International Relations MSc

This course is in clearing

Overview

Course options

Select year

MSc

  • MSc International Relations , home applicant, full time

    • Home Applicant
    • Full time, 1 year
    • Pound 10380 per year
  • MSc International Relations , home applicant, part time

    • Home Applicant
    • Part time, 2 years
    • Pound 1730 per 30 credit module
  • MSc International Relations , international applicant, full time

    • International Applicant
    • Full time, 1 year
    • Pound 16260 per year
    International applications are closed for 2024

What makes this course different

1st In UK to focus on global environmental politics

This cutting-edge course was the first of its kind to have a special focus on global environmental politics.

World-renowned experts

Our academic team are world-renowned experts in current global debates through their pioneering research.

Global community

Join a global community of students and researchers

Course modules

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Your future career

Your future career

Some of our students have already worked in an international relations environment while others are looking to start a career in the area.

Many aspire to work for the United Nations or develop a career in international policy or development at a government level. Some have used the skills they have developed on the course to forge careers in local as well as national governments.  

Our course will give you the advanced skills to take your career to a new level. You will also learn how to work in an international environment and how to influence the debate. 

Throughout the course, you will have the expertise of our distinguished academic team to guide you. 

Course Leader Dr Stephen Hobden has published on international relations theory and has contributed to the emerging paradigm of posthumanism. He is currently writing a book related to the International Relations Theory module that is part of the programme. 

Dr Robert Ahearne leads the module on global environmental politics. Dr Ahearne is an expert on resource use in Africa and his research has focused on development processes in Tanzania. 

The depth and breadth of their knowledge and the creative teaching methods on this course may well inspire you to pursue your own career in academic research or teaching.

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.

Law with International Relations UG course hero
MSc International Relations at UEL has been an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. The lectures are engaging and stimulating and the staff are friendly and approachable. This course has given me the tools and confidence to move forward in my career."
Katy Savage,

MSc International Relations

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

Our dedicated and award-winning team provide you with careers and employability resources, including:

  • Online jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work.
  • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts 
  • 1-2-1 career coaching services
  • Careers workshops and employer events 
  • Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you’ve mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top

  • Enterprise and entrepreneurship support 
  • We are ranked 6th for graduate start-ups 
  • Networking and visits to leading organisations 
  • Support in starting a new business, freelancing and self-employment 
  • London on our doorstep

What you'll learn

We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.

You will study three core modules leading up to a dissertation of 15,000 words.

The first module focuses on the Critical Theories of International Relations and then you will look in detail at Global Environmental Politics - one of the key issues and potential crises facing the international community in the 21st century.

These modules have been much enjoyed by students on the course and described by external examiners as "cutting edge" in their content.

The third module will give you experience of Qualitative Research Methods, equipping for your research project. For this you can choose a subject linked to your previous professional interest or a completely different area for analysis. 

There are also optional modules to choose from, including Conflict, Displacement and Human Security, International Human Rights, Law and Policy in the Middle East and an Introduction to Forced Migration. 

Our academic team are actively involved in shaping the global debate on many of these issues and will guide you through the modules with creative learning methods, feedback and advice.

How you'll learn

Our students are not only from diverse countries and backgrounds but they also have a wide age range. Some have already worked in international bodies while others are coming to the issues for the first time. 

Whatever your age or background, we encourage you to become part of our research community during your time on the course.  We also give students the confidence to increase their publication profile. One of our current students, for example, has written a book review during the course that was published in an international journal.

In addition to traditional teaching methods of lectures and seminars, we also organise special mini-conferences where students present their work to their fellow students and academics and chair panel discussions. 

The day-long conferences provide opportunities to answer probing questions about your work and to quiz others on their findings. 

This kind of specialist training is designed to enhance your confidence and communication skills when taking part in international conferences and events and in presenting your ideas in a public environment. 

The conferences are also a creative way of broadening your knowledge and providing you with inspiration and ideas for research.

How you will be assessed

You'll be assessed through a wide range of marked coursework, including essays, project work, oral presentations, critical readings, annotated bibliographies, publicity briefings, and independent research reports.  You'll also undertake a dissertation in which you'll carry out a piece of research in an area of your choice.

Campus and facilities

Water Lane, Stratford