MA in International Relations (Distance Learning) draft

Program Overview

This postgraduate program in International Relations delves into the cooperation of states and societies in a globalized world, examining international politics, global economy, and key players that impact world economies. The program provides students with a solid theoretical foundation and practical skills in international studies, preparing them for careers in international development, corporate social responsibility, or NGOs. Taught by leading researchers, the course offers flexibility with both on-campus and distance learning options.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This postgraduate course in International Relations focuses on examining the cooperation of states and societies in a globalized world. Students delve into global politics, the global economy, key players, organizations, and policies that impact world economies. The course explores how systems affect individuals, global problems like the climate emergency, and international relations theory in practice. Students have the freedom to pursue their interests, with potential study topics including the Paris Agreement, Fair Trade, and social movements like the Yellow Vests or pro-democracy activism in Hong Kong.

Outline:

The course structure encompasses two semesters with compulsory modules.

Semester 1:

• International Relations in Theory and Practice: Explores a diverse range of theoretical approaches in International Relations and connects them to contemporary issues such as the role of the state, security and insecurity, international order and disorder, democracy and global governance, global development, justice and sustainability, the legacies of colonialism, and race, class, and gender.
• Global Political Economy: Examines competing theoretical perspectives on the emerging global political economy and analyzes how these perspectives have evolved.
• Advanced Research in International Relations: Focuses on the main approaches to the study of International Relations and examines a variety of relevant research methods.
Topics include documentary research, interviews, focus groups, discourse analysis, surveys and questionnaires, and quantitative methods.

Semester 2:

• International Development: Explores the theory and practice of the international politics of development.
Students examine key theoretical debates, their relation to practice, and contemporary issues in development.
• Ukraine: Revolution, War and Global Politics: Focuses on the politics of Ukraine, its context in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the complex politics of the post-Soviet order, and its relations with Russia and global geopolitics.
The course takes a historical approach to understand how the Ukrainian state and Ukrainian politics have evolved over time.
• Critical Approaches to Terrorism: Critically considers debates about how we define and understand terrorism, the nature of the threat that terrorism poses, the causes of terrorism, and the gender politics of terrorism.

Final Project:

• Dissertation (60 credits): An extended, supervised piece of work on a topic of the student's choice, ideally related to their professional, voluntary, political, or research interests.
Examples of dissertation topics include:
• A case study of a particular policy initiative
• An analysis of alternative approaches to a particular policy problem
• A systematic review and analysis of published evidence on a particular topic
• An empirical study using methods such as a survey, interviews, or observation.

Assessment:

Assessments are conducted through a variety of assignments linked to the expected learning outcomes. Assessments include:

• Essays
• Presentations
• Projects
• Reports
• Dissertation

Teaching:

Students learn directly from leading researchers in international relations. Teaching methods include:

• Online discussions with tutors and peers
• Online quizzes
• Narrated slides
• Individual presentations
• Case study analysis
• Live consolidation webinars
Students also have access to the Center for Global Politics, Economy, and Society, which runs topical events online.

Careers:

The course equips graduates with sought-after transferable skills such as project management, critical analysis, problem-solving, and communication. It develops intercultural awareness and prepares students for careers in international development, corporate social responsibility, or with NGOs. Graduates have secured roles in various sectors, including:

• Research Analyst at Africa Risk Consulting
• Senior Consultant at the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency
• Communications Officer at Save the Children
• Parliamentary Assistant to a Westminster MP
• Commercial Manager in the net zero energy sector.

Other:

• The program is taught by active researchers in their fields of study, sharing their expertise with students.
• The University's research is organized within the Centre for Global Politics, Economy, and Society, which has four dedicated research groups: Critical Security Studies, International Political Theory, Cultures and Identities, and State and Society.
• The course can be studied on-campus or as a distance learning program.

2023 / 24 Home (UK) distance learning full time Masters £8,900; Diploma £7,900; Certificate £4,450 Home (UK) distance learning part time Masters: £4,450 International distance learning full time Masters £8,900; Diploma £7,900; Certificate £4,450 International distance learning part time Masters: £4,450 2024 / 25 Home (UK) distance learning full time Masters £9,350; Diploma £8,350; Certificate £4,675 Home (UK) distance learning part time £4,675 International distance learning full time Masters £9,350; Diploma £8,350; Certificate £4,675 International distance learning part time £4,675 Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year. The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. How and when to pay Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.