赫特福德大学

About the course

Study our MA in International Relations to gain an understanding of the forces that shape global politics in the 21st Century. A postgraduate degree in International Relations provides a pathway to a range of careers from policy-related roles in NGOs and government to vocational positions in the media and the private sector. The MA is delivered with flexibility in mind, combining in-class activities with online learning provisions to ensure that studies can be balanced with other commitments, including work and family life. There are a number of different pathways on offer to fit with your individual needs and professional aims. The standard route MA is offered full-time (one year) or part-time (two years). Alternatively, you may wish to take a Sandwich option (two years full-time), which combines a year of university study with a year-long work placement, or the with Advanced Research route (two years full-time), where you will complete an extended, year-long research project in addition to one year of university study.

Why choose this course?

This course would appeal to: Graduates who have just finished their BA degree in Politics and/or International Relations and would like to extend and deepen their knowledge of the subject. Graduates from related disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences, such as History, Philosophy or Sociology, who would like to focus their second degree on international politics. Graduates who are looking for an MA degree which is taught in a flexible way and can be balanced with work and family commitments. UK and international graduates who seek to combine MA studies with advanced professional and research training. Graduates who are looking for MA studies in a closely-knit, supportive research community, for example because they are returning to education as mature students. Working, or retired, professionals who would like to expand their theoretical and empirical knowledge of the global political system.

What will I study?

Our award winning lecturers are active researchers who will introduce and explain topics that are at the forefront of the discipline of International Relations. The programme will be delivered using a number of different methods: Interactive lectures and seminars where you will be encouraged to participate in, and take ownership of, your own learning within a supportive and managed environment. Simulation activities, which replicate the environment and experiences within which International Relations take place. Regular, detailed and personal supervision sessions for independent student research. Opportunities to present your research at a student conference, where you will gain experience in presenting and providing answers to unprepared questions. External speakers and visits allow you to gain a wider understanding of where your degree fits into the broader framework of international politics. Our study and research skills sessions are applied to the discipline, which means you will attain insights into how theories, methods and methodologies operate in a real research environment.