Postgraduate study is your opportunity to become an expert in your chosen area.

The Department of Politics and International Relations offers a carefully chosen range of distinctive postgraduate programmes, which reflect our own areas of expertise, and attract students from around the world.

At Masters level, we offer a range of programmes including:

• International Relations (MSc)
• International Public Policy (MSc)
• Media, Power and Public Affairs (MSc)
• Politics of Development (MA)
• Elections, Campaigns, and Democracy (MSc)
• International Security (MSc)
• Islamic and West Asian Studies (MA)

The seven programmes listed above can be studied on either a full-time (one-year) or part-time (two-year) basis. These programmes can also be taken at Postgraduate Diploma level. We’ve listed the programmes we are responsible for, but you may be interested in two further programmes to which we contribute. The Department of Geography offers Geopolitics and Security (MSc) and the Department of Philosophy offers Political Philosophy (MA), both of which include elements taken from Politics and International Relations.

See a full list of our degree courses here.

You can download our Postgraduate Student Handbook for 2022-23 here.

International

Our MA and MSc programmes attract those with backgrounds in a wide range of social science disciplines, and both recent graduates and mature students with work experience. Typically, around half of our MA and MSc students come from overseas.

The presence of such diversity serves to enhance the content of the courses on offer, as well as obtain genuinely global perspectives through regular interaction with other course members.

Flexible

We give you considerable flexibility in choosing your optional courses. The teaching is conducted primarily in small group seminars that meet weekly for two hours at a time.

All MA or MSc students complete their programme by writing a dissertation. You get to choose the topic. We’ll then pair you with an academic who will give you one-on-one tuition, helping you to improve both your argument and your academic skills.

What our students say

“The confluence of highly skilled staff, readily engaged students, and a meticulously crafted curriculum create an experience that is unmatched.”
Ariel Eckblad, MSc International Relations, from the USA, Marshall Scholarship recipient

“It’s a fantastic learning environment, well-equipped with high quality professionals who are really invested in sharing and acquiring knowledge from the interaction with their students."
Rebecca Di Polito, MSc Media, Power and Public Affairs