MA International Relations (Standard)

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The socio-political challenges facing us are becoming increasingly international in scale. That means there’s an ever-growing need for problem-solvers who can think globally.

On our MA in International Relations, taught and supervised by internationally recognised academics, you will gain the tools to interrogate global politics and better understand global issues like foreign policy, environmental politics and migration.

Through mandatory course units, you will be introduced to a range of orthodox and critical theories and approaches, while also developing skills in research design.

You’ll also be able to tailor your course to fit your interests, exploring subjects such as:

• Migration, Mobility, and Displacement in the Contemporary World;
• Governing in an Unjust World: Justice and International Relations;
• Security Studies;
• Human Rights in World Politics.

See a full list of mandatory and optional course units below.

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.

Through the course, you will develop subject area expertise as well as highly transferrable skills such as research design, critical inquiry, and writing and communication skills, setting you up for multiple career paths in the public, private, or third sectors. You will also be well-placed to continue developing and using your research expertise, either professionally or in PhD study.

Research or Standard Route?

The key difference between our MA International Relations (Standard Route) and our MA International Relations (Research Route) is the amount and scope of mandatory course units you will take.

On the Standard Route, in addition to your dissertation, you will take three mandatory course units and five optional course units. Mandatory units on this route are:

• POLI60312 Research Design and Skills;
• POLI70412 Critical Approaches to International Politics;
• POLI70401 Graduate Seminar in International Relations Theory.

On the Research Route, in addition to your dissertation, you will take six mandatory course units and two optional course units. Mandatory units on this route are:

• POLI60312 Research Design and Skills;
• POLI70771 Philosophy of Politics Research;
• SOCS60230 Qualitative Research Methods;
• SOST60230 Introduction to Quantitative Methods;
• POLI70412 Critical Approaches to International Politics;
• POLI70401 Graduate Seminar in International Relations Theory.

This course is eligible for the 1+3 studentship offered by the Economic and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC) North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP), offering a unique, fully-funded route into postgraduate research. If your application is successful, you’ll be able to seamlessly transition from master's-level study to a PhD. Find out more on our 1+3 ESRC NWSSDTP webpage.

Prestigious department

The University of Manchester boasts one of the largest and best-known politics departments in the UK. We are home to some of the world’s leading experts and academics in the subject, and co-hosts (with Oxford) of the British Election Study, one of the longest-running election studies in the world and the longest-running social science survey in the UK.

Unique city

In our biased opinion, there’s no better place to study politics and economics than Manchester. Politics and history, revolutionary ideas and radical reform, are etched into the city’s streets and character, from workers' rights to feminism, Marxism to devolution.

Interdisciplinary approach

Interdisciplinary study is actively pursued at Manchester, with many course units involving expertise and contributions from a number of different schools and departments at the University, such as economics, social statistics, and sociology.

The MA International Relations is taught by an interdisciplinary team using a variety of delivery methods:

• lectures;
• workshops;
• student-led presentations and debate;
• group work;
• individual research.

Most course units are assessed by written assignments and essays. Some course units may differ and may be assessed by methods relevant to the units’ contents, such as presentations or research design documents.

Part-time students

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

As a School of Social Sciences student, you will be supported by first-class resources.   

As well as access to networked study areas and one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the country, The University of Manchester Library .

The University of Manchester is one of the most targeted universities by the UK’s top graduate employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024).

Our MA International Relations gives you the specialist knowledge and skills required for a range of careers across the public, private, and third sectors, such as in:

• local and central government;
• international and supranational institutions, such as the UN and the EU;
• research, policy, think-tanks, institutes, and NGOs;
• management and policy consulting.

You will also acquire vital skills relevant to many different sectors and roles, such as data analysis, qualitative and quantitative research design, academic writing, and communication and teamwork. Recent graduates have succeeded in organisations such as:

• The House of Commons;
• Manchester City Council;
• The British Army;
• KPMG;
• BNY Mellon;
• Boeing;
• Princeton University.

Another popular option is to continue specialising for a career in research and universities through a PhD in Politics or in another related field.

The University has its own dedicated, award-winning Careers Service where you can benefit from tailored careers support, practice interviews, CV and application support, job listings for Manchester students, and much more. Better yet, you will have access to our Careers Service both during your course and for two years after you graduate, so we know you’re on the right path.