Victoria University of Wellington
Master of International Relations – MIRWellington, New Zealand
DURATION
12 up to 18 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Nov 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Jul 2025
TUITION FEES
NZD 36,150 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Full programme fee NZ$54250
Key Summary
Introduction
Enhance your ability to analyse complex geopolitical issues. Study a one-year specialist International Relations programme and take your career global.
Fast-track your career with a 12-month Master of International Relations. This gives you master ’s-level expertise without needing an Honours degree. You can also do the shorter, coursework-only Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations.
As well as giving graduates a path into a career with a global scope, the programme gives professionals from around the world an opportunity to enhance their analytical skills and knowledge of international relations.
International Connections
Learn from staff known worldwide for their research and expertise. The programme has close connections with internationally-focused government agencies in Wellington and prestigious institutions around the world. These contacts allow you to learn from visiting researchers, politicians and policymakers and to build your networks.
The programme attracts working professionals and graduates from around the world, giving you the chance to network with and learn from peers who bring a range of international perspectives.
Master of International Relations
The MIR is in two parts - a taught and a research component.
The taught component starts with the core course and a range of approved courses.
For the research component, you can choose between a 60-point dissertation and a combination of a 30-point research project and a taught course.
You may get permission from the MIR coordinator to do a 90-point thesis, in place of the part two research component and some part one courses.
Workload
If you are studying full-time, you can expect a workload of 40–45 hours a week for much of the year. Part-time students doing one course per trimester must do around 20–23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working full-time.
You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of points you'll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10–12 hours work.
Duration
The MIR will usually take 12 months for full-time students and 24 months for part-time students.
Gallery
Admissions
Rankings
Globally ranked
This programme is ranked in the top 100 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 18,000 universities worldwide.
Program Outcome
What you’ll study
Enhance your theoretical foundation with the core course, Approaches to International Relations.
Hone your ability to think critically and creatively about pressing geopolitical issues, including war and its aftermath, international migration, China and the world, identity in world politics, global political economy and the challenges to international order.
You can complement your International Relations courses with approved Political Science and Strategic Studies courses. These include the China Field Study and the Japan Field Study, which run every second year.