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International Relations at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Open days

26Mar
Birkbeck, University of London - Postgraduate open evening
Postgraduate

Course summary

Join us on this MSc International Relations as we analyse how international actors, including nation-states, multinational corporations and inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, interact and pursue often conflicting agendas beyond national borders. Why choose this course?

  • It introduces you to influential scholarship in the field of international relations (IR) by combining a focus on fundamental theoretical perspectives with comprehensive coverage of contemporary topics relating to both the Global North and Global South.
  • Our teaching draws on the diverse expertise of our research-active academics who are keen to share their insights and experience.
  • You will also benefit from the unique mix of students drawn to this course. Many will be London-based professionals, some of whom come from across the globe and many of whom have professional experience of international companies and organisations.
What you will learn On this course you will examine the changing nature of trade, investment, and their relationship with state and society. You will also gain a historical understanding of the evolution of the global economy and its governance institutions, including UN agencies and bodies such as the World Trade Organization, and the ideas that shaped them. You will then be able to tailor your degree to your interests or career aspirations, by choosing from a rich range of option modules including on political theory and sociology, war and conflict, digital politics and international history, as well as specialised regional politics and research skills in politics and social science methods. How you will learn This MSc International Relations is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes in the evening, some of which may be offered on campus as well as online, depending on the module. It is taught via seminars, lectures and small group work. You will complete the course by applying the concepts and methods you have learnt to write a dissertation on the topic that interests you most, with supervision from one of our expert academics. Highlights
  • Birkbeck staff and students working in international relations straddle government, think-tank and academic spheres. Staff have applied policy research experience in bodies such as Chatham House (Royal Institute for International Affairs), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and think-tanks such as UK in a Changing Europe and the International Crisis Group.
  • Our campus in London offers students the chance to explore one of the world’s great multicultural cities, with access to world-class libraries and institutions like the British Museum and the British Library, as well as the research facilities of bodies such as those above.
  • We are proud of our vibrant research culture, powered by a shared passion for learning and intellectual engagement among our academics and students.
Careers and employability On this MSc International Relations, you will develop the academic, social and analytical skills you need for both academic research and career progression in the modern workplace. On successfully graduating, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including in:
  • workload management
  • critical thinking
  • written and oral presentation skills
  • political analysis and debating
  • critically appraising international policy documents
  • project management and reporting.
In recent years graduates from this course have been employed by the following organisations:
  • the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as other civil service bodies
  • numerous London-based embassies and foreign ministries
  • FTSE 100 companies as well as London-based multinational companies such as Meta and Citibank
  • the International Maritime Organization
  • the European Commission

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Assessment varies depending on the module but will mainly be via essays and examinations. It may also involve short written exercises, quizzes and multiple-choice questionnaires, practical assessments, case studies and learning journals.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £5850 Year 1
Northern Ireland £5850 Year 1
Scotland £5850 Year 1
Wales £5850 Year 1
International £10170 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
International Relations at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS