Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Sheffield offers a Master of Arts (MA) degree in International Relations, which is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary international relations. The program is offered by the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences.

Course Description

The MA International Relations degree aims to expand students' understanding of contemporary international relations by investigating how the global order is constituted, the ways in which it functions, and whether it might be under strain. Throughout their studies, students will explore key concepts and theories that will help them address pressing global challenges, such as global heating, ecological destruction, geopolitical conflict, public health crises, and rapid technological change.

Modules

A selection of modules is available each year, including:

• Core modules:
  • Understanding Politics
  • Debating International Relations
  • Research and Dissertation Preparation
  • Politics Dissertation
• Optional modules:
  • Contemporary Global Security
  • Policy-Making in the Real World
  • Development and the State
  • Democratic Governance in the 21st Century: Problems, Innovations and Solutions
  • Global Health and Global Politics
  • Political Economy of Global Environmental change
  • Capitalism and Crisis
  • Freedom
  • Terrorism and Political Violence
  • The Governance and Politics of the European Union

Duration and Attendance

The program is offered on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis.

Teaching and Assessment

Students will be taught by experts working at the cutting edge of the field, who will bring their novel and important insights to bear on classroom discussion. The majority of the course will be taught through seminars, which offer an engaging and dynamic learning experience. Students will be assessed through a variety of assignments, typically including essays and portfolios, and final module exams where applicable. They will also complete a dissertation based on a topic of their choice, which enables them to put all of the skills and knowledge they've gained throughout their degree into practice.

Career Prospects

Our postgraduate students go on to work in a variety of exciting roles across the globe. The skills developed on this degree lend themselves particularly well to careers that require advanced analysis skills, such as government and the wider public sector, lobbying organisations, charities, and private companies.

School and Research Themes

The School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations is a research-intensive school, and research lies at the heart of everything they do. The school's staff have a wide range of research interests and expertise, which are brought together around four research themes:

• International politics
• Political economy
• Environmental politics
• Political theory
• Governance and public policy

Entry Requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject. The degree should be in an arts and humanities or social sciences subject. International students are also considered, and their qualifications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent.

Fees and Funding

• Home (2026 annual fee): £12,360
• Overseas (2026 annual fee): £26,320 There are also scholarships available, including a £3,000 tuition fee discount for overseas fee-paying students and a £2,500 discount for Sheffield graduates. ```python