Course Overview

On this MSc Global Politics of Environment and Resources, you will become knowledgeable about the trajectories of current environmental and demographic change and explore the tensions and contradictions they generate from a critical geopolitical perspective.

Drawing from Birkbeck’s expertise across politics, geography, history, and law this course offers you an ambitious curriculum addressing conceptual issues of:

climate change

uneven resource access

food sovereignty and security

demographic change.

We provide you with a concrete examination of key areas in contemporary environmental policy and law and you will be taught by research-active academics keen to share their insight and knowledge of topics including political ecology, political economy, critical geography, political theory, and international environmental policy and governance.

You will undertake specific case studies of geopolitical, population, and environmental occurrences and debates in particular countries or regions. You will also gain a working knowledge of the main theoretical debates regarding the relationship between resource use, food, politics, and society.

This course equips you with skills of analysis and critique that can be transferred to further study in the social sciences and humanities and/or to practice or research work in the relevant fields.

You will find graduates of this course progressing in the following kinds of career paths:

jobs in central and local government, trades unions, political parties, NGOs, and international organizations

research positions in universities and other public and private research bodies

political journalism

political or civic activism

political consultancy

teaching in higher, further, and secondary education.

We offer a comprehensive Careers Service - Birkbeck Futures - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education, and future ambitions.

General Eligibility

A second-class honors degree (2:2) or above in a related area, or relevant experience combined with an adequate academic background (subject to interview).

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this program is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.