International Relations MSc - 2026/7

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Level 7

Final award and programme/pathway title

MSc International Relations

Subsidiary award(s)

Award Title
PGDip International Relations
PGCert International Relations

Modes of study

Route code Credits and ECTS Credits
Full-time PLB61003 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits
Part-time PLB61004 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Politics and International Relations

Other internal and / or external reference points

The Programme also takes into account the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, including qualification descriptors.

Faculty and Department / School

Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences - Politics & International Relations

Programme Leader

KAEDING Malte (Politics IR)

Date of production/revision of spec

18/12/2024

Educational aims of the programme

  • To enable students to understand and evaluate contemporary debates in the study of international relations, concerning global governance and/or terrorism and security and international intervention.
  • To deepen students' knowledge of theoretical aspects of international relations, including theoretical developments in the sub-fields of terrorism and security and international intervention.
  • To enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding in at least three sub-fields of international politics: students take the programme compulsory modules, the pathway compulsory modules specific to their pathway (International Relations, International Intervention), and the remaining modules from a list of optional modules particular to their pathway.
  • To provide students, with the opportunity, through the International Intervention pathway, to spend three months working in a field related to their degree. This will not only provide students with new insights into International Intervention but will also develop a broad array of transferable skills. Such skills include self-management and development; managing tasks; communicating effectively and clearly; working with and relating to others; the application of specialist knowledge; the application of initiative and reflecting on one's own learning outcomes.
  • Through the content of the modules and the nature of the assignments, students will advance their digital capabilities in conducting effective and sustainable research, increase their sustainable thinking considering the impact of international relations and political phenomena, increase their cultural and global intelligence by exploring case studies from around the world and non-Western approaches, consolidate their resourcefulness and resilience to locate resources, find solutions and overcome difficulties on complex issues, all aimed at enhancing employability and a number of transferable skills.

Programme learning outcomes

Attributes Developed Awards Ref.
Demonstrate a critical knowledge of contemporary debates in the study of international relations, particularly in relation to differing forms of intervention in response to poverty, humanitarian crisis, abuses of human rights, state failure and armed conflict, globalisation and climate change. K MSc
Understand international structures of governance in depth, and their impact on regional, national and local structures, and of theories of international relations K MSc
Showcase detailed knowledge and understanding within at least two sub-fields of international relations, for example development and humanitarian assistance; peace-making; peace-keeping and peace-building; use of international legal institutions and processes; and coercive military intervention to secure regime change; impact on globalisation and sustainability KPT MSc
Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the process of knowledge creation and contestation within international relations, and the techniques of research and enquiry and their application to the study of international intervention K MSc
Gather, organise, and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety secondary and primary sources, analysing and synthesising from a wide range of material to enhance digital capabilities and employability skills. CT MSc
Demonstrate self-direction and originality in identifying, investigating, analysing, formulating and commending solutions to specified problems, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. CPT MSc
Construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement in the articulation and application of evidence/data in an advanced fashion, considering global and cultural intricacies. CPT MSc
Formulate research questions, and eventually design and conduct a research project, selecting appropriate methods of data collection and analysis, addressing issues of feasibility, sustainability, unintended consequences on global and social diversity and thinking about interconnectedness within society P MSc
Deal with complex issues systematically and creatively also with sustainable thinking in mind, making sound judgments on the basis of incomplete information, and consolidating resourcefulness and resilience C MSc
Reflect on self and peer learning. Seek and apply constructive feedback. CPT MSc
Recognise the importance of demonstrating and good research skills, especially related to academic integrity and ethics. CT MSc
Demonstrate an in dependent attitude to study which requires critical and reflective use of statistics and computer technology for learning purposes and to transfer to other contexts, with digital skills and employability in mind CP MSc
Demonstrate appropriate communication skills, both oral and written. PT MSc
Demonstrate effective and appropriate use of computer and information technology, including audio-visual technology, for the retrieval and presentation of information and data, with digital skills and employability in mind T MSc
Work independently, demonstrate capacity for initiative, manage time and competing demands, emerge as a well-organised, self-critical and mature learner, ready to tackle problems in a globalised, networked, digital and sustainable thinking environment. PT MSc
Show a capacity to collaborate with others in large or small groups in order to achieve clearly defined tasks. T MSc
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of contemporary debates in the study of international relations, particularly in relation to differing forms of intervention in response to poverty, humanitarian crisis, abuses of human rights, state failure and armed conflict, globalisation and climate change. K PGCert, PGDip
Understand international structures of governance, and their impact on regional, national and local structures, and of theories of international relations K PGCert, PGDip
Showcase sound knowledge and understanding within at least two sub-fields of international relations CPT PGCert, PGDip
Demonstrate a substantive understanding of the process of knowledge creation and contestation within international relations, and the techniques of research and enquiry and their application to the study of international intervention K PGCert, PGDip
Gather, organise, and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety secondary and primary sources, analysing and synthesising from a wide range of material CT PGCert, PGDip
Identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and commend solutions to specified problems, reflecting on issues of global diversity, networked societies and sustainable thinking. CPT PGCert, PGDip
Construct reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise sound judgement in the articulation and application of evidence/data in an advanced fashion, considering global and cultural intricacies. KCPT PGCert, PGDip
Reflect on self and peer learning. Seek and apply constructive feedback. KCPT PGCert, PGDip
Recognise the importance of demonstrating and good research skills, especially related to academic integrity and ethics. CT PGCert, PGDip
Demonstrate appropriate communication skills, both oral and written. PT PGCert, PGDip
Demonstrate effective and appropriate use of computer and information technology, including audio-visual technology, for the retrieval and presentation of information and data. T PGCert, PGDip
Work independently, demonstrate capacity for initiative, manage time and competing demands, emerge as a well-organised, self-critical and mature learner, ready to tackle problems in a globalised, networked, digital and sustainable thinking environment. PT PGCert, PGDip
Show a capacity to collaborate with others in large or small groups in order to achieve clearly defined tasks. T PGCert, PGDip

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Full-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

Part-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over two academic years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Modules

Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
POLM009 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH Compulsory 15 1
POLM013 THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Compulsory 15 1
POLM011 RESEARCH IN PRACTICE Compulsory 15 2

Module Selection for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Two compulsory modules in Semester 1 - 1 compulsory and one option Semester 2

Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
POLM033 INTERVENTION I: MAKING WAR Optional 15 1
POLM037 POLITICAL LEADERSHIP Optional 15 1
POLM038 INTERVENTION II - THEORISING INTERVENTION Optional 15 1
POLM043 UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT AND DIPLOMACY IN WORLD POLITICS Optional 15 1
MANM013 INTERNATIONAL TRADE Optional 15 2
POLM016 INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE Optional 15 2
POLM019 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY Optional 15 2
POLM029 CRITICAL STUDIES ON SECURITY AND TERRORISM Optional 15 2
POLM040 ETHICS, KILLING, AND WAR Optional 15 2
POLM010 DISSERTATION Compulsory 60 Year-long
POLM042 PLANETARY POLITICS: CITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND INTERNATIONAL ORDER Optional 15 1

Module Selection for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Two optional modules in Semester 1 - Two optional in Semester 2 - Dissertation by end of programme

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics N
Professional Training Year (PTY) N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) N
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) N
Study exchange (Level 5) N
Dual degree N

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.