12 monthsProgramme duration
21,500 GBPTuition Fee/year
15 Aug, 2025Application Deadline
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
International Relations/Studies/Affairs
Degree
MA
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
Why do states behave the way they do? Why do wars happen and when do they start? What is the role of the United Nations and is it effective in promoting and maintaining global peace and security? How do terrorist organisations influence decision making? Such questions and others are at the core of this program, which provides a foundation in the academic discipline of International Relations - the array of ‘real world’ practices and problems that produce world politics. Having introduced the theoretical and methodological components which facilitate our study of the field, we use these tools to examine, explain, and understand the issues and processes that make up our world: looking, for example, at war; diplomacy; arms control and arms proliferation; global health policy; humanitarian intervention; international development policy; race and legacies of colonialism; human displacement; inequality and injustice. While still attending closely and consistently to traditional issues of world politics the programme offers a significantly broader education in international politics by examining contemporary issues of international politics from a multitude of perspectives, both traditional and more critical.
Throughout the programme, students are able to balance engagement with core content in the field of International Relations with active development of their own areas of specialisation as they choose elective courses according to their own interests. Among the central aims of the programme is the provision of high-quality methodological and research design training needed to conduct independent research projects to an academically accredited standard. This culminates in the final dissertation stage of the programme. Recent students' dissertation topics have included: Jihadi use of social media; Russian foreign and security policy after the Ukraine conflict; Extreme right-wing terrorism and the internet; Russian private military actors; EU defence policy after BREXIT; Baltic security and the future of NATO; Paramilitarism and the Northern Irish border; Indian defence and security in relation to rising China; The limits of ‘truth and reconciliation’ in conflict resolution and more.
Throughout the programme, students are able to balance engagement with core content in the field of International Relations with active development of their own areas of specialisation as they choose elective courses according to their own interests. Among the central aims of the programme is the provision of high-quality methodological and research design training needed to conduct independent research projects to an academically accredited standard. This culminates in the final dissertation stage of the programme. Recent students' dissertation topics have included: Jihadi use of social media; Russian foreign and security policy after the Ukraine conflict; Extreme right-wing terrorism and the internet; Russian private military actors; EU defence policy after BREXIT; Baltic security and the future of NATO; Paramilitarism and the Northern Irish border; Indian defence and security in relation to rising China; The limits of ‘truth and reconciliation’ in conflict resolution and more.
Programme overview
Main Subject
International Relations/Studies/Affairs
Degree
MA
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
Why do states behave the way they do? Why do wars happen and when do they start? What is the role of the United Nations and is it effective in promoting and maintaining global peace and security? How do terrorist organisations influence decision making? Such questions and others are at the core of this program, which provides a foundation in the academic discipline of International Relations - the array of ‘real world’ practices and problems that produce world politics. Having introduced the theoretical and methodological components which facilitate our study of the field, we use these tools to examine, explain, and understand the issues and processes that make up our world: looking, for example, at war; diplomacy; arms control and arms proliferation; global health policy; humanitarian intervention; international development policy; race and legacies of colonialism; human displacement; inequality and injustice. While still attending closely and consistently to traditional issues of world politics the programme offers a significantly broader education in international politics by examining contemporary issues of international politics from a multitude of perspectives, both traditional and more critical.
Throughout the programme, students are able to balance engagement with core content in the field of International Relations with active development of their own areas of specialisation as they choose elective courses according to their own interests. Among the central aims of the programme is the provision of high-quality methodological and research design training needed to conduct independent research projects to an academically accredited standard. This culminates in the final dissertation stage of the programme. Recent students' dissertation topics have included: Jihadi use of social media; Russian foreign and security policy after the Ukraine conflict; Extreme right-wing terrorism and the internet; Russian private military actors; EU defence policy after BREXIT; Baltic security and the future of NATO; Paramilitarism and the Northern Irish border; Indian defence and security in relation to rising China; The limits of ‘truth and reconciliation’ in conflict resolution and more.
Throughout the programme, students are able to balance engagement with core content in the field of International Relations with active development of their own areas of specialisation as they choose elective courses according to their own interests. Among the central aims of the programme is the provision of high-quality methodological and research design training needed to conduct independent research projects to an academically accredited standard. This culminates in the final dissertation stage of the programme. Recent students' dissertation topics have included: Jihadi use of social media; Russian foreign and security policy after the Ukraine conflict; Extreme right-wing terrorism and the internet; Russian private military actors; EU defence policy after BREXIT; Baltic security and the future of NATO; Paramilitarism and the Northern Irish border; Indian defence and security in relation to rising China; The limits of ‘truth and reconciliation’ in conflict resolution and more.
Admission Requirements
64+
176+
3.2+
80+
6+
110+
Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Social Sciences, Humanities or Arts subject, or a 2.1 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject with relevant professional experience.
15 Aug 2025
1 Year
Sep
- Candidates are required to submit references or letter(s) of recommendation for acceptance
Tuition fees
Domestic
7,300 GBP
International
21,500 GBP
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