MA in Geopolitics

How does climate change reshape global politics? What will the world look like with the rise of China as a new superpower? Are international conflicts shifting the international balance of power? Will technology save us? How will a mainly urbanized world sustain itself? As the international scene becomes increasingly complex, understanding the fundamentals of how people, governments, international institutions, and the environment interact is becoming increasingly important. If you are interested in understanding the intersections of space and politics, then the MA in Geopolitics is specifically designed for you.

Contemporary issues require advanced analysis that recognizes the intersections of space, power, and politics. From security challenges to cultural practices or climate change; from the global to the every day, the connections between politics and space are increasingly complex. Integrating historical, cultural, and political perspectives, the MA Geopolitics at QUB is an innovative interdisciplinary program that seeks to build the knowledge and skills needed to engage these challenges.

Taught by academic experts in Human Geography, Politics, and International Relations, with a broad range of regional expertise and research perspectives, this new MA enables students to explore the questions that are shaping our lives. It is not just for geographers, international relations students, and political scientists but anyone with an interest in the core course themes. You will come to understand these intersections through a range of themes developed across the modules. These include nations, states, landscapes, mobilities, urban spaces, environmental change, sovereignty, identity, gender, empire and postcolonial relations, territory and bordering, the politics of human rights, and others. You can either specialize or learn across a range of issues such as culture, media, ethics, security and conflict, environmental politics, and democratic participation. You will be taught by experts in regions including East Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and the UK and Ireland.

As you engage the intersections of space, power, and politics, you will develop advanced conceptual and analytic skills and subject knowledge needed to explore their intersections in a range of historic and contemporary issues. These skills will enable you to investigate problems shaping environments, places, and landscapes and to challenge accepted wisdom. They are also particularly important skills for those pursuing careers in all sectors of government and the public sector, NGOs, international corporations, regional and international agencies, media, and information industries.

Geopolitics highlights

Internationally Renowned Experts

Research-led teaching by world-leading experts who have been awarded grants by UK and EU funding bodies to undertake research on the intersections of geography and politics.

Student Experience

The chance to apply theoretical insights to the real world through a range of assignments, field trips, engagements with practitioners, guest speakers, and seminars.

Queen’s is ranked in the top 170 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).

Queen’s ranked 18 in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023).

Queen’s is ranked in the top 75 universities in Europe for Teaching Excellence (Times Higher Education, 2019).

16% of the Queen’s student population are international students (Queen’s Planning Office, 2023).