Program Overview

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MSc International Relations

The MSc International Relations is a postgraduate course that attracts students from all over the world. The course focuses on general theoretical perspectives of the discipline, providing the tools for students to understand historical and contemporary events.

Overview

• Course: International Relations
• Start date: October 2026
• Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
• Duration: 1 year
• Location: Colchester Campus
• Based in: Government

The course emphasizes explaining and understanding international events, rather than simply the intellectual history of international relations as a field. Students also take optional modules from a large selection offered by the department, including:

• Global environmental issues
• Democracies in Europe
• Forecasting global trends
• International security
• Conflict resolution

Our Expert Staff

Some of the biggest names in the field work at Essex, giving students unparalleled access to some of the best minds in politics. The staff are advising the CIA on counter-terrorism, training politicians and civil servants in democratising countries, and commentating on political events in national and international media.

Specialist Facilities

The department has:

• Laboratories of networked computers featuring extensive software for political analysis
• The ESSEXLab provides opportunities for experimental lab research
• Student societies for politics, debating, and Model UN
• The Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis

Your Future

All Essex politics graduates have the distinction of a qualification from one of the world's leading politics departments. The MA International Relations will help students develop key employability skills, which will make them attractive to both the public and private sector, including analytical reasoning, research design, communication, and report writing.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for high-profile organisations, such as:

• The Civil Service
• Local government
• The World Bank
• The United Nations
• NATO
• YouGov and YouGov America

The university also offers supervision for PhD and MPhil in various fields, including government, ideology and discourse analysis, international relations, political behaviour, and politics.

Entry Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

• A 2.2 degree or international equivalent in one of the following subjects:
  • American Studies
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • International Relations
  • International Studies
  • Political Science
  • Political Studies
  • Statistics
  • United States Politics
• OR
• A 2.2 degree in any subject which includes study in two relevant modules, such as:
  • Comparative Political Systems
  • Constitutional Democracy
  • Contemporary World Affairs
  • Current Affairs
  • Democratic Theory
  • Econometrics
  • European Integration/Dynamics of Integration
  • Foreign Policy/Comparative Foreign Policy
  • Game Theory
  • Governmental Processes/Systems
  • Human Rights
  • Ideology and Political Analysis
  • International Economic Law
  • International Economic Relations
  • International Trade/Business Law
  • International Law
  • International Public Relations
  • International Security
  • International Trade/Business Law
  • Law of Armed Conflict
  • Micro/Macro Economics
  • Peace Studies
  • Philosophy (MA Political Theory only)
  • Political Conflict
  • Political Decision Making
  • Political Economy
  • Political Sociology
  • Political Studies
  • Public Administration
  • Public International Law
  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Security Studies
  • Strategic Studies
  • Terrorism
  • Theories of Development

International and EU Entry Requirements

The university accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries.

English Language Requirements

If English is not the first language, the university requires IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 5.5 in all components.

Structure

The MSc International Relations contains the GV903 Advanced Research Methods core module. The course is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of either the politics of a geographical area or an aspect of the discipline.

Course Structure

The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation:

• Year 1:
  • COMPONENT 01: CORE WITH OPTIONS
    • GV993-7-PS or GV985-7-PS (60 credits)
  • COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY
    • International Relations: Theory and Analysis (15 credits)
  • COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY
    • Research Design (15 credits)
  • COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY
    • Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis I (15 credits)
  • COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY
    • Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis II (15 credits)
  • COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS
    • GV517-7-SP or GV947-7-SP or GV945-7-AU (15 credits)
  • COMPONENT 07: OPTIONAL
    • Government option(s) from list (45 credits)
  • COMPONENT 08: CORE
    • Dissertation and Policy Portfolio Preparation (0 credits)

Teaching

Courses are designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of either the politics of a geographical area or an aspect of the discipline. The course includes both compulsory and optional modules, allowing students to tailor the course to fit their interests and aspirations.

Assessment

Coursework comes in the form of essays, simulations, presentations, and in-class tests.

Dissertation

Students are given guidance on how to prepare a Masters dissertation by the Graduate Director in the spring term. The university links students with an appropriate supervisor at the earliest opportunity.

Fees and Funding

Home/UK Fee

Ł11,025

International Fee

Ł23,875

Scholarships and Financial Support

There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the course.

Related Courses

• MA International Relations
• MRes International Relations