Radboud University

MSc in Political Science

Power shapes politics, but what shapes power in the 21st Century? The Radboud Master's programme in Political Science offers a unique opportunity for highly motivated students to prepare for a rewarding career in leading positions in the public and private sector. Within the Master's Political Science, you have a choice between seven Master's specialisations. Moreover, our Master's programme offers Dual Degree programmes with the American University in Washington, DC and with the University of Glasgow.

• Applied Political Theory
  • Applied Political Theory is not just about interpreting or explaining the world, but also about changing it. From climate change to homelessness, great societal challenges require that we make decent and legitimate political choices. But how can we determine that? This specialisation provides you with the tools to evaluate whether and how the exercise of power by political actors and institutions can be justified.
• Comparative Politics: Democracies and Autocracies
  • The Comparative Politics Master’s provides new insights into configurations of political power around the world. We study changes in democracy and political representation, modern authoritarianism and populism, and how political parties, citizens and social movements achieve political change.
• Conflict, Power and Politics
  • In this specialisation you will become familiar with the nature of violent conflict in the 21st Century. How can we explain the origins and development of violent conflicts? What are the effects of international interventions in war? What are the conditions for an enduring peace?
• European Union Politics and Governance
  • How can the effectiveness of EU policy be ensured? How does the EU engage with societal actors, and what effect does this have on the EU's legitimacy? This multidisciplinary Master's equips you with cutting-edge insights from politics and governance to tackle questions like these.
• Diversity and Inequality in Politics
  • Understanding how gender, race, ethnicity, class, religion, and other identities intersect with power structures is key to addressing pressing societal issues such as discrimination, unequal representation, economic disparities, and violent conflicts. This programme equips you to critically analyse these domestic and global dynamics and develop viable solutions to foster more inclusive political and social systems.
• Global Political Economy
  • In a world where new economic powers are reshaping global hierarchies, geopolitical tensions intensify by the day. Master the analytical tools to decode how shifting economic power balances influence everything, from global supply chains to trade wars, from climate diplomacy to green investments, and more. Understand not just what happens in the global economy but go beyond the surface and understand why and who benefits.
• International Relations
  • Tackling contemporary global problems in the 21st century, such as war and violent conflict, geopolitical and economic competition, rising inequalities, pandemics, climate change, or artificial intelligence requires a deeper understanding of the essential dynamics, actors, and factors that shape global politics.