Curious about studying MA International Relationsat University of Hertfordshire? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
MA - Master of Arts
College Lane - Campus
Full Time
Jan 2027
1 Year
The MA International Relations course provides students with a contemporary, critical, and exciting insight into the vagaries of global politics. Students will study a range of modules, taught by research-active staff who are experts in their fields. The modules are assessed through a variety of both traditional, such as essays, presentations, critical reviews, and non-traditional, such as podcasts, blogs, simulations, assignments, which aim to assess and develop not only discipline-related knowledge but also transferable, soft skills necessary for future employment. Students will also complete a 12,000-word research dissertation on a topic of their choice. Whether it’s the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the climate emergency, the energy crisis, or the war in Ukraine, International Relations has never been more relevant.; This degree is aimed at applicants who wish to find employment in careers that require advanced research and communication skills, such as government departments, non-governmental organisations, businesses, marketing, journalism, or those wishing to proceed to postgraduate research.
This module focuses on the core theoretical and conceptual debates at the heart of the discipline of International Relations. Students will explore the broad theoretical paradigms within International Relations. Students will also use theory to help explain some of the most pressing puzzles in International Relations.
This module is a unique response to current seismic changes in global politics and economies, essential to an understanding of the modern world and future challenges. You will learn about the national development strategies of middle-income countries as well as how these fit into the wider changing global power system.
This module introduces and prepares students for the world of professional research. Students will learn to design their own research projects. Students will also explore various social science methods and methodologies in practice, and work towards pursuing their own research interests.
This module focuses on the debates surrounding multi-level governance within global politics. Students will explore three analytical and normative concepts, the international, global and planetary, and unpack their impact on contemporary world order. Students will also study and critically analyse contemporary topics, including human rights, global health, and climate change.
This module focuses on how sport influences diplomatic and geopolitical relations between states. Students will explore how sport is used by states and activist groups to achieve their interests. Students will also critically evaluate the organisations designed to manage sport and sports-related challenges at the global level.
This module gives students the opportunity to produce an independent piece of research in the form of a 12,000-word written dissertation. Students will have the opportunity to select a topic that interests them and will conduct independent study on that topic under the guidance of a specialist supervisor.
This module focuses on how considerations of justice influence global politics. Students will explore contemporary political issues, including war, aid, and climate change, and analyse these using theories and approaches of global justice. Students will also critically evaluate the effectiveness of the global institutions tasked with facilitating global justice.
This module focuses on how environmental and energy issues shape conduct in global politics. Students will explore policy-related issues that sit at the intersection between energy and environmental politics. Students will also unpack how energy systems function and evaluate the sustainability of current models.
This module explores the causes of international and domestic conflict. Students will unpack a range of themes from security, conflict, and peace studies, including war, terrorism, humanitarian interventions, and peacebuilding. Students will also critically reflect on the suitability of contemporary theories and approaches to peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.
4.3The University of Hertfordshire offers a huge variety of postgraduate courses across 19 subject areas, from creative art...
