International Relations (MSc)

Programme Structure

The programme is made up of three components.

• Core courses: three courses, taught over two ten-week teaching periods, from October to December and January to March
• Elective (Optional) courses: three courses, also taught in ten-week blocks, from October to December and January to March
• A dissertation: written during the final phase of the course, from April to September (MSc only)

Core

• Challenges in International Politics
• International Relations Theory
• Qualitative Research Methods OR Social Science Statistics

Electives

• China's International Politics
• Chinese Politics and Society
• Comparative European Politics
• Critical Perspectives on Human Rights
• Ethics in Global Politics
• EU in International Politics and Development
• Foreign Policy of the United States
• Freedom of Expression
• Globalisation and European Integration
• Human Rights and Global Politics
• International Security and Global Politics
• Institutions and Policies of the European Union
• Internet & Civil Society
• Media and Democracy
• Political Institutions, Crisis and Communication
• Media, War and Security
• Political Legitimacy: Contemporary Perspectives
• Politics of Gender in Development

You may also choose, with the Convener's approval, from courses in the other subjects in the School of Social and Political Sciences.

Note: Some courses might not be available every year.

Dissertation

The dissertation is your opportunity to explore your own specialist interest in International Relations and to demonstrate the research and writing skills you have developed during the course.

With the advice of your supervisor you will develop a topic, undertake primary and secondary research, and write a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation which you will submit in September. The dissertation could form the basis for a PhD thesis.