PMINTRLN - MA International Relations

This course seeks to offer a rounded view of the development and operation of the international system that encompasses the interconnecting worlds of international politics, law and economics. Thus, students are offered a set of modules covering international relations theory, international politics and the development of states, international law and legal institutions and economics. In addition, there is also an opportunity to focus on specific areas or actors within international politics. There are modules covering US foreign policy, the developing issues of ‘human security’ and regional integration in Europe. Finally, the dissertation component offers students an opportunity to formulate a research question relating to international relations and globalisation processes, and to seek to answer it through a sustained piece of analysis

The MA is designed with two main ambitions in mind: first, to equip students who do not necessarily have an undergraduate background in International Relations with the capacity for independent research and reflection on contemporary international relations and with the competences necessary for pursuing a wide variety of careers related to international relations; second, to offer a programme which is not confined to the study of international politics, but offers students a grounding in international law as well and thus enables them to engage in interdisciplinary work.

Our intention is that the MA will enable our students to combine their understanding of the core disciplines of the MA (international politics and international law) in interdisciplinary research – a wider and more inclusive framework for understanding international relations and one which corresponds more closely to the interconnectedness of the real world. This approach is signalled in the word ‘interdisciplinary’ in our MA title. And it accounts for the interdisciplinary and policy-oriented character of many of the options offered on the MA.

Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of their MA students will be able to critically evaluate major theoretical perspectives in international relations. Students will also be able to grasp the inter-connections between political and legal-institutional dimensions of international relations. They will also have been able to acquire specialist knowledge in fields of particular concern to them as individuals, through their dissertation and through the scope for individual specialisation within the syllabi of taught modules.

Cognitive/intellectual skills

The MA is mainly focused on the cognitive dimensions of International Relations. By the end of the course, students will be able to track the cognitive strategies of IR scholars and to trace their underlying cognitive assumptions, assess explanatory strategies, be sensitive to how concepts are constructed and connected to each other, demonstrate an awareness of differing approaches to causation and an awareness of ways of testing the validity of claims main by scholars in international relations and in the wider social sciences.

Students will also have strengthened their ability to design their own independent research, to identify the key methodological problems raised by their research questions, to apply more rigorous thought to their own use of concepts, their own explanatory strategies and to their own justifications for their research conclusions. They will also greatly enhance their capacity to organise research materials and to organise their writing effectively.

Practical Skills

By the end of their MA students will have greatly strengthen their practical research skills through learning how to exploit the very large research resources available to them both in the university’s databases and in a wide range of other London libraries. They will have thoroughly internalised ways of making their written work transparent to others through systematic referencing. They will also have acquired competence in a wide variety of writing formats, gaining the ability to communicate in writing in flexible ways. And they will also develop a range of oral communication skills through making presentations in various formats and through contributing to seminar discussions.

Key/transferable skills

The great bulk of the intellectual and practical skills which students will acquire on the MA are transferable to non-academic contexts, particularly those involving any kind of research, critical reflection, writing and oral communication. Students will be able to communicate ideas, theories and information by oral and written means. They should also be able to interact fruitfully in debate with others, developing their skills through collective discussion. They will also have an enhanced capacity for independent study and research.

These skills will be promoted by classroom discussion, written essay work and through the dissertation.

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Students are assessed by a mix of methods, including essays, unseen examinations, a research design project and a dissertation. Different modules have different mixes. A diversity of assessment is regarded as intrinsically desirable.

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Students who have taken this course have progressed to an array of careers ranging from the public sector, through NGOs to international companies. The course has proven particularly beneficial for those who are seeking work in organisations operating in a transnational environment.

You will be required to have:

• an undergraduate degree of second class honours or better in a relevant discipline

Candidates with other qualifications may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.