International Relations

Overview

This programme equips students to examine, question, understand and explain global issues which affects the world around us, from security and terrorism, migration and mobility, to global financial crises.



The diploma provides a foundation in the academic discipline of International Relations - the array of ‘real world’ practices and problems that produce world politics: looking for example, at diplomacy, arms control and arms proliferation, global health policy, humanitarian intervention and international development policy. While still attending closely and consistently to issues of world politics such as armed conflict and negotiations, it offers a significantly broader education in international politics by examining contemporary issues of international politics from a multitude of perspectives, both traditional and more critical.



The programme provides an opportunity to study the deep structures that constitute world order, and the pressing contemporary issues that we face, such as armed conflict, human displacement, inequality and injustice. As such, it offers a balance between covering core content in the field of International Relations while allowing students to actively develop areas of specialisation as they progress through choosing elective courses according to their own interests.



Many students on our PgDip who make satisfactory academic progress transfer on to the MA programme, thus taking on the additional challenge of an independent research project in the form of a dissertation. Recent students' dissertation topics have included: Jihadi use of social media; Russian foreign and security policy after the Ukraine conflict; Extreme right-wing terrorism and the internet; Russian private military actors; EU defence policy after BREXIT; Baltic security and the future of NATO; Paramilitarism and the Northern Irish border; Indian defence and security in relation to rising China; The limits of ‘truth and reconciliation’ in conflict resolution.

Year 1

Core Modules

• Theories and Issues in International Politics (20 credits)

• Approaches to research design (20 credits)



Optional Modules

• The Politics and Institutions of Northern Ireland (20 credits)

• Institutions and Politics of the European Union (20 credits)

• Social Injustice (20 credits)

• Global Ireland (20 credits)

• Global Development (20 credits)

• Democratic Innovations (20 credits)

• The Politics and Political Economy of Energy and Low Carbon Energy Transitions (20 credits)

• Global Terrorism (20 credits)

• Conflict Intervention (20 credits)

• Gender and Politics (20 credits)

• Contemporary Security (20 credits)

• Freedom and modernity (20 credits)

• The UK and Europe (20 credits)

• Global Political Economy (20 credits)



Course Structure

The programme has two different components: Core modules and Elective modules.



Core Modules

To acquire foundational knowledge and understanding in International Relations, students will take four core modules covering the evolution of International Relations as a discipline, issues of order, conflict and governance, and the trends toward globalisation, regionalisation and devolution.



Elective Modules

The programme provides students with a number of elective modules that will enable them to specialise in areas of interest, build on foundational knowledge, and develop focused expertise.

Graduate

Normally a 2.2 Honours degree (minimum 57%) or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Social Sciences, Humanities or Arts related discipline, or a 2.2 Honours degree (minimum 57%) or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject with relevant professional experience.



Applicants who do not meet this entry requirement may, at the discretion of the relevant programme convenor be considered for admission on the basis of relevant work experience and/ or an assessed piece of work.



The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 16th August 2024 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.



How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Assessment


Assessment and Feedback are continuous throughout the course of study.


Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:


Examination

Seminar Presentations

Learning journals

Literature reviews

Portfolios

Written essays

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.



Teaching Times

Teaching take place at a variety of times from 9-8pm Monday – Friday.

Entry Year: 2024/25

Career Prospects

Introduction

All of the PgDip programmes offered in the School provide our graduates with the skills to pursue a wide range of careers in the private, public and voluntary sectors.



International Relations graduates go on to an extraordinarily broad range of careers. Typical examples include: International Non-Governmental Organisation roles (humanitarian, conflict resolution, environmental, development etc.); media and journalism; government, diplomacy and international civil service roles; military and intelligence careers; political risk analysis; political research, lobbying and consultancy roles with an international focus; think-tank research; academic careers in IR and cognate disciplines; business roles involving significant transnational trade or operations.

http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/