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Queen's University Belfast

International Relations

Overview
This programme is designed to analyse various aspects of International Relations in a scholarly, critical and methodologically sophisticated manner. Having introduced the theoretical and methodological components which facilitate our study of the field, the aim is to use these tools to examine, explain and understand the issues, topics and processes that make up our world, from security and terrorism, migration and mobility, to global financial crises.

The programme offers a balance between providing core content in the field of International Relations while allowing students to actively choose their area of specialism.

The programme offers a balance between providing core content in the field of International Relations while allowing students to actively choose their area of specialism.It is also possible to study for a PG Diploma in International Relations.

The Diploma is constructed around the coursework elements of the MA programmes with no dissertation required. On successful completion of the coursework, however, it is possible to complete the dissertation for an award of MA.

Entry requirements

Entrance requirements
Graduate
Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Social Sciences, Humanities or Arts subject, or a 2.1 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject with relevant professional experience.

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.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Duration

1 year full-time or 3 years part-time.(PGDip 2 years)

Teaching Times
Afternoon / Evening

Careers or further progression

Career Prospects
Introduction
All of the MA 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. In addition they provide an appropriate basis for those who wish to proceed to Doctoral-level study.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Employment after the Course
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.

Further enquiries

Dr Shane Brighton
Senior Lecturer
School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics - email: S.Brighton@qub.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)28 9097 3625

Subjects taught

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.

Core Modules students currently must take:

HAP7001 - Approaches to Research Design (Semester 1)
PAI7026 - Theories and Issues in International Relations (Semester 1)

PAI7030 - International Political Economy (Semester 2)
PAI9099 Dissertation (triple weighted module)

Course Details
The programme has three different components: Core modules, Elective modules, and an MA dissertation.

Dissertation
To enable students to develop their particular area of specialism, facilitate independent learning and instill a variety of skills such as project management, detailed analysis and self-motivation, students on the MA pathway must also write a dissertation of no more than 15,000 words.

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.

Students must take one of:
PAI7007 - Global Terrorism (Semester 2)
PAI7051 Contemporary Security (semester 1)

Student who do not take PAI7051 Contemporary Security should choose one course from the list below:
PAI7021 The Politics of Northern Ireland
PAI7036 The Politics and Political Economy of Energy and Low Carbon Transitions
PHL7056 Global Ethics

Student who take PAI7051 Contemporary Security should choose one course from the list below:
PAI7022 The Politics of the Republic of Ireland
PAI7027 - Conflict Intervention
PAI7050 - Ethnic Conflict and Consensus: The Power of Institutions
PAI7032 - Gender, Politics and Democracy
PAI7052 - Institutions and Politics of the EU
PHL7038 - Philosophy of Conflict and War

*This list of elective modules may vary from year to year.

Comment

International Relations highlights

Internationally Renowned Experts
•Taught by world-leading experts in areas such as migration and asylum, border security, visual culture and international ethics. An opportunity to study international relations in a location where communal conflicts have a clear international aspect in both their perpetuation and resolution. Benefits from a vibrant interdisciplinary research culture within the School, including insights from History, Anthropology and Philosophy.

Learning and Teaching
Skills students will learn throughout the MA programme.
Cognitive and Transferable Skills

-At the end of the programme learners will have the capacity to be self reflexive and practice sound judgement, and will possess the necessary skills to enhance their ability, think critically and pursue independent research.
- Students will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding about the history of the discipline and knowledge of its specific concepts, issues and vocabulary.
- Students will enhance their knowledge of the general methodological and theoretical approaches to key issue areas of the discipline.
- Students will be able to solve problems, process and prioritize a wide variety of information, and express arguments and positions in oral and written form.

- The Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations provides postgraduate learners with the opportunity to develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills.

Knowledge and Understanding

-Upon completion of the program the learner will be well versed with the methodology, the historiography and the basic approaches to International Politics and be able to research independently using the expert language of the subject.
- The program will enhance the existing understanding of comparative methods, theoretical models, political sociology and historical textual analysis.
- The learner will acquire competency in specific areas such as the analysis of political decision-making, International History and International Security.
- The program will furthermore provide a firm grounding in the study the emerging structures of governance beyond the nation-state
- It will introduce the learner not only to the specialist literature of the field, but to key debates in contemporary international relations theory and methodology.
- The Postgraduate Diploma International Relations will enhance the postgraduate learner's generic skills of the subject

Specific Skills