Program Requirements

The Master of Political Science (Research) requires the completion of 96 units, which must consist of:

24 units from completion of the following compulsory core courses:

POLS8019 Democracy and its Discontents (6 units)

POLS8038 Comparative Political Institutions (6 units)

POLS8039 Comparative Political Behaviour (6 units)

POLS8043 Violence and Political Order (6 units)

24 units from completion of the following compulsory methods and research design courses:

POLS8058 Research Design in Political Science (6 units)

POLS8042 Quantitative Research for Political Science (12 units)

POLS8044 Qualitative Research in Politics (6 units)

A minimum of 12 units must come from completion of the following list of thematic courses:

INTR8040 Ethnicity and Conflict in Asia and the Pacific (6 units)

INTR8058 Islam, Politics and Conflict in Southeast Asia (6 units)

MEAS8116 Authoritarianism, Democratisation and Protest in the Muslim Middle East (6 units)

PASI8005 The Politics of Aid and Development in the Pacific (6 units)

POLS8027 Terrorism and Counter Terrorism (6 units)

POLS8032 Globalisation: the Interaction of Economics and Politics (6 units)

POLS8040 Comparative Federalism (6 units)

POLS8041 Special Topics in Comparative Politics (6 units)

POLS8046 Interest Groups, Advocacy and Public Policy

STST8027 Insurgency & Counterinsurgency in Modern Warfare (6 units)

A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of the following list of 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)

24 units from completion of THES8103 Thesis

Master Research

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

Master Research Training

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry.

·        Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 6/7; or

·        Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 5/7; or

·        48 units of courses in a postgraduate degree program with a GPA of 5/7.

Students must have the written agreement of an identified supervisor in order to enrol in THES8103 Thesis in a specified Semester. Students who do not have the written agreement of an identified supervisor once they have completed the coursework for the degree, may be transferred to the Master of Political Science.

Students must achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark in the first 72 units of courses attempted in order to remain enrolled in the Master of Political Science (Advanced).

If the total number of units attempted exceeds 72 in the same teaching period in which the 72nd unit is attempted, exactly 72 units will be used in the calculation of the weighted average mark with units from the course with the highest mark applied first followed by further units from courses in descending order of marks.

Students who do not have the required minimum average mark, or who do not have the written agreement of an identified supervisor once they have completed the coursework for the degree, may be transferred to the Master of Political Science.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

Academic achievement & English language proficiency

The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 6.0/7.0.

However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes.

If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of:

• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or

• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

Further information: English Language Requirements for Admission 

Diversity factors

As Australia’s national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.

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.

Credit Granted

Applicants with prior graduate level coursework in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units of credit

Cognate Disciplines

International relations and diplomacy; public policy and administration; strategic and security studies; political

science; economics

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

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.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically evaluate key theories in political science;

2. Critically analyse evidence-based research and policy across a range of political issues;

3. Conduct high-level research to undertake self-directed study in political science;

4. Produce a substantial theoretically and empirically informed written project based on original independent research.

Research Strengths

This degree has been accredited at AQF Level 9 with a significant component of Research. 

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirements is not currently available for this program.