International Relations and Eastern Mediterranean Studies (MA, 3 Semesters) – Distance Learning

The general objectives of the program are to:

• Promote thorough examination and research by giving students the opportunity to specialise in International Relations and European Studies, as well as Political Science and other related domains within the broader field of Social Sciences. The systematic development and enrichment of knowledge in the aforementioned fields is an important asset for those who wish to work in a number of professions, sectors and organisations.
• Provides postgraduate education to holders of a Bachelor degree in International Relations, Political Science, History or other relevant Bachelor degrees, as well as to individuals who intend to work in fields relevant with international affairs (e.g. in the public sector, especially in services under Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence or Commerce, in multinational firms, in international organisations such as the UN and the EU, in academic institutions and research centres, in non-governmental organisations etc).
• Develop the level of knowledge and skills of post-graduate students in the relevant domains.
• Achieve deep understanding of the complexity of international affairs, as well as of the paramount importance of theoretical and methodological competence when dealing with them.

The special objectives of the program are to:

• Assimilate basic concepts in the fields of International Relations and European Studies (i.e. international system, international cooperation, international organisation, regional integration, international and ethnic conflict, international security etc). This is an important prerequisite for developing an in-depth approach to complex issues such as the European Integration process, political, economic and social dimension of interstate relations, civil, international and regional conflicts, terrorism, energy dependence and energy security etc. The program pays special attention on issues related with the Republic of Cyprus and its EU membership, as well as Cyprus’ geographic position in the East Mediterranean and the greater Middle East.
• Provide the necessary knowledge in relation to the rich theoretical and research tradition pertaining to a series of fields, such as theory of international relations, European and regional integration, international political economy, international security, asymmetric threats, conflict management and conflict resolution etc. The program is structured in a way that allows students to specialise in the areas of their special interest, after having acquired the basic foundations of theory and methodical research, and basic knowledge in the fields of International Relations and European Studies.
• Provide the students with a broad understanding of the political, social and economic evolution of the international system in the 20th and 21st centuries as well as the new evolving international and regional environment. The role of law, diplomacy, private and non-governmental agents in the international system will form a vital part of this understanding. Moreover, the relative political and economic power of states, the role of international organizations such as the United Nations, and the existence of conflict will provide major foci for the program as a whole.