MSc International Relations

The MSc in International Relations offers rigorous methodological training, drawing on long-established expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods. You'll be encouraged to evaluate these methods and to apply them to international political actors and processes. The course will significantly enhance your employability skills in terms of research management, data analysis and critical thinking.

Key Facts

• Start date: September
• Study mode and duration: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
• Scholarships: EU Engagement Scholarships worth £10,000 available to applicants from EU countries

Study with Us

• Gain a firm foundation in the analysis of international relations
• Combine training in different theoretical and methodological approaches
• Examine the theories and research designs for the study of conflict, peace, security and cooperation
• Taught by international scholars

Why This Course?

This course will equip you with a grounding in the analysis of international politics, in terms of the issues, actors and processes that shape the world today and also the theoretical frameworks and methodological techniques by which we make sense of them.

What You’ll Study

The MSc in International Relations offers rigorous methodological training, drawing on long-established expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods. You'll be encouraged to evaluate these methods and to apply them to international political actors and processes. The course is organised into core and optional classes. The core classes provide an introduction to:

• Theoretical frameworks in the field
• Key issues of interstate cooperation and conflict
• The role of international organisations
• Principles of research design

There will also be a range of optional classes open to you, on specialised topics in international relations and on research methods. These will vary from year to year.

Optional Classes

You'll choose one optional class per semester. These options are subject to change year on year, but are likely to include most of the following:

List A

• International Institutions & Regimes
• Contemporary International Relations
• Contemporary Security Challenges & Responses
• Feminism & International Relations
• International Political Economy
• Politics of Non-Democratic Regimes
• Advanced Topics in Civil Conflict

List B

• Quantitative Methods 1
• Quantitative Methods 2
• Qualitative Methods
• Comparative Political Economy
• Comparative Political Institutions
• European Governance
• Comparative Public Policy
• Policy Analysis
• Law of the World Trade Organisation (Law School)
• International Environmental Law (Law School)
• Global Health, Rights & Development (Law School)
• Diplomacy: Evolution, Theory and Practice
• Embassies in Crisis

Learning & Teaching

All classes are taught in seminars, which combine theoretical discussion and a strong empirical or policy focus, as appropriate. Seminars consist of a variety of teaching techniques including small-group work, structured debates, presentations, and background lectures.

Assessment

Methods of assessment include written assignments, blogs, podcasts, practical team projects, presentations, individual projects, and exams. Most modules involve more than one method of assessment to help you realise your potential.

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements: First or upper second-class Honours degree, or equivalent, in social science.
• English language requirements: Please check our English requirements before making your application.

Fees & Funding

• Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
• Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland: Full-time: £8,700, Part-time: £4,350
• International: £19,600
• Additional costs: Poster presentation: £10, Visa and immigration: International students may have associated visa and immigration costs.
• Available scholarships: Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities.

Careers

Examples of organisations our graduates work for:

• Audit Scotland
• Centre for African Family Studies
• Centre for Scottish Public Policy
• Confederation of Passenger Transport
• German Red Cross
• Hall Aitken Associates
• Health and Social Care Alliance
• HMRC
• Invicta Public Affairs
• Ministry of Finance Iceland
• Morgan Stanley
• National Centre for Social Research
• NHS
• Ofgem
• Santander Bank UK
• Scottish Council for Development and Industry
• Scottish Refugee Council
• Serco Group
• The Improvement Service
• The Scottish Parliament
• United Nations Development Programme
• West and Central Voluntary Network

Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Scholarships

EU Engagement Scholarships are available to EU applicants who would have previously been eligible for Home (Scottish/EU) fee status.

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Outline:

• Course Content: The MSc in International Relations offers rigorous methodological training, drawing on long-established expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Students will be encouraged to evaluate these methods and to apply them to international political actors and processes. The course will significantly enhance students' employability skills in terms of research management, data analysis, and critical thinking.
• Course Structure: The course is organized into core and optional classes.
• theoretical frameworks in the field
• key issues of interstate cooperation and conflict
• the role of international organizations
• principles of research design
• Course Schedule: Classes average 20 contact hours with additional computer laboratory sessions for some methods classes.
Both January and September starts will complete a dissertation over the summer, under the supervision of one of our International Relations scholars.
• Modules:
• Principles of Research Design:
This class covers key research design issues and enables students to evaluate alternative research designs and create appropriate research proposals.
• International Institutions & Regimes: This class provides students with a comprehensive overview of the concepts and theoretical approaches central to understanding and analyzing the role of international institutions and regimes in the contemporary world.
• Contemporary International Relations: This class introduces students to the literature and research agendas related to conflict and cooperation in international relations studies.
• Contemporary Security Challenges & Responses: This class examines the relevant theories underpinning these developing trends, alongside the key institutions and actors.
• Feminism & International Relations: This class will begin by learning about context, in terms of the expansion and institutionalization of the feminist movement on a global scale and the emergence of a feminist voice in the International Relations discipline.
• Advanced Topics in Civil Conflict:
The class introduces students to past and current research on civil conflict focusing on the causes and consequences of internal violence and conflict.
• Quantitative Methods 1: This class introduces participants to the use of quantitative methods in social research; in particular, the logic and language of empirical analysis, the principal types of quantitative data (official statistics and surveys), and the use of software packages for statistical analysis.
• Quantitative Methods 2: This class trains participants in the design, application, presentation, and critical evaluation of quantitative political research using relevant software packages for statistical analysis.
• Qualitative Methods: This class provides an overview of the ever-expanding field of qualitative methods in Political Science, International Relations, and Policy Studies.
• Comparative Political Economy: The class surveys the political economy agenda after the crisis.

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Assessment:

• Methods of assessment include written assignments, blogs, podcasts, practical team projects, presentations, individual projects, and exams.
• Most modules involve more than one method of assessment to help students realize their potential.
• These account for two thirds of the total assessment.
• The dissertation, produced over the summer, accounts for the remaining third.

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Teaching:

• All classes are taught in seminars, which combine theoretical discussion and a strong empirical or policy focus, as appropriate.
• Seminars consist of a variety of teaching techniques including small-group work, structured debates, presentations, and background lectures.
• Audit Scotland
• Centre for African Family Studies
• Centre for Scottish Public Policy
• Confederation of Passenger Transport
• German Red Cross
• Hall Aitken Associates
• Health and Social Care Alliance
• HMRC
• Invicta Public Affairs
• Ministry of Finance Iceland
• Morgan Stanley
• National Centre for Social Research
• NHS
• Ofgem
• Santander Bank UK
• Scottish Council for Development and Industry
• Scottish Refugee Council
• Serco Group
• The Improvement Service
• The Scottish Parliament
• United Nations Development Programme
• West and Central Voluntary Network

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Other:

• The School of Government & Public Policy has a number of research centers that relate to the topics covered in the content of the course.
• The course is distinctive in combining American and British, positivist and critical, approaches to this field of study, as well as in its range of specialist classes on topics as diverse as international law, the EU, security, and gender.

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For Scotland, England, Whales, and Northern Ireland residents:

• Full-time: £8,700
• Part-time: £4,350
International:
• £19,600
Additional costs:
• Poster presentation: £10

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Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

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Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

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Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation