Programme summary for MSc International Relations

About the programme

Current changes in international politics raise important and pressing questions that this programme seeks to address. In the aftermath of the Cold War, where is the focus of order in the international system? Is there any prospect of justice in relations between states? How is world order/disorder affected by contemporary developments such as democratisation,
the credit crisis and economic liberalisation, environmental degradation and resource depletion, resurgent religious movements and nationalisms? The MSc enables you
to develop a critical awareness of competing analytical frameworks in the study of International relations and deploy these in the analysis of specific questions and issues

Programme structure

One year full-time for students commencing the programme in September; 18 months full-time for students starting the programme in February; two years part time. Three compulsory taught modules; choice of an option module from a choice of six options; research dissertation in a specialist area of your interest.

Career opportunities

Skills and Knowledge gained from this degree are relevant to the professions, the media and all forms of public service, and graduates can look to a wide range of career paths particularly in the public sector and government, the media and various kinds of developmental agencies and organisations.

Support

You will benefit from the opportunity to work in small groups, to present your work in a supportive environment, from training in research methods and from an active tutorial system.

Admission

Applicants are normally required to have a good first degree in a cognate area of study. Under special circumstances, and after interview, applicants without a first degree but with substantial professional experience may be considered.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.