Program Overview

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Politics and International Relations MRes

Overview

Our flexible MRes Politics and International Relations course provides a solid foundation for those who wish to undertake a PhD or embark upon a research-based career. You will develop in-depth knowledge and the skills needed to conduct extensive research. You will submit a dissertation and undertake taught and generic research training modules, allowing you to tailor your course to your chosen interests.

Course Details

• Duration: Full-time: 12 months, Part-time: 24 months
• Start Date: September 2026
• UK Fees: To be confirmed
• International Fees: To be confirmed

Research Overview

You will develop in-depth knowledge and the skills needed to conduct extensive research. You will submit a dissertation and undertake taught and generic research training modules, allowing you to tailor your course to your chosen interests.

Research Areas

• Asia and Pacific studies
• British politics
• China's governance and politics
• Comparative politics
• Conflict, security and terrorism
• International relations
• History of political thought
• Political ideologies
• Social and global justice
• Social science research methodology

Course Content

You must complete a 25,000-word research-based dissertation on a subject of your choice and choose 60 credits of postgraduate level modules in areas related to your research topic.

Supervision

Full-time students should meet with their supervisors at least 10 times each year. This would be at least six times in the same period for part-time students.

Entry Requirements

• Home/UK Students: 2:1 (or international equivalent)
• EU/International Students: 2:1 (or international equivalent), IELTS: 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

Meeting English Language Requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language.

Visa Restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses.

Applying

We strongly encourage you to contact possible supervisors prior to your application. You should look at the areas of supervision offered by staff in the school to identify who they may be.

Fees

• Home/UK: To be confirmed
• International: To be confirmed

Additional Costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus.

Funding

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Support

• Colloquium: We run a weekly colloquium for postgraduate research students, giving you the opportunity to present your work in front of other research students and staff with similar research interests.
• Research Seminars: We offer research seminars for staff and postgraduate research students through our research centres and institutes.
• Researcher Training and Development: The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them.
• Graduate Centres: Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.
• Student Support: You will have access to a range of support services, including academic and disability support, childcare services, counselling service, faith support, financial support, mental health and wellbeing support, visa and immigration advice, and welfare support.

Careers

• Careers Advice: Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers.
• Graduate Destinations: Career destinations for our graduates include economists, management consultants, researchers, statisticians, and university lecturers.
• Companies and Organisations: Companies and organisations our graduates have gone to work for include the BBC, Channel 4, the European Union, GCHQ, Reuters, and the Thailand National Police Department.

Where You Will Learn

• Library Facilities: The Hallward Library stocks a large number of politics and international relations related publications and journals.
• University Park Campus: University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings, and modern facilities.
• School Facilities: In addition to IT facilities provided by the University, the school offers all full-time postgraduate research students their own workspace in dedicated offices.