MA Government Studies Course Modules

Core modules

These modules, partnered with No.10 Downing Street examine how British Prime Ministers governed in the years 1945 – the present day. Classes take place within No. 10 Downing Street itself, and guest speakers have included former Prime Ministers Tony Blair, David Cameron and Theresa May.

#1
60 credits

Prime Ministers & No.10 Downing Street

These two modules, run in partnership with No. 10 Downing Street, examine how British Prime Ministers governed in the years 1945 – to the present day.
#2
60 credits

Final Research Project

30% of the final mark comes from a primary source research project. It can be a true history dissertation advised by one of the academic staff, or an up-to-date research project informed by historical analysis.

Optional modules

Alongside core modules partnered with No.10 Downing Street, students can also take a range of optional modules.

optional module

#3
15 credits

Chancellors and the Treasury: Managing the British Economy

‘Chancellors and the Treasury: Managing the British Economy’ is the result of a unique collaboration between His Majesty’s Treasury the Policy Institute at King’s and the Strand Group. It studies the role and actions of the Treasury and its Chancellors since the Second World War up to the present day, through the context of the British economy.
optional module

#4
15 credits

The New Labour Years: The Blair Brown Revolution

The module considers the New Labour governments from a historical perspective, tracing changes and themes across the thirteen years of Tony Blair’s and Gordon Brown’s premierships, using the rigour of the historical method. Special attention is given to the memoirs and diaries of the central protagonists, and a high-profile range of guests allow students to truly interrogate their sources face-to-face.
optional module

#5
15 credits

London: Governing the Global City

This module explores the recent history and government of London.
optional module

#6
15 credits

The Conservative Years: Governing in an Age of Turmoil

The Conservative Years builds on the successful approach of ‘New Labour in Government’, by bringing its focus into even more ultra-contemporary historical study.
optional module

#7
15 credits

The History of The Civil Service: Evolution of the Machinery of Government

This innovative module, in partnership with the Cabinet Office, focuses on the evolution of the British Civil Service and how its role has developed alongside the changing role of the state. World wars, the creation of the welfare state, as well as technological, economic and societal change has carved new functions and expectations of what government is there to do.
optional module

#8
15 credits

Making Modern Britain: Pivotal Prime Ministerial Decisions

This unique module focuses on the pivotal moments for Prime Ministers, using case studies to examine the decision making process.
optional module

#9
15 credits

History of Prime Ministerial & Whitehall Defence, Security and Intelligence Decision Making

This module looks at how successive British Prime Ministers have managed and taken pivotal decisions in the areas of defence, security and intelligence.

Course Schedule: All classes take place on a Thursday or Friday.

Semester 1 (September – December)	Semester 2 (January – April)	Semester 3 (May – August)
Prime Ministers & No.10 Downing Street 1945-79	Prime Ministers & No.10 Downing Street since 1979	Final Research Project
Chancellors and the Treasury: Managing the British Economy	The New Labour Years
London: Governing the Global City	The Conservative Years
The History of the Civil Service	Making Modern Britain: Pivotal Prime Ministerial Decisions

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MA Government Studies Course Modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Course Schedule: All classes take place on a Thursday or Friday.