Politics (Political Theory) MPhil

University of Oxford

The MPhil in Politics (Political Theory) is an advanced two-year postgraduate degree, which provides training in research techniques and methodology and enables you to acquire substantive knowledge in this sub-area of the discipline. It is also suitable if you wish to later embark upon doctoral research.

The MPhil in Politics (Political Theory) provides an advanced training in political theory (covering analytical political philosophy, critical theory, and the history of political thought), and the research methods appropriate to the discipline. It provides a range of educational experiences in a variety of learning environments to develop your written and oral communication skills as well as other technical skills. It will also provide you with a solid foundation for a wide range of careers, including academic, professional, commercial, diplomatic and governmental positions.

The Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) is internationally recognised as a leading centre for teaching and research in political theory, and counts among its members a number of acknowledged authorities within this discipline. It is also home to research centres and programmes within this field, including the Oxford Political Theory Network and the Centre for the Study of Social Justice.

In the first year, you must complete the core classes and tutorials in the theory of politics and a programme of research methods training, which includes courses in approaches to the study of political theory, reasoning in contemporary political philosophy and problems of method in the history of political thought.

In your second year, you will write a thesis and complete two specialist optional papers. Options offered in recent years have included:

• Political Theories of Hegel and Marx
• Mitigating Historical Injustice
• Critical Theory
• Contemporary Political Philosophy
• Normative Political Economy: The Ethics of Economic Systems and Social Policy
• Reasonable Disagreement and Political argument.

The approach to teaching comprises intensive and interactive work between you and your supervisor and course teachers, combined with a carefully planned programme of classes, seminars and lectures, as well as directed self-study. Work on the thesis is individually supervised.