MA International Relations (Standard)

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses.

On this day, you will find out more about the School of Social Sciences, our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

For more information, see open days and visits .

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As there is a high demand for our courses, we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.

Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing.

Applications for 2022 entry:

Stage 1:   Application received by 3rd December 2021 ; Decision by 10th February 2022

Stage 2:   Application received by 14th January 2022 ; Decision by 10th March 2022

Stage 3:   Application received by 18th March 2022 ; Decision by 12th May 2022

Stage 4:   Application received by 29th April 2022 ; Decision by 16th June 2022

Stage 5: Application received by 1st July 2022 ; Decision by 28th July 2022

Stage 6: Application received by 19th August ; Decision by 31st August 2022

Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.

Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.

Please note:  All places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.

Tuition fee deposits

If you are successful in receiving an offer, you will be required to pay a tuition fee deposit of £1,000 by the deadline stated in your offer letter to confirm your place. We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability.  The deposit amount is then deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

International Relations is one of the most popular courses at postgraduate level. On this course, you will be taught and supervised by experienced staff with strong interests in critical approaches to the study of global politics.

Course units cover a wide range of global issues, including:

• Chinese ethnic politics;
• citizenship;
• gender;
• war and peace;
• global ethics;
• human rights;
• environmental politics;
• security studies;
• the United Nations;
• the Arab uprisings;
• critical military studies;
• race;
• capitalism.

Two course units form the centrepiece of our course: the Graduate Seminar in International Politics and Critical Thinkers in International Politics.  

These units are designed to develop transferable skills in critical inquiry, creative thinking, research design and problem-solving. You will also complete a major research dissertation, with the guidance of a member of staff in international politics. 

p>Being a part of a postgraduate community, you are encouraged to participate in the Critical Global Politics research cluster, who organise a seminar series attracting high profile speakers, including:

• Cynthia Enloe
• Cynthia Weber
• Nick Vaughan-Williams
• Marysia Zalewski
• Laura Shepherd.

This route will suit those wishing to obtain a high-level specialist subject qualification and those interested in developing a deeper knowledge and understanding of critically-orientated international relations.

The diversity of the course makes it a suitable introduction to the study of global politics.¿Those wishing to pursue a research training qualification, or a PhD are advised to explore the International Relations (Research)¿route.

This course is designed for students for whom a taught MA will be a prelude to careers in fields related to government and non-governmental organisations.

Part-time students complete the full-time course over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time route.  

You must first check the schedule of the compulsory course units and then select your optional units to suit your requirements.  

Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your unit choices during induction week with your course director.

You will be supported by first-class resources, in addition to the networked study areas.

You will also have access to one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the country.

Our recent graduates have gone on to work for international organisations including NATO, the UNDP, or for foreign offices.

The course would also be suitable for students wishing to go into teaching, journalism or any career where advanced knowledge of international politics coupled with an excellent capacity to communicate effectively will be an advantage.

The University also has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .