School of Government & International Affairs | MA Politics and International Relations (Political Theory)

MA Politics & International Relations (Political Theory) at Durham University

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Gain the knowledge and skills to analyse and review the complex relationships between government and society, regionally, nationally and globally.

The MA in Politics & International Relations (Political Theory) equips you with the skills to challenge conventional thinking, master complex political concepts, and analyse your own views about some of the most pressing global challenges.

Immersing yourself in debates about a wide range of issues, from human rights and the ethics of armed conflict to the history of political thought, you will develop the knowledge and skills to critically review the complex relationships between governments and societies. You will learn to evaluate concepts, theories, and paradigms, drawing lessons from real-world studies informed by quantitative and qualitative investigations.

Your learning will be informed by a wealth of ongoing research by experts working at the forefront of their field. Core modules in Political Ideologies & Thought and International Theory & Organisation form the foundation of the course. The remaining modules can be tailored to suit your interests, with options spanning topics from Designing Political Inquiry to Global Governance. The optional modules also give you an opportunity to analyse the politics and international relations of different regions of the world in greater depth, taking account of regional political and economic factors. These interests can be further developed through the researching and writing of the dissertation.

As a student in the School of Government & International Affairs, your learning will be informed by a wealth of ongoing research by experts working at the forefront of their field, with areas of expertise including Political Philosophy & the History of Political Thought, Comparative Political Science and International Relations.

On completion, graduates are well placed to pursue careers in international organisations, politics, and the civil service. Others move into the wider fields of journalism, teaching, business and research.

Our postgraduates achieve successful careers in a wide range of fields including local and national government, diplomacy, newspaper and broadcast journalism, the charity sector, business and finance, publishing, law, manufacturing, teaching and academia, and the armed forces.

Former postgraduate students have taken up roles with leading employers including the House of Commons, Clifford Chance, Accenture, British Airways, Ernst and Young, British Telecom, Goldman Sachs, PwC, the Royal Navy, House of Fraser, Channel 4, HSBC, Teach First, Durham University, Black Rock and the Audit Commission.

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