MA International Relations (Part time)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
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Course Overview
If you are an energetic and innovative thinker, eager to grapple with some of the most urgent issues the world faces today, UEA’s Masters in International Relations offers the ideal postgraduate course for you. Covering the key concepts and theoretical traditions within International Relations and their relevance to contemporary themes in world politics, our MA in IR offers you a challenging and thought-provoking degree.
We work alongside you to think critically about the global challenges facing us: climate change, for instance, international security, or changing global governance with the rise of emerging powers and the global South. Taught by leading authorities in the field, our modules will get you thinking in new ways as you cover critical issues, key actors and alternative methods of analysis and interpretation.
MA International Relations invites you to explore the biggest questions in global politics. It is an inspiring and challenging course of study, and our field-leading team of IR experts is here to support you as you grapple with those challenges.
Our MA will introduce you to theories, analytical frameworks, and methods to understand the dynamics of global interaction. The course’s flexible structure invites you to deepen and refine your knowledge in specialist modules, getting to grips with the ever-increasing complexity of the world today. 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, religion and migration.
Students are welcomed to our MA from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, bringing a rich intellectual and cultural mix to each cohort. You may have studied IR before, but many of our students have backgrounds in geography, sociology, environmental studies, economics, or in the Arts and Humanities. What unites our students is that they are interested in the wider application of their knowledge to the international sphere.
We are proud to be committed to decolonising the curriculum. There are many ways of understanding this process. Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o uses the term in reference to an ongoing process of “seeing ourselves clearly”. African thinker Achille Mbembe explains that for Ngugi this process is about writing oneself, teaching oneself. Our IR team is eager to accompany you in this process, discussing, debating, and thinking together in a process of co-learning.
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 take the core module, International Relations Theory in the first semester, along with two other modules of your choice. Then in your second year, you’ll take another three modules, again choosing from several options depending on your interests, and complete a dissertation. Choices of modules include global governance and emerging powers, war games, diplomacy and strategy, foreign relations of China and Japan in the modern world, European politics, or American foreign policy.
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 more than 30 members of staff, all of whom actively engage with research in the field. This means that you will be taught by experts in international relations theory, global political economy, security studies, political philosophy, religious studies, 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. Which 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, terrorism, human rights, religion, Britain, the EU, Japan, Africa, 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 will 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 1 and 2:
- 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 need before you submit your final work.
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.
Structure
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 individual supervisor to advise you on all aspects of writing and researching. We also organise a dedicated Postgraduate Day in the spring, when you will have the opportunity to discuss your dissertation as a work in progress with staff and fellow students.
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 this year, you’ll write your dissertation, supported by regular one-on-one meetings with your dissertation supervisor. At our Postgraduate Day, you will present your dissertation proposal and receive feedback from your peers and staff.
Assessment
In addition to assessments like the ones you will 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.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors (Hons) degree - 2.2 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Humanities or Social Sciences such as Law, Politics, International Relations or Development Studies.
- 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 (with a minimum of 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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- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year
Additional Information or Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.
INTO University of East Anglia
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 2024/25 are:
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UK Students: £9,975 (full time)
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International Students: £21,200 (full time)
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 £1,023 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
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.
Employability
After the Course
An MA is an excellent way to set yourself apart from other graduates when it comes to securing a good job. An understanding of international affairs is increasingly important in all kinds of careers, while 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 arrange internships and work placements.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Example of careers that you could enter include:
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political/policy analyst
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programme/development officer
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risk analyst
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advocacy/outreach officer
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journalist
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management positions in international organisations, NGOs, government, media, and academia