Program Overview

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MSc Gender and Diplomatic Practice

Overview

Our Masters course focuses on diplomacy from a gender-inclusive perspective and also introduces you to key concepts and debates in Gender Studies. We collaborate with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to deliver this course.

Key Facts

• Award: Masters / MSc
• Start date: September 2025
• Duration: MSc full-time: 12 months, MSc part-time: 24 months
• Mode of study: full time
• Delivery: on campus

Top Reasons to Study with Us

• You’ll have one-to-one supervision from staff engaged in ongoing research at the forefront of their disciplines
• You’ll engage in contemporary global debates on gender and diplomatic practice across a wide variety of disciplines
• You’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in real-world settings in collaboration with experts from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

Work Placements

In the Spring semester, students with a strong enough profile will be supported to apply for UN internships. These may include internships at the International Court of Justice, IRMCT, the UN Joint Inspection Unit, UNESCO, UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP and others. These internships are generally unpaid.

Entry onto the course does not guarantee entry onto the UN internship module. There is a limited number of places on this module, so students for this module need to go through a further selective application and possible interview process during the course. Students who do not gain entry to the UN internship module are supported to undertake an academic or practice-based dissertation.

Flexible Learning

If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate, or the Postgraduate Diploma, please discuss your course of study with the relevant department.

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

• A minimum of a second class honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.

International Entry Requirements

View the entry requirements for your country.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.

Course Details

You’ll learn about diplomacy and gender studies. We’ll explore different ways to understand and practice diplomacy, along with examining gender from various angles (including media, film, history, literature, and sociology). Specifically, we’ll delve into key debates related to gender and global gender identities.

During the course, you’ll participate in seminars and complete various assessments. Plus, there’s an exciting opportunity to apply your knowledge in real-world settings at the United Nations through our Research Placement module. And if you’re more digitally inclined, you can even submit a Digital Project instead of a traditional Dissertation to boost your employability.

Modules

• The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2025. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Teaching

The Gender and Diplomatic Practice course at the University of Stirling invites experts from UNITAR to teach alongside their staff. You’ll explore diplomacy through seminars, discussions, and practical activities. You may also be able to visit the United Nations in Geneva for hands-on learning. The course emphasises independent study and offers personalised feedback sessions with lecturers.

Fieldwork

Some examples of field trips include (indicative list subject to regular review):

• United Nations headquarters in Geneva
• Research placement at the United Nations

Assessment

Assessments vary and may include learning logs, critical reviews, presentations (individual and group), reflective essays, literature reviews, research projects, and academic essays. The assessments are designed to enable students to develop a range of academic and transferable skills and to provide multiple opportunities for feedback and development. Feedback and Guidance sessions with teaching staff are available in all modules. You will also have the opportunity to submit a Dissertation, a Digital Project, or a Policy Paper at the end of the course.

Course Director

Dr Eamon McCarthy

Key Staff

• Dr Jacky Collins’ research engages with genders and sexualities in Spanish written and visual cultures and she has a particular interest in detective fiction.
• Dr Darren Elliott-Smith specialises in film and television, gender studies/queer theory and has significant research interests in the Gothic and Horror.
• Dr Eamon McCarthy’s research explores genders and sexualities across the Spanish-speaking world, with a particular focus on Argentina.
• Dr Fiona Noble is an interdisciplinary researcher of contemporary Spanish cinema and audiovisual cultures interested in questions of identity and representation.
• Dr Nikolaos Papadogiannis’ research focuses on Europe in the 1960s and 1970s from a transnational perspective, including protest cultures, travel, youth lifestyles, gender, sexuality, migration, emotions and European identities.

Fees and Funding

Fees and Costs

University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.

Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.

If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.

If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.

If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.

If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Additional Costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.

Scholarships and Funding

Funding

If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.

Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.

Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans

Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.

English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.

Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.

Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.

International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.

Cost of Living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling

Payment Options

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After You Graduate

The focus of the course on employability through the collaboration with UNITAR will make students well-positioned to find a job in a prestigious diplomatic body or an NGO. Those students who engage with the Digital Project in lieu of the Dissertation will be able to design online campaigns for charities and state institutions targeting gender hierarchies.

Employability Skills

We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at university and develop the graduate attributes required by employers. We have a dedicated Faculty Employability and Skills Officer. There's also our Careers Service who work in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your University experience and are given the right opportunities to make you ready for the world of work.

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