Metadata
Title
Contemporary Democratic Politics MA
Category
graduate
UUID
5434d03faf404082add7ac29adc78ebe
Source URL
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/contemporary-democratic-politics-...
Parent URL
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/masters
Crawl Time
2026-03-20T04:29:55+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Contemporary Democratic Politics MA

Source: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/contemporary-democratic-politics-ma Parent: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/masters

Democracy is under pressure. Examine the forces reshaping democracy and build the skills to protect its future.

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Key information

1 year full time - ### Start date

September 2026 - ### Apply by

1 August 2026 (international), 1 September 2026 (UK) - ### Location

On campus - in person

Why choose this course at Sussex?

This course is designed for students who are concerned about the future of democratic politics and want to play a role in safeguarding and improving democracy.

Democracy is in crisis. Authoritarianism is on the rise, societies are divided and democratic resilience is being tested. In the UK and across the globe, democratic governments struggle to manage the effects of severe economic inequality, affective polarisation, digital misinformation and climate change.

On this course, you’ll study the political challenges arising from recent social and global changes. Key themes you’ll explore include:

You’ll be part of a vibrant community of students and researchers. The Sussex Politics Department is home to two well respected research centres – the Sussex European Institute and the Centre for the Study of Corruption. If you are particularly interested in economics, you’ll also benefit from our links with the Centre for Global Political Economy based in our School of Global Studies. You can also join guest lectures, research workshops and alumni and employer events.

The course is interactive, skills- and employability-focused. You’ll work with fellow students to explore and test possible solutions to enhance democratic resilience. You’ll also meet with political changemakers from beyond the university.

You’ll learn both inside and outside of the classroom. The course includes field trip opportunities and visits to local political organisations. You can have discussions with policymakers, civil society advocates and experts in political communication.

The skills you develop will help you in a range of careers, including politics, media, civil society, government and various international organisations.

When democracies are under attack from outside and under challenge from those within, it is vital that we offer postgraduate study that explores and understands contemporary democracy, its enemies and its prospects.” Paul Taggart\ Professor of Politics

How to apply

Masters Events

Find out the essentials of Masters study at one of our campus or online Masters events

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On campus - in person

You’ll study for this degree on our campus, joining our academics and fellow students. With in-person contact time, digitally supported educational resources, library collections and independent study, this course is designed to give you an inclusive education. Your learning experience may also include work placements, field trips, studying abroad and internationalisation experiences.

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As a founding partner of ResearchPlus, a collaboration of research-focused universities, we engage with government, industry and civil society to support economic growth, prosperity and wellbeing across the whole of the UK.

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Modules

Gain work experience by tackling a real-life challenge faced by an organisation. Learn how to develop a project, work in a team and deliver your findings to a client in a supportive setting. Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

Your degree

Practical and study skills will be included within and alongside your modules.

Teaching

Teaching methods typically include lectures and seminars.

12%: Lecture\ 88%: Seminar

Assessment

Assessment methods typically include coursework, practicals, group work and written assessments.

Contact hours and workload

This year of study includes approximately 1,800 hours of work. This breaks down into about 120 hours of contact time and about 1,680 hours of independent study.

Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

Your modules

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
Spring and summer teaching

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

Autumn teaching
Spring teaching

Spirit of Sussex Award

Feel involved in life at the University, make friends and enrich your experience with us – the Spirit of Sussex Award is our way of recognising your extracurricular and voluntary achievements.

Find out more about the Spirit of Sussex Award

Hi everyone! As I'm sure you've all heard by now, the Spirit of Sussex Award is now live.

Students across the Sussex community are already earning their points

What will you do to earn yours?

There's so many ways to get involved.

Head over to the website to start your Spirit of Sussex journey.

Text: The Spirit of Sussex Award is an exciting new programme designed to recognise and celebrate the things you do outside your course.

Participating in the Award makes it easy and fun for you to get involved and make the most of university life.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

How to apply

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Our experts

Dr Cristiano Bee

Assistant Professor in Politics

View profile of Cristiano Bee

Dr Stavroula Chrona

Assistant Professor in Politics

View profile of Stavroula Chrona

Dr Rekha Diwakar

Associate Professor in Politics

View profile of Rekha Diwakar

Dr Neil Dooley

Associate Professor in Politics

View profile of Neil Dooley

Dr Earl Gammon

Associate Professor in Global Political Economy

View profile of Earl Gammon

Prof James Hampshire

Professor in Politics

View profile of James Hampshire

Dr Jonathan Moss

Associate Professor in Politics

View profile of Jonathan Moss

Prof Peter Newell

Professor of International Relations

View profile of Peter Newell

Dr Daniel Paget

Assistant Professor In Politics

View profile of Daniel Paget

Dr Hannah Richter

Assistant Professor in Politics

View profile of Hannah Richter

Prof Emily Robinson

Professor of British Studies

View profile of Emily Robinson

Prof Aleks Szczerbiak

Professor of Politics

View profile of Aleks Szczerbiak

Prof Paul Taggart

Professor of Politics

View profile of Paul Taggart

How to apply

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Careers

Applied learning in real-life contexts will prepare you for a smooth transition into the workplace.

Through the course, you will develop in-depth political knowledge alongside advanced skills in critical thinking, creative problem-solving, research and communication which are valued by employers and relevant in many careers.

When you graduate, you’ll be well-equipped to succeed in professional fields including:

We also offer excellent training, and support if you decide to pursue doctoral studies and/or an academic career.

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

Working while you study

Our Careers and Employability Centre can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

How to apply

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Entry requirements
Degree requirements You should have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.

Please select your country from the list.

Argentina
Degree requirements Licenciado/Titulo with a minimum final mark of at least 6.0-7.0 depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Australia
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum second-class lower division.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Azerbaijan
Degree requirements Specialist Diploma with an average mark of at least 3.5/5 or 75%. Magistr with a minimum average mark of at least 81%.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Bahrain
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA 2.5/4.0 (Grade C+).
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Bangladesh
Degree requirements A 4-year Bachelor degree with a minimum GPA of at least 3.2/4.0
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Brazil
Degree requirements Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a minimum final mark of at least 7.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Brunei
Degree requirements Bachelors (Honours) degree with a minimum second class lower division or CGPA 2.7/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Canada
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA 3.0/4.0 (grade B).
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Chile
Degree requirements Licenciado with a minimum final mark of at least 4.5-5.0/7 depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

China
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum overall mark of at least 65%-70% depending on your university. Sussex uses Project 211/985 to inform offer levels. As evidence of completing your degree you must provide both a Degree Certificate and Graduation Certificate.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Colombia
Degree requirements Licenciado with ‘Acreditacion de alta calidad’ and a minimum CGPA of 3.0.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Cyprus
Degree requirements Bachelors degree or Ptychion with a minimum final mark of at least 6.5.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Denmark
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum overall mark of at least 7 (Fair Performance).
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Ecuador
Degree requirements Licenciado with a minimum final mark of at least 15/20.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Egypt
Degree requirements Bachelors degree from a university with a minimum overall grade of at least 70%.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

France
Degree requirements Licence with mention assez bien or Maîtrise with a minimum final mark of at least 12.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Germany
Degree requirements Bachelors degree or Magister Artium with a minimum final mark of 2.7 or better.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Ghana
Degree requirements Bachelors degree from a public university with a minimum second-class lower division.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Greece
Degree requirements Ptychion from an AEI with a minimum final mark of at least 6.5.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Hong Kong
Degree requirements Bachelors (Honours) degree with a minimum second-class lower division.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

India
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum overall mark of at least 50-65% depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Indonesia
Degree requirements Bachelors degree from an 'A' accredited university with a minimum CGPA of 2.8/4.0. Bachelors degree from a 'B' accredited university with a minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Iran
Degree requirements Bachelors degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a minimum final mark of at least 14.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Italy
Degree requirements Diploma di Laurea with a minimum overall mark of at least 101.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Japan
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum C/GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Jordan
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of at least 2.8/4.0 or 75%.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Kazakhstan
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum overall mark of 3.5/5 or CGPA 3.0/4
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Kenya
Degree requirements Bachelors (Honours) degree with a minimum second-class lower division.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Kuwait
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of at least 2.8/4.0 or B.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Lebanon
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA 3.0/4.0 or 13/20.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Malawi
Degree requirements Masters degree, depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Malaysia
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of at least 2.7/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Mexico
Degree requirements Licenciado with a minimum final mark of at least 7/10.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Nepal
Degree requirements A 4-year Bachelor degree with a minimum GPA of at least 2.7/4.0 or 60%
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Nigeria
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum second-class lower division or CGPA of at least 2.8-2.99/4.0, 3.0-3.49/5.0, or 4.0-4.6/7.0.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Norway
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum overall grade of C.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Oman
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of at least 2.8/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Pakistan
Degree requirements Four-year Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 60%-65% or CGPA 2.4 - 2.6 depending on your university. Masters degree following a 3-year Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 60%-65% or CGPA 2.4 - 2.6 depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Palestine
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum of at least 70% or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Paraguay
Degree requirements Bachelors with a minimum final mark of at least 7/10.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Peru
Degree requirements Licenciado with a minimum final mark of at least 12/20 from a public university or 14/20 from a private university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Philippines
Degree requirements Bachelor degree when awarded from 2022 onwards (or a Masters degree) with a minimum of 1.75/5.0 (where 1 is the highest) or 3.5/4.0
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Qatar
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum overall CPGA of at least 2.8 (on a scale of 4).
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Russia
Degree requirements Bakalavr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Saudi Arabia
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0/5.0 or 2.8/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Singapore
Degree requirements Bachelors (Honours) degree with a minimum second-class lower division or CAP 3.5.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

South Africa
Degree requirements Bachelors (honours) degree with a minimum second-class division 2.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

South Korea
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of at least 3.0/4.5 or 2.8/4.3 or B.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Spain
Degree requirements Licenciado with a minimum final mark of at least 2/4 or 6/10.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Sri Lanka
Degree requirements Bachelors Special degree with a minimum lower second honours.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Switzerland
Degree requirements Licence or Diplôme with a minimum 4.5/6 or 7/10.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Taiwan
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum overall mark of at least 65%-75% depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Thailand
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of at least 2.5 -2.8/4.0 or equivalent depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Turkey
Degree requirements Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum CGPA of at least 2.6 - 2.8/4.0 or equivalent depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

United Arab Emirates
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of at least 2.8/4.0 or equivalent.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

USA
Degree requirements Bachelors degree with a minimum CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Uzbekistan
Degree requirements Specialist Diploma with an average mark of at least 70%.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Vietnam
Degree requirements Bachelors degree (with a Graduate Thesis/research component) with a minimum CGPA of at least 2.5/4.0 or 6.5/10. As evidence of completing your degree you must provide both proof of graduation in addition to your transcript.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Zambia
Degree requirements Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 2.0/2.5 or equivalent.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Zimbabwe
Degree requirements Bachelors (Honours) degree with a minimum second-class lower division.
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.
Please note Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

My country is not listed

If your country is not listed, you need to contact us and find out the qualification level you should have for this course. Contact us
Subject-specific requirements Your qualification should be in a social sciences or humanities subject. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

Standard level (6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component).

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about IELTS

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

We accept IELTS Online.

Check full details of our English Language requirements and find out more about some of the alternative English language qualifications listed below

Alternative English language qualifications

Proficiency tests

Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English (CAE)

169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill.

We would normally expect the CAE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Advanced

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill.

We would normally expect the CPE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Proficiency

Duolingo English test

110 overall, with no component score below 105.\ \ Duolingo English test scores are valid for two years from the test date.  Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

Find out more about the Duolingo English test.  You will need to share your results with the University of Sussex.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

Standard level (65 overall, including at least 60 in each component).

LanguageCert Academic SELT scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about LanguageCert Academic SELT

We only accept LanguageCert when taken at SELT Test Centres.

We do not accept the online version.  We also do not accept the non-SELT version.

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT

International ESOL SELT B2 with a minimum of 36 in each component.

LanguageCert International ESOL scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about LanguageCert SELT

We only accept LanguageCert when taken at SELT Test Centres. We do not accept the online version.

Oxford International English Language Test (OI ELLT)

Standard level (6 overall, including at least 5 in each component)

Oxford ELLT scores are valid for 18 months from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

Register to complete the OI ELLT and use our 10% discount code at check out: SUSX10.

We accept Oxford ELLT Global and Oxford ELLT Digital.

Pearson (PTE Academic)

Standard level (59 overall, including at least 59 in all four skills).

PTE (Academic) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about Pearson (PTE Academic)

We do not accept the PTE Academic Online test.

TOEFL (iBT)

For tests taken from 21 January 2026:

Standard level (4 overall, including at least 4 in Listening, 4 in Reading, 4 in Speaking, 4 in Writing).

For tests taken before 21 January 2026:

Standard level (80 overall, including at least 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing).

TOEFL (iBT) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about TOEFL (iBT)

We accept TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition.

The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Sussex is 9166.

English language qualifications

AS/A-level (GCE)

Grade C or above in English Language.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)/ AS or A Level: grade C or above in Use of English.

GCE O-level

Grade C or above in English.

Brunei/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

GCSE or IGCSE

Grade C or above in English as a First Language (Grade 4 or above in GCSE from 2017).

Grade B or above in English as a Second Language.

Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate

If awarded before 1993: grades 1-6 in English language.

If awarded between 1993 and 2005: grades A-D in English language.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

Level 4, including at least 3 in each component in English Language.

Indian School Certificate (Standard XII)

The Indian School Certificate is accepted at the grades below when awarded by the following examination boards:

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – English Core only: 70%

Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - English: 70%

We will also accept the Indian Secondary School Certificate at the grade below when awarded by the following examination boards, but these State Board results must have been completed within 6 years of the start date of the course at Sussex:

Tamil Nadu; Karnataka; Delhi; Maharashtra; and West Bengal - English: 70%

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

English A or English B at grade 5 or above.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Grades A - C in English language

Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) 1119/GCE O-level

If taken before the end of 2008: grades 1-6 in English Language.

If taken from 2009 onwards: grade C or above in English Language.

The qualification must be jointly awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

West African Senior School Certificate

Grades A1-C6 (1-6) in English language when awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Country exceptions

Select to see the list of exempt English-speaking countries

If you are a national of one of the countries below, or if you have recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree or higher in one of these countries, you will normally meet our English requirement. Note that qualifications obtained by distance learning or awarded by studying outside these countries cannot be accepted for English language purposes.

You will normally be expected to have completed the qualification within two years before starting your course at Sussex. If the qualification was obtained earlier than this, we would expect you to be able to demonstrate that you have maintained a good level of English, for example by living in an English-speaking country or working in an occupation that required you to use English regularly and to a high level.

Please note that this list is determined by the UK’s Home Office, not by the University of Sussex.

List of exempt countries:

** Canada: you must be a national of Canada; other nationals not on this list who have a degree from a Canadian institution will not normally be exempt from needing to provide evidence of English.

English language support

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for your degree, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course

Visas and immigration

Find out how to apply for a student visa

Additional admissions information
How to apply You apply to Sussex using our application portal
Personal statement Yes. You must submit a personal statement as part of your application.  Find out how to write a personal statement

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

Application deadlines

We strongly recommend an earlier application where possible, as some courses are in high demand and may close before the above dates. Find out more at How to apply for a Masters course

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Fees

Home students

£11,250 per year for full-time students

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students

£11,250 per year for full-time students

International students

£23,500 per year for full-time students

Additional costs

Note about additional costs

Additional costs to your tuition fees may include field trips, equipment, materials, bench fees or studio hire. These costs are best estimates based on current market values which we review each year. These costs may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances where the University has limited control such as a change in a service provider or government guidance. We will let you know at the earliest opportunity if there is any change to these costs. We will also tell you if these costs are mandatory for passing your course or optional. Find out how to budget for student life.

Field trips

This course includes 1-2 field trips to relevant research institutes or non-profit organisations in both London and Brighton across the two terms. The trips are optional, and costs are estimated to be around £100.

Living costs

We know the rising cost of living is on everyone’s mind, and affects us all in different ways. Our guide to living costs has been designed to help you plan and budget for life as a Sussex student.

Learn more about typical living costs

Scholarships

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

Scholarships worth £5,000 available to international applicants

Find out more - Chancellor's Masters Scholarship

Scholarships worth up to £5,000 are available for First Class graduates from UK or Irish universities

Find out more - Climate Leaders Scholarship

£3,000 scholarships available to active environmentalists (in any subject) bringing about real-world behaviour change

Find out more - Friends of the University of Sussex Scholarship

$10,000 USD scholarship for a national or citizen of the USA

Find out more - Mandela Scholarship supported by FirstRand Empowerment Foundation

Full fee waiver and maintenance award for two applicants from South Africa

Find out more - Sussex Alumni Scholarship

£3,000 for previous Sussex graduates returning to study a Masters degree

Find out more - Sussex Bangladesh Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Bangladesh

Find out more - Sussex Egypt Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Egypt

Find out more - Sussex India Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £5,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of India

Find out more - Sussex Kenya Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Kenya

Find out more - Sussex Nepal Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Nepal

Find out more - Sussex Nigeria Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Nigeria

Find out more - Sussex Pakistan Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Pakistan

Find out more - Sussex Sri Lanka Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Sri Lanka

Find out more - Sussex Turkey Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £5,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Turkey

Find out more - Sussex Vietnam Scholarship (Masters)

Unlimited £4,000 scholarships for Masters applicants who are nationals of Vietnam

Find out more

How to apply

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