking more than half of the activity of the year.
  • Part-time: Students study at a structured rate per week, normally half the rate of Full-time study. Additionally, students retaking a year will be deemed Part-time when retaking half or less of the activity of the year.

To learn more, please take a look at the Academic Manual.

Modules

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. You can personalise your programme to your own academic or professional interests.

There are two compulsory modules, which provide in depth knowledge of the study of global governance and the ethical challenges it raises.

You must also take one qualitative and one quantitative methods module to qualify you to conduct independent research.

You will choose an additional three optional modules from a wide range of modules that are offered in the department which run the gamut of international relations, political science and international public policy, tackling a wide range of issues from international conflict, to development and climate politics, among many more.  Finally, you will write a dissertation.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. Please note that all students must take one qualitative and one quantitative methods module in order to conduct further independent research.

We do encourage our part-time students to distribute their workload 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 three compulsory modules providing you with  in-depth knowledge of the study of global governance and the ethical challenges it raises. You will also complete 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









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 Global Governance and Ethics.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £20,500 £10,250
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/funding-students-postgraduate-taught-courses

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

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. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Global Governance and Ethics at graduate level
  • why you want to study Global Governance and Ethics 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.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Political Science
Political Science

polsci.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.