Course summary

Want to understand major issues affecting the world today? Our MA in International Relations will help you get to grips with what’s unfolding in real time. Find out about the changing global order and the power shifts towards China and other emerging economies. Learn about the role of organisations such as NATO and how the international economy affects what happens in Britain. And explore the threats to human security, such as a shortage of food and water, and how the international community should respond to state killings. You will also look at the way countries co-exist in the face of rapid change and the importance of policy-making and decisions at a global level. As part of the course, you will have the opportunity to choose a specialist pathway in intelligence. The MA is taught and assessed entirely online, giving you the flexibility to study anytime, anywhere. You will still get lots of tutor engagement and support, with world-class staff who bring a wealth of experience. You will use digital platforms for a weekly programme of study and will debate key topics with fellow students. It will also involve completing a dissertation on a research area of your choice. Recent dissertation topics have looked at issues focusing on aspects of China, Africa, gender, and cyber security. We attract a diverse range of students, who bring their own unique perspective to the MA. They include members of the armed forces from both the UK and other countries, who often fit their studies round deployment. Diplomats and aid workers have also joined the course in recent years, along with teachers and people from international think-tanks. Whether you’re looking to study for enjoyment, to develop your professional profile in a related field, or to take your research to the next level, this MA is for you. On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MA International Relations