Program Overview

English and International Relations, MA

Introduction

English and International Relations at Aberdeen combines all the advantages of the UK’s second most highly-rated research and creative hub for English literature, language and creative writing with in-depth study of our world then and now – providing the international, political and social context for great works in the English language to the present day. This programme will open up brilliant career opportunities at the forefront of world events.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MA
• Duration: 48 months
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Start Month: September
• UCAS Code: QL32
• Pathway Programme Available: Undergraduate Foundation Programme

Aberdeen is a leading centre for the study of literature, language and creative writing, rated second in the UK for its research output. You will study poetry and prose through the dynamic relationship between author, reader and literary text, covering every period from Chaucer to contemporary English, Scottish, Irish, European and American writing and the cultural and critical impact of powerful and controversial modern works. You will be inspired by enthusiastic teachers and researchers, themselves acclaimed authors and poets and will be encouraged to develop your own creative writing skills.

In International Relations, you will look closely at how nations and organisations interact, the many contributors to global wealth and poverty and why inequalities persist. You will study regional and international tensions, nationalism, concepts of democracy – and ever-present concerns of conflict and peace. You will be taught by internationally renowned academics with strong track records in publishing international papers and articles and who appear regularly in the media, analysing and explaining national, European and world developments from the viewpoint of their own area of expertise and research.

You will gain the perfect foundation to add international career possibilities to your appeal to employers in all sectors, including international business, NGOs and international development, local and national government, politics, and journalism, plus transferable skills including critical analysis and communication ideally suited to a range of careers.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

What You'll Study

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Academic Writing for Language & Literature (AW1008)
  • Acts of Reading (EL1009)
  • Politics & International Relations 2: Power and Conflict (PI1518)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
  • Politics & International Relations 1: Democracy and Governance (PI1018)
• Optional Courses:
  • Select ONE OR BOTH of the following:
    • Controversial Classics (EL1513)
    • Rethinking Reading (EL1536)
  • Also, select a further 60 credit points from courses of choice.

Year 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Encounters with Shakespeare (EL2011)
  • Ideas and Ideologies in Politics and International Relations (PI2009)
  • Global Politics: Equality and Inequality (PI2508)
• Optional Courses:
  • In term 2 select either EL2512 or EL2518, plus PI2508
  • The Tragedy of Knowledge (EL2512)
  • Power, Empire and Equality (EL2518)

Year 3

• Optional Courses:
  • Two level 3 EL courses to be chosen from two of the groups below
  • Medieval/Renaissance Literature:
    • EL30CP: Page and Stage: Renaissance Writings
    • EL35DQ: Knights, Virgins and Viragos: Chaucer and Medieval Writing
  • Romantic/Victorian Literature:
    • EL30XR: Romanticism
    • EL30VC: Fallen Women and Self-Made Men
    • EL35SB: Britain and the 19th Century World
    • EL30QA: Sympathy for the Devil: Scottish Short Stories
  • Contemporary/Modern Literature:
    • EL35KN: Haunted Texts
    • EL30FF: Modernism: Make IT New
    • EL30RD: American Voices: Self and Society, 1850 - 1930
    • EL35UT: Art and Atrocity: Representations of Violence and Trauma
  • Plus one level 3 course in Politics & International Relations.

Year 4

• Optional Courses:
  • Select ONE of the following dissertation options:
    • Option 1:
      • Dissertation (International Relations) (IR4031)
      • ONE second-half session level 4 Politics and International Relations course
      • Select a further 60 credit points from level 4 courses in English (30 credits in each semester)
    • Option 2:
      • English Dissertation (EL4502)
      • ONE first-half session level 4 English course
      • Select TWO level 4 courses in Politics and International Relations (one course in each semester)

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Research
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

• Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
• Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course.
• Written examinations at the end of each course.

The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Why Study English and International Relations?

Why English

• An international profile through major literary projects such as the Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen and the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels of Sir Walter Scott.
• The WORD Centre for Creative Writing, promoting creative projects in fiction, non-fiction and collaborative mixed-media in all the languages of northeast Scotland (from Doric to Polish).
• The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, home to literary treasures collected over 500 years, charting the power of the written word from ancient papyri and medieval manuscripts to contemporary e-books and other media.
• Historic collections including rare printed books, the 12th century Aberdeen Bestiary, MacBean Stuart and Jacobite Collection, the novels of Sir Walter Scott, and an exceptional collection of Charles Dickens' first editions.
• A packed campus programme of student and public events, exhibitions, seminars, invited speakers and the annual WayWORD Festival, welcoming internationally acclaimed authors to discuss literature, including European writers.
• Research centres include the nationally recognised Centre for the Novel, the Centre for Modern Thought, and the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies.

Why Politics and International Relations

• A core curriculum with topical themes of conflict and security, representation and democracy, comparative politics and policy.
• Special focus on the Middle-East, Latin America, North and South Asia, the Nordic Countries, Central and Eastern Europe – as well as Scotland, the UK and the EU.
• Staff with specialist expertise in political parties and elections, democracy, energy politics, European integration and regionalism, human rights and development issues, interest groups, nationalism, conflict resolution and more.
• Opportunities to take advantage of spending your second year studying abroad, in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong or North America.
• The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, combining a top-class study environment with state-of-the-art technology, and extensive reference collections for your studies.
• A packed campus programme of events, seminars, invited speakers and the annual May festival, engaging prominent influencers, interest groups and public in debating major political issues such as Scottish independence and EU membership.
• All the history and legacy of being part of a university developed over 500 years of national and international political turbulence, social change, and emerging democracy.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• SQA Highers:
  • Standard: AABB
  • Minimum: BBB
  • Adjusted: BB
• A LEVELS:
  • Standard: BBB
  • Minimum: BBC
  • Adjusted: CCC
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
• PTE Academic: OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
• Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Fees and Funding

• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535
• EU / International students: £20,800
• Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme
• Home Students: £1,820

Careers

There are many opportunities at the University of Aberdeen to develop your knowledge, gain experience and build a competitive set of skills to enhance your employability. This is essential for your future career success. The Careers and Employability Service can help you to plan your career and support your choices throughout your time with us, from first to final year – and beyond.

Our Experts

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change.