Overview
MA Gender is a unique interdisciplinary Masters where you’ll study gender alongside another social science subject of your interest.
You’ll choose from one of the following pathways:
- Gender and Sociology
- Gender and Global Sustainable Futures
- Gender and Public Policy
- Gender and International Relations
Our pathways allow you to study gender in a way that complements your other interests and opens up opportunities that work for you.
Focus on key contemporary issues such as:
- conflict and violence
- poverty and inequality
- reproductive rights
- the environment
- migration
- identity and belonging
Utilise Newcastle’s long tradition of working with communities to create real social impact, helping you to put your academic knowledge into practice.
Explore gender in a global context and understand how it intersects with other issues such as race, nation, class, disability, and sexual identity.
You’ll take a range of optional modules that allow you to tailor your masters to your interests and take a research project on your own specialist area, under expert supervision.
Important information
We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you’ll learn
You’ll study gender alongside another social science, enabling you to:
- gain a strong intellectual grounding and apply academic theory and methods to create social change
- understand gender and intersecting issues at a high level of complexity
- become an independent researcher who can design, conduct and write up your own projects
- learn key transferable skills in research, communication, project management and ethics
Our pathways
You’ll choose from one of the following pathways:
- Gender and Sociology
- Gender and Global Sustainable Futures
- Gender and Public Policy
- Gender and International Relations
Our pathways allow you to study gender in a way that complements your other interests and opens up opportunities.
Gender and Sociology
On this pathway you’ll engage with gender and how it’s shaped by various societal intersections, including:
- identity
- citizenship
- social transformation
- social inequalities
- race
- class
- sexuality
- health
- criminology
Gender and Global Sustainable Futures
On this pathway you’ll develop the advanced knowledge and skills needed to identify challenges and solutions in sustainable futures.
You’ll also equip yourself with the skills to consider how these two subject areas can inform each other.
Gender and Public Policy
On this pathway you’ll identify challenges and solutions in policymaking at regional, national, and international levels, and how these intersect with gender.
Gender and International Relations
On this pathway you’ll identify challenges and solutions in international politics and gender and how they intersect with each other.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Gender and Sociology MA modules
Compulsory modules
All students will take all of the following modules:
Optional modules
All students will take a further 40-60 credits from the following modules:
If you have only taken 40 credits from the list above, you may choose a further 20 credits from the following:
Gender and Global Sustainable Futures MA modules
Compulsory modules
All students will take 120 credits of the following modules:
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| SOC8054 Theorising Gender and its intersections | 20 |
| SOC8070 Global Sex, Global Race | 20 |
| HSS8001 Thinking About Research | 10 |
| HSS8003 Dissertation Preparation | 10 |
| SOC8097 Dissertation | 60 |
Optional modules
All students will take a further 40-60 credits from the following modules:
If you have only taken 40 credits from the list above, you may choose a further 20 credits from the following:
Gender and Public Policy MA modules
Compulsory modules
All students will take 120 credits of the following modules:
Optional modules
All students will take a further 40-60 credits from the following modules:
If you have only taken 40 credits from the list above, you may choose a further 20 credits from the following:
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| POL8059 The United Nations | 20 |
| POL8070 Problem Solving for Defence | 20 |
| SOC8072 Social Divisions and Inequality | 20 |
Gender and International Relations MA modules
Compulsory modules
All students will take 160 credits of the following modules:
Optional modules
All students will take a further 20 credits from the following modules:
How you’ll learn
Gender MA is research-led and delivered through interactive seminars and workshops. You’ll deepen your understanding of key concepts through:
- active participation
- discussion
- collaboration with your peers
You’ll also be taught using a range of methods, including:
- 1-on-1 research supervision sessions
- interactive workshops and seminars
- guided independent study
Throughout the programme you’ll shape discussions and explore ideas to ensure your learning is both purposeful and impactful.
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Case study
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Poster
- Portfolio
- Reflective log
- Research proposal
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You’ll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You’ll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Our programme is managed by Sociology and incorporates staff with expertise in Gender from across the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology. This wider staff pool is also included in the supervision of your Gender Dissertation.
Our staff are a friendly group of academics with diverse research specialisms and a vibrant international academic community.
Our head of Sociology is Professor Ruth McAreavey
The Programme Director for our MAs is Dr Bethan Harries
Our compulsory Gender modules are ‘Theorising Gender and its Intersections’, convened by Professor Alison Phipps, and ‘Global Sex, Global Race’, convened by Dr Stephen Seely.
You can choose from a wide range of optional modules taught by leading experts. Our compulsory and optional modules are listed in the module section above.
Find out more about:
Your development
Throughout your degree you’ll develop a range of professional, research and practical skills desired by a range of employers.
You will:
- Learn how to critically analyse important and pressing issues related to Gender and your combined subject area.
- Receive training from research active academics engaged in real world research.
- Become part of a vibrant research community and participate in research activities within the School.
- Develop your own supervisor-guided research project and present your work in progress at our annual MA conference.
At the end of your course you will have experience of:
- research design
- conducting fieldwork or document-based projects
- analysing and communicating rich and complex data
- communicating your ideas in diverse ways
Your future
You’ll graduate prepared for a wide range of careers across the world, including:
- government and policy
- non-government organisations (NGOs)
- journalism
- social and legal research
- education
- equalities and diversity work within corporations.
You’ll also receive research training and practice. This is excellent preparation if you’re interested in further academic study and research, as well as other careers that require excellent analytical skills.
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 125 for Social Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 150 for Politics and International Studies – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 200 for Sociology – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
- Top 40 for Geography – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Facilities
You’ll be based in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology in the Henry Daysh Building. Here you’ll have access to high quality modern classrooms, comfortable study spaces, and research facilities. The School also provides access to kitchen facilities and social areas. There is also a café on the ground floor of the School building.
Our department staff all have offices on the same floor and are on hand to support you with your assignments and academic work.
The School is centrally located on Newcastle University’s vibrant city centre campus with nearby access to the University’s Robinson Library, Student Union, and the city centre.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 Honours degree, or international equivalent, in a social sciences discipline. Applicants who hold non-standard qualifications and/or have other relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis.
