Program Requirements
The Master of Political Science requires the completion of 96 units, which must consist of:
24 units from completion of the following compulsory introductory graduate courses:
POLS8019 Democracy and its Discontents
POLS8038 Comparative Political Institutions
POLS8039 Comparative Political Behaviour
POLS8043 Violence and Political Order
12 units from:
POLS8042 Research Training: Scope and Methods (12 units)
Minimum of 6 units and a maximum of 12 units from:
POLS8044 Qualitative Research in Politics (6 or 12 units)
Maximum of 6 units from the following methods courses:
POLS8047 Interpretation, Method, Critique: Interpretivist Methods in the Social Sciences (6 units)
SOCR8002 Survey Data Analysis (6 units)
SOCR8006 Online Research Methods (6 units)
SOCR8202 Using data to answer policy questions and evaluate policy (6 units)
SOCR8203 Advanced techniques in the creation of social science data (6 units)
STAT7016 Introduction to Bayesian Data Analysis (6 units)
STAT7017 Big Data Statistics (6 units)
STAT7026 Graphical Data Analysis (6 units)
STAT8002 Applied Time Series Analysis (6 units)
STAT8004 Introduction to Linear Models (6 units)
STAT8027 Statistical Inference (6 units)
24 units from completion of the following compulsory introductory graduate courses:
POLS8019 Democracy and its Discontents (6 units)
POLS8039 Comparative Political Behaviour (6 units)
POLS8038 Comparative Political Institutions (6 units)
POLS8043 Violence and Political Order (6 units)
Completion of a minimum of 24 units from the following list of thematic courses:
POLS8027 Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (6 units)
POLS8032 Globalisation: the Interaction of Economics and Politics (6 units)
POLS8036 Human Rights and Human Responsibility (6 units)
POLS8040 Comparative Federalism (6 units)
POLS8041 Special Topics in Comparative Politics (6 units)
INTR8040 Ethnicity and Conflict in Asia and the Pacific (6 units)
INTR8058 Politics of Islam in Southeast Asia (6 units)
PASI8005 Politics of the Pacific Island Regions (6 units)
STST8027 Insurgency & Counterinsurgency in an Age of Terror (6 units)
MEAS8116 Islam and Democracy (6 units)
24 units of completion of courses at the 6000-, 7000-, 8000-, and 9000-level offered by ANU.
Admission Requirements
A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0
Cognate Disciplines
International relations and diplomacy; public policy and administration; strategic and security studies; political science; history; sociology; economics and development; social science; law; and regional studies
English Language Requirements
All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students.
Assessment of Qualifications
Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met. Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au
ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications
Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.
Applications for course credit
Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units (one semester) of credit. Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Bachelor degree with Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 48 units (one year) of credit.
Indicative fees
Domestic Tuition Fees (DTF)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $43,680.00
For further information on International Tuition Fees see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/international-tuition-fees
Scholarships
ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.
Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
The Master of Political Science provides students with the analytical tools they need to answer a range of critical questions - What motivates voters to support populist candidates? How can election outcomes be more accurately forecast? What is the source of ethnic conflicts and how can it be best understood? The program provides training in political science research methods and equips students with in-depth knowledge on contemporary political affairs. Students can choose from a wide selection of topics covering terrorism and counter-terrorism, human rights, interest group advocacy or Islam and democracy. The program will be of interest to those intending to pursue research-oriented careers in government, international organisations, NGOs and private bodies, and to those intending further study in the field. Internationally recognised, this Master degree also paves the way to pursuing a PhD overseas.
Career Options
Graduates from ANU have been rated as Australia's most employable graduates and among the most sought after by employers worldwide.
The latest Global Employability University Ranking, published by the Times Higher Education, rated ANU as Australia's top university for getting a job for the fourth year in a row.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate key theories in political science;
2. Interpret and utilize relevant political science methods;
3. Critically analyse evidence-based research and policy across a range of political issues;
4. Use theories and methods from political science to explain contemporary political affairs in Australia, Asia, and globally;
5. Conduct high-level research to undertake self-directed study in political science;
6. Communicate research findings at a level appropriate for academic and policy audiences.
Double degree
If you undertake the Master of International Relations as a Flexible Verticle
Double, you will undertake the following courses in your undergraduate
degree:
POLS8019 Democracy and its Discontents
POLS8038 Comparative Political Institutions
POLS8039 Comparative Political Behaviour
POLS8043 Violence and Political Order
Do you want to talk to someone before enrolling?
Contact Political Science Admin at mplsc.admin@anu.edu.au
