Global Political Economy (MA)

Why study Global Political Economy at Leiden University?

The global economy has a profound impact across the full range of human endeavours – from politics and the economy to civil society and culture. The specialisation in Global Political Economy explores the world economy through key concerns as the determinants of economic growth, poverty, and inequality, but also the changing organization, operation, and logics of global industries. Other key components of the programme are environmental sustainability and implications of the world market for the vitality and future of democracy.

The specialisation in Global Political Economy makes use of a multidisciplinary approach, in which theoretical concepts are drawn from diverse traditions and geographical and societal standpoints. This will help you become a well-rounded professional who brings specialised knowledge and insights to a wide range of professional and scholarly pursuits. During your studies, you will also benefit from the close contacts between the university and (inter)national government institutions in the Hague, as well as the great amount of knowledge on area studies at Leiden University.

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What are your career prospects?

This Master's prepares you for a wide range of roles in almost every sector of the job market. Our graduates work at different types of organisations, such as financial institutes, international organisations, government bodies, NGOs and academia. Jobs include project manager, policy advisor, consultant and client analyst.

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Is Global Political Economy the programme for you?

Are you interested in international relations? Do you want to know how political decisions affect the economy? Then the specialisation in Global Political Economy at Leiden University is the right Master's programme for you. Find out if you are eligible for this Master's programme by checking the admission requirements.

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Do a second MA at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe: School of Advanced International Studies

Due to a special agreement, students with a Leiden MA degree in International Relations can earn a second degree at the European Campus of Johns Hopkins University SAIS in Bologna, Italy. Successful applicants gain access to the second year of the research focused Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) and will be given a full year’s credit towards this two-year MA. The programme is research-orientated and allows students to personalise their curriculum and focus on the contemporary issues in international affairs aligned with their career interests. The courses offered at SAIS Europe emphasise economics, political science, history and foreign language proficiency, providing a cross-disciplinary approach.