MA International Relations and Security Studies

What you will study

All module information is for 2023 entry and is subject to change.

First-year

Core

• The International System in Theory and Context
• Contemporary Security Challenges
• Environment, Trafficking and Crime: Transnational Issues and International Governance
• Dissertation

Option

• African Politics and Security Dynamics
• Applied Conflict Research
• Issues in Development Theory
• Security and Development in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Areas
• Policy Analysis for Governance and Development
• University Semester 1 Elective
• Natural Resource Governance
• Africa Study Visit
• Middle East Politics and Security Dynamics
• Gender, Conflict and Development
• Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
• Terrorism and Political Violence
• University Semester 2 Elective

Placement Year

You can choose to include an internship as part of your course, in which case you will study over 15 months rather than a year. To do this, you should initially register for the one-year programme and then transfer to the 15-month programme when you have secured a placement, any time up until the middle of Semester 2.

The internship/placement further enhances the development of professional experience and practical skills during your master's programme, integrating practitioner community engagement with your academic studies.

This element is student-centred and student-led, and therefore the initiative for identifying and applying for internships is driven by you. Academic staff can facilitate and support the identification of suitable opportunities with leads and suggestions, help with the writing of applications, and provide supporting letters of reference. They provide customised preparatory training before, and mentoring support during, the placement or internship.

The internship/placement can be taken with an organisation anywhere in the world. You'll need to detail your proposed activities and receive approval before the opportunity is finalised.

Once the internship/placement is complete you'll return to the programme, submit a completion report summarising key learning points, and then undertake your Master's dissertation. Students often use their placement period and experience to inform and shape their dissertation.

Learning and assessment

The programme will deploy a wide range of teaching, learning and assessment methods to enable you to understand and develop skills for engagement and employment with important policy and practitioner communities (International organisations, governments, NGOs, business associations, etc).

You will have opportunities to engage through simulation exercises and training workshops, as well as facilitated contacts with practitioners.

Career prospects

The program emphasises and develops skills required by employers such as conflict analysis, leadership and decision-making.

Our postgraduate politics courses were ranked 2nd in the UK for employability in the 2018 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES).

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes, there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Full-time

• 14 months January start
• 12 months September start

Part-time

• 27 months January start
• 24 months September start