MA International Relations (Part time)
Course
options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
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Course Overview
If you’re an energetic and innovative thinker, eager to grapple with some of the most urgent challenges facing the world, this course is for you. Our two-year part-time MA in International Relations (IR) offers a challenging and thought-provoking degree, designed to prepare you for multiple careers.
You’ll study key concepts and theoretical traditions within IR and their relevance to contemporary issues in world politics. You’ll delve into some of the most pressing issues in global politics, such as climate change, war, and the changing landscape of global governance with the rise of emerging powers and the Global South.
It’s an inspiring and challenging course of study, and our field-leading team of experts is here to support you. Our MA will introduce you to the various theoretical approaches, analytical frameworks, and methods to understand the dynamics of global politics. You’ll have the flexibility to deepen and refine your knowledge by choosing from a diverse range of specialist modules. You might study war, peace, conflict and security, as well as a range of other transnational dynamics, such as global economics, the environment, human rights, foreign policy and regional politics from Europe to the Asia-Pacific.
You’ll be able to apply for internships in your School of study, notably to act as a research assistant for academics on relevant projects. Our many links with thinktanks and policymakers give our students exciting opportunities. For example, our postgraduate students recently visited the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) in Brussels to work with their research assistants and UEA academics to produce policy briefs and op-eds for international publications.
We welcome students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, bringing a rich intellectual and cultural mix to each cohort. You may have studied IR before, or you may have a background in an associated degree, such as geography, sociology, environmental studies, economics, or development studies.
On this dynamic MA, you’ll be joined with students who are passionate about applying their knowledge to understanding and critically examining the international sphere. Whether you aim to work in international organisations, government agencies, NGOs, think tanks, or academia, the skills and knowledge you’ll acquire will be invaluable in your future career.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll find this two-year, part-time Master’s degree a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will take place through lectures, seminars, and workshops over the course of the two years. In the first year, you’ll be given a foundation in international relations theory in the first semester, along with methods of social enquiry to prepare you for your dissertation. You’ll acquire key research skills in conducting interviews or running surveys. You’ll also be able to choose from a range of optional modules exploring topics such as global governance, emerging powers, war games, diplomacy and strategy.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our teaching is designed to encourage you to critically analyse all sources and develop your ability to engage in informed debates. We place significant emphasis on enabling you to advance your opinions in an academically grounded manner.
The department comprises members of staff who are specialists in their area of teaching and actively engage with cutting-edge research in the field. This means that you’ll be taught by experts in international relations theory, global political economy, security studies, political philosophy, political communications and media studies. Our teaching is research-led, in that we ask the same questions of our students as we do in our research. This means you can be sure your learning is at the cutting-edge of the discipline.
We take an interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approach to our work, linking theory to practice, to create a distinctive programme of research. This has given us a strong international reputation for research in a wide variety of areas, including international relations, international security, human, religion, Britain, the EU, Japan and the Asia Pacific the US, the mass media (including digital media), political communications, popular culture, identity politics, public administration and public policy, political theory, and political rhetoric.
Independent study
Learning how to study and research independently, and how to present your subsequent work, are important skills that you’ll gain during this postgraduate degree. You’ll develop and hone these abilities from your first week with us, and you’ll build on them as you progress through the degree to your final dissertation.
How you'll spend your time during semester one and two:
- Teaching: 25%
- Independent Learning: 75%
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through a range of methods on this degree, including essays, project work, presentations and the dissertation. Most of our modules include opportunities for formative assessments, which will provide you with the expert feedback you’ll need before you submit your final work.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll take another three modules, again choosing from a wide range of options depending on your interests. For example, you may wish to specialise in European politics, the foreign relations of China and Japan in the modern world, or American foreign policy.
You’ll also work on your dissertation project. Your dissertation is an integral element of your MA and an excellent opportunity to conduct independent research into a subject area that you find stimulating. You’ll select your own topic and will be allocated an expert individual supervisor to advise you on all aspects of writing and research
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In your second year, in addition to your optional modules, you’ll also write your dissertation, supported by regular one-on-one meetings with your dissertation supervisor.
Assessment
In addition to assessments like the ones you’ll have encountered during the first year, in the second year, you’ll be assessed on analytical and theoretical skills by writing a dissertation, supervised by a specialist from our staff.
Employability
After the Course
An MA is an excellent way to set yourself apart from other graduates when it comes to securing a rewarding job. An understanding of international affairs is increasingly important in many careers, and our programme will provide you with vital employability skills and many networking opportunities.
Recent graduates from our School have taken jobs in business, teaching, research, journalism, and many international organisations, including the UN, EU and NATO.
We work closely with UEA’s Careers Service, which can provide advice on all aspects of graduate employment as well as helping you to arrange internships and work placements. The School has a dedicated employability director and career adviser who will help you think about what you want to do next and how to get there.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- Political/ Policy analyst
- Programme/ Development officer
- Risk analyst
- Advocacy/outreach officer
- Journalist
- Management positions in international organisations, NGOs, government, media, and academia
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 6.0 in Writing and Speaking and 5.5 in Listening and Reading).
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,675
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International Students: £22,700
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.