Master of Arts - International Relations

At a time when global challenges such as the environment, peace and security, health and human rights and sustainable development are subject to increasing debate, the MA International Relations will assist students in understanding both the problems and solutions humans face as an international community in both theory and practice.

Where traditional international relations theory tends to emphasise the nation state as its key level of analysis, this programme will encourage students to incorporate a bottom-up approach which emphasises the agency, identity, and resistance of individuals and their lived experience. In doing so, students will be encouraged to view international relations from a decolonial lens. 

This programme will balance traditional international relations theory, case studies, and literature alongside a critical approach which explores and deconstructs the complex relationships between power, conflict, identity, and globalisation. Compulsory modules will teach students the historical and theoretical foundations of international relations as well as familiarise students with key research methods for use in their final dissertation.  These modules will also provide the link between theory and practice through experiential learning and the application of global case studies. Optional modules will provide students with a suite of interdisciplinary subjects which demonstrates the breadth of challenges relevant to the field of international relations today, using perspectives from criminology, sociology, and human rights. These modules will explore environmental issues, migration and transnationalism, genocide, international crises, and legal and illegal economies.

This programme is led by an interdisciplinary teaching team who are engaged in research grounded by social justice imperatives.  This well-rounded programme will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops, to ensure that equal weighting is given to theoretical expertise, interactive explorations of the application of theory in practice. Students will benefit from experiential learning using in-class case studies, simulations, and field trips and assessment will be through diverse forms of coursework (e.g. problem-based essays, presentations, podcasts, reflective journals, research proposals). 

In the classroom, students will benefit from discussion and debate with a multicultural student cohort. Some modules will be shared with other programmes so they will meet a diverse array of students, all part of a postgraduate community. Outside of the classroom, London provides the perfect backdrop to career network, discover employment opportunities, and to be immersed in their learning through field trips. These opportunities will be built into the programme at module level and also through extracurricular activities with the new Centre for Equality, Justice, and Social Change.