Program Overview

MA International Relations and Comparative Politics

The MA International Relations and Comparative Politics program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of international relations and comparative politics. The program is offered by the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York.

Overview

The program is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course that starts in September. The course consists of 180 credits, including two 20-credit core modules, four 20-credit option modules, and a 60-credit independent research dissertation.

Course Content

The course content includes:

• Two core modules:
  • Themes and Theories in International Relations
  • Comparative Institutions and Public Policy
• Four option modules, which may include:
  • Challenges to Policy-making in Democratising Countries
  • New Security Challenges
  • Conflict & Development
  • Contemporary Issues in International Political Economy
  • Theories of the Policy Process
  • Africa and International Politics
  • Global Governance
  • Critical Theories of International Political Economy
  • Ethics & World Politics
  • Applying Human Rights
  • Politics of Migration
  • Principles of Policy Advice
  • Public Management and Delivery
  • Theories & Policies of Development Governance
  • Governing for the Environment
  • Gendering Politics: An Intersectional Approach
  • Global Development Politics
  • Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis
  • The Political Economy of Global China
• A 60-credit independent research dissertation on a topic of the student's choice.

Fees and Funding

The annual tuition fees for the program are:

• UK (home) students: £12,000 (full-time), £6,000 (part-time)
• International and EU students: £26,900 (full-time), £13,450 (part-time)

Teaching and Assessment

The program is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, and one-to-one supervision. The teaching location is the Department of Politics in Derwent College on Campus West. The assessment and feedback methods include submitting six essays and a final dissertation.

Careers and Skills

The program is designed to provide students with a range of skills and knowledge that are relevant to careers in international relations, politics, and related fields. The career opportunities for graduates of the program include:

• Government
• Civil Service
• Research and policy-making
• International organisations and NGOs
• Business and financial sector

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for the program include:

• A 2:2 or equivalent undergraduate degree
• English language proficiency: IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component, or equivalent qualifications.

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for the program include:

• Understanding the origins and evolution of the discipline of international relations
• Applying theories, concepts, and methods to issues in world politics
• Researching independently and critically
• Achieving goals through initiative, self-organisation, and time management
• Communicating effectively and fluently
• Developing inter-cultural awareness and tolerance.