Program Overview

Wars and division; poverty and pandemics; the climate and cost of living crises. Take a deeper dive behind the headlines to ask tougher questions about urgent issues. In an increasingly globalised and interconnected world, the challenges we face demand cooperation — and that’s where you come in.

On this QAA-accredited Masters course, you’ll be conducting a more dynamic, disruptive investigation of international relations; one that stretches far beyond the traditionally Euro-centric perspectives to embrace regional and minority voices. Supported by a teaching and research team drawn from four continents — plus a string of prestigious guest speakers — you’ll explore the key contemporary debates, growing as an analyst, critical thinker, and sustainability champion. You’ll interrogate your own biases as you examine concepts like ‘power’, ‘citizenship’, and ‘the state’, and you’ll consolidate your theoretical knowledge by developing into an elite-level communicator and negotiator.

This course is for problem-solvers, the socially and environmentally responsible, and the politically and culturally curious. Only by seeing the world through the eyes of others can we become truly global citizens — appreciating the key issues shaping our age, and understanding how ethical, empathetic decisions can help to create meaningful change. With those insights, and a great career awaits you in diplomacy, the media, political advising and advocacy, and much, much more.

What you’ll study

Explore the theories, policies, and practices of international relations — become an informed, independent critic of global affairs, and the worldwide drivers for decision making. This interdisciplinary course incorporates exciting ideas from emerging fields, giving you a richer, better-rounded, and altogether more contemporaneous learning experience. Together, we’ll explore the past, present, and potential future of international relations.

From food and water scarcity, to the rising prominence of the sustainability agenda, to prejudice and decolonisation, to the fundamentally human questions of war and peace, you’ll be learning and researching at the forefront of the field. What’s more, you’ll be part of a hugely diverse learning community, working alongside passionate coursemates from around the world.

With a balance of theoretical rigour and lively debate, you’ll explore the key theories, concepts, and conversations of international relations. Uncover the different applications of ideas like ‘the world order’; unpack and analyse your own ideological baggage and biases; examine the role of state and non-state actors, and our ever-changing interpretations of ‘security’. You’ll grow your skills and scope as a researcher, by exploring new methods, techniques, and processes, and you’ll have the opportunity to choose from an inviting range of electives — optional modules that span everything from ‘Environmental Citizenship’ to ‘Negotiating in International Contexts’. It’s our way of ensuring that your studies remain aligned with your own personal interests and ambitions.

The course culminates in your choice of a dissertation or work-based project (where you’ll be collaborating with a relevant civic or community organisation). Either way, you’ll be delivering a research plan that showcases the full breadth of the skills, knowledge, and experiences you’ve accumulated throughout the course.