Skip to main content

World Politics and Popular Culture MA

This course examines the changing dynamics of contemporary international relations. It concentrates on how popular culture shapes world politics.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:


Start date(s):

  • September 2025
On campus Postgraduate Open Day. Wednesday 5 February, 12pm to 5pm. Sign up now

Overview

Our World Politics and Popular Culture MA focuses on key theories, policies, and events in world politics in relation to traditional and new media.

You'll learn to think critically about:

  • how world politics is reflected or reproduced in popular culture
  • how the politics of popular culture shapes the dynamics of world politics
  • approaches and methods in social science and in cultural studies research

You'll develop the skills to:

  • identify, analyse, evaluate and interpret the principal source materials for world politics and popular culture
  • plan, carry out and communicate original research

Overall you'll gain advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary world politics and popular culture. This specialist knowledge and skills equip you for careers in:

  • government agencies
  • business
  • the media

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

What you'll learn

The course comprises:

  • compulsory modules
  • optional politics modules
  • a dissertation

The compulsory module is co-taught via videolink with students from York University (Toronto).

Your remaining modules in popular culture are chosen from the wide range of modules available across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This includes modules in arts, music, film, literature and media studies.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

How you'll learn

Our staff

Key staff include Dr Matt Davies.

Your future

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Facilities

As a politics student with you be based in the Henry Daysh Building. This space includes a dedicated postgraduate computer room and a postgraduate common room.

 

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

  • matriculation
  • registration
  • tuition (or supervision)
  • library access
  • examination
  • re-examination
  • graduation

Find out more about:

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

INTO International Pre-Master's - Pathway course

Our Business and Humanities Pre-Master's will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course. 

How to apply


Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

 

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.


Apply Online  

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

School of Geography Politics and Sociology
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 3921 
Email: Politicsadmissions@newcastle.ac.uk

Online

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Live chat

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.