School of Social Sciences

International Relations MA

Year of entry: 2025

Course Length: 12 months full-time | 24 months part-time

About the course

PATHWAYS:

International Relations is one of our most popular courses at postgraduate level.

You will develop a deeper understanding of critically-orientated international relations, conduct your own research into pressing global issues and learn the specialist skills necessary for a range of policy-focused political careers.

The research route is particularly suited to those wishing to progress to PhD study.

Click on the links above to see the full course profiles on our website.

Join one of the UK's Top 5 Universities For Politics and International Studies

(Times Higher Education Rankings 2024)

Learn about the norms, actors and structures shaping international affairs

Our graduates are among the most targeted by top UK employers

(High Fliers 2024)

Compulsory Units

Research Design and Skills
Graduate Seminar in International Relations Theory
Critical Approaches in International Politics
Dissertation

Optional Units

Governing in an Unjust World: Justice and International Relations
Global Governance
Human Rights in World Politics
Critical Environmental Politics
Gender War and Peace

These are examples of units offered in 2023/24 and are subject to change.

See the full list of units and find out more on the full course profiles >

Where will your degree take you?

Equipped with specialist knowledge, a top education and outstanding multidisciplinary skills such as research, debate, problem-solving and communication, our International Relations graduates go on to a variety of highly rewarding careers in national, international and multinational organisations.

Another popular route is academia, with many graduates, particularly those from the research pathway, pursuing PhDs to become researchers and teachers at Manchester and at other leading institutions around the world.

Sara Giorgi

International Relations MA Graduate

"The course benefits from being very broad; it gives you the skills to work in very different areas, but at the same time you can specialise in the areas that really interest you.

I loved the English university system (I’m Italian) but I also fell for Manchester – both as a university and a city. It’s got a very high number of students, a truly multicultural environment, great opportunities and a good international ranking in league tables."