MA International Relations (Research)

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Arts (MA)
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements

We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MA Y Y N N

Course overview

  • Develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of critically-orientated international relations.
  • Conduct research into pressing global issues such as foreign policy, gender, global ethics, environmental politics and international organisations.
  • Benefit from a research master's that will prepare you for a specialist doctoral programme.

Open days

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 .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MA (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £16,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £27,000
  • MA (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £8,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees .

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding applicants, such as the Manchester Humanities International Excellence Scholarship .

The Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 fee reduction to Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree within the last three years and are progressing to postgraduate study. 

For more information, see our  Fees and funding page.

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Social Sciences
Contact name
School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 804 9198
Email
Website
http://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/politics/
School/Faculty

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

  • IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
  • TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70

Pre-Sessional English Courses

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you will be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.

To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:

6 Week Pre-Sessional Course : IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.

10 Week Pre-sessional Course : IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill 

If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries

If you are a national of a   majority English-speaking country   (or have studied for a full bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Please note, due to the high volume of applications we receive the course may close before the advertised deadline and as such, early application is advised.

If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.

Course details

Course description

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.

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 you if you are considering further study in the form of a PhD as it contains specialised research methods training suitable for PhD applications.

The enhanced methods training is in place of additional optional modules, so please be aware that the research route has less options than the standard route.

The course is also suitable if you wish to pursue careers in government and non-governmental organisations, the International Relations (standard) route offers greater flexibility of course units because the International Relations (research) route includes additional specialised research methods training.

Teaching and learning

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.  

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.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Research Design and Skills POLI60312 15 Mandatory
Graduate Seminar in International Relations Theory POLI70401 15 Mandatory
Critical Approaches in International Politics POLI70412 15 Mandatory
Philosophy of Politics Research POLI70771 15 Mandatory
Dissertation POLI72000 60 Mandatory
Qualitative Research Methods SOCS60230 15 Mandatory
Introduction to Quantitative Methods SOST70511 15 Mandatory
Migration, Mobility and Displacement in the Contemporary World MGDI60731 15 Optional
Governing in an Unjust World: Justice and International Relations POLI60182 15 Optional
Global Governance POLI70422 15 Optional
Ethics in World Politics POLI70451 15 Optional
Security Studies POLI70462 15 Optional
Human Rights in World Politics POLI70492 15 Optional
Critical Environmental Politics POLI70921 15 Optional
Gender, War and Peace POLI70961 15 Optional
The Arab Uprisings and Revolutionary State Formation POLI70981 15 Optional
The United Nations and International Security POLI71112 15 Optional
Critical Military Studies POLI71121 15 Optional
The Politics of Global Climate Change POLI71141 15 Optional
Gender in Comparative Politics POLI71151 15 Optional
Capitalism and Development in the Middle East POLI71312 15 Optional
Borders, Identities, Citizenship POLI72021 15 Optional
Creating a Sustainable World: Interdisciplinary Applications of the Sustainable Development Goals UCIL60312 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 23 course units

Facilities

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 .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

Former 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 .