Course summary

This cutting-edge postgraduate course, delivered at Aston University over one full academic year, will help you to get a broader perspective on global issues and build an international career in public and private organisations, the business sector, policy-oriented institutions and think tanks, academia or journalism. What you’ll learn You can complete a general MSc International Relations or you can specialise in these two areas: “Conflict and Cooperation” and “Development and Governance”. The MSc offers thematic modules that are applied to different regions of the world. You will also be given the opportunity to focus on different aspects of international relations and international politics. If you decide to follow the “Conflict and Cooperation” pathway, you will concentrate on the international/global arena, relations among states and transnational actors. If you choose the second pathway, “Development and Governance”, you will work more on domestic issues – particularly economic development, institutional reforms and governance – in a context of increasing global interdependence. You can also complete a general MSc International Relations combining both perspectives. All students are expected to complete core modules, which provides an overview of international relations theories, global governance and research design. Additionally, they can select optional modules (see full list below), including the Aston Global Advantage – a professional development programme and integrated module designed in collaboration with Aston Business School. The MSc is offered by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations within the College of Business and Social Sciences and is also linked to two key research centres: Aston Centre for Europe and the Centre for Migration and Forced Displacement.