Master of International Relations
Sydney, Australia
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
31 Jan 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2026
TUITION FEES
AUD 47,500 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
Blended, On-Campus
* for domestic students | December 1 2025 for international student
** domestic students: A$30,500 | international students: A$47,500
Key Summary
Develop sophisticated critical thinking through this intellectually rigorous, research-intensive program.
Understand and address the world’s most pressing challenges, including war and peace, social and economic justice, poverty, development and environmental sustainability. Investigate relations among states and non-state actors, including the evolution of the international system.
A postgraduate qualification aimed at those looking to elevate their understanding of international relations in the international and local context and ground their existing profession with a renewed approach through practical exercises and skills-building.
International student scholarships
For students from other countries
Whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate coursework student, or a postgraduate researcher, we have an array of scholarships that could be right for you.
Bachelors and honours
We're dedicated to supporting you throughout your time at university and offer a variety of scholarships for international undergraduate students.
Postgraduate coursework
We're eager to help you take the next step in your career and have a wide range of scholarship options to support your postgraduate study.
Postgraduate research – international
We're committed to fostering the best and brightest researchers, and have a wide range of scholarship options to support international research students.
Faculty scholarships
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
From economics and visual arts to anthropology and language scholarships, we have a wide range of options for international arts and social science students.
What you’ll study
You will complete 96 credit points, including:
- a minimum of 30 credit points of core units of study; and
- a minimum of 24 credit points of core elective units of study; and
- a maximum of 30 credit points of elective units of study, which can include an optional specialisation. With the permission of the Degree Coordinator a maximum of 6 credit points of elective units can be taken from units of study outside the International Relations subject area, including units of study offered by other faculties; and
- a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone units of study.
Capstone
All candidates for the Master of International Relations are required to complete a capstone designed to build independent research capacity. You will complete one of the following two capstone options:
- a semester-long research project by enrolling in GOVT6127 Research Project; or
- a year-long dissertation project, including GOVT6139 Research Design, followed by GOVT6340 Dissertation Part I and GOVT6341 Dissertation Part II. Completing this dissertation would prepare students to enrol in a PhD program in international relations. This path is generally suitable only for students completing 72 or 96 credit points. Note that GOVT6139 is preparation for the Dissertation. It is not itself a Dissertation unit and can be taken by any student enrolled in Government and International Relations postgraduate coursework degrees.
This degree equips you for a career in the following fields:
- Consulting
- Diplomacy
- Development
- Defence
- Government
- Immigration
- Intelligence
- International business
- Journalism
- Risk management
You may find a role in international organisations, including the United Nations or European Union, or in humanitarian, government and non-government organisations. The course also provides an opportunity for professionals in these sectors to gain advanced training to support career advancement.