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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.