International Relations

Our International Relations course recognises the international and the global as spaces of ‘contentious’ politics, that are often structured by inequalities – including, for example, racialised, gendered, and classed inequalities – within, between, and across different societies.

Our course will help you develop a comprehensive knowledge and an advanced understanding of key concepts and theoretical approaches relating to international relations and to critically apply these to a range of contemporary global issues, such as global political economy, development, global governance, security, foreign policy, inequality and livelihoods, in innovative and creative ways.

You will engage with a range of traditional and cutting-edge theoretical and analytical approaches to the study of international relations as global politics, moving beyond a traditional focus on the role of states to examine and evaluate a wide range of non-state actors such as international organisations, transnational social movements, transnational corporations, global civil society as well as local social organisations and political actors.

Key features

You can exit the course with a Postgraduate Diploma or a Postgraduate Certificate depending on the credits you have successfully achieved.

Modules are research-led and move beyond a traditional focus of international relations to address key global challenges such as poverty and inequality, development, gender inequality, democracy, work and precarity.

Through the study of everyday lives and experiences, you will assess the ways in which the global is embedded in the local and develop a sense of global civic responsibility and political possibility.

Develop and apply values, skills, knowledge and behaviours that will enable you to contribute to the development of a just, peaceful and sustainable world.

Benefit from research-led teaching delivered by subject experts as well as further opportunities such as study trips, guest speakers and events organised by our research centres.