International Relations & War - MA

Our International Relations & War MA offers you the opportunity to study international relations in a multi-disciplinary department devoted to the study of all aspects of war.You will study this course online, meaning that you can access our high standard of teaching and expert staff from anywhere in the world without disrupting your personal and professional life.Key benefitsAn entirely web-delivered degree courseAcademically rigorous course on which lecturers provide close support and guidanceYou will develop the skills necessary for in-depth and critical analysis of international affairs and become familiar with the latest researchCourse materials include specially written content, images, videos, maps, intensively used discussion forums and full access to the resources of our library’s extensive electronic holdingsMaximum flexibility for you: access content and respond to discussion postings in your own time for each study unitIf your own circumstances (time commitments, visa, accommodation, etc) allow, you may choose, for one term, to take one or two residential modules in our campus in LondonBe part of a world-leading department, a vibrant research community and an international student body, drawn from a wide variety of academic and professional backgroundsAs with many of our graduates, this MA enables you to prepare for a career in sectors relating to international, security, and military affairs, or helps you upskill for promotion or career change.Course essentials:Our International Relations & War MA will give you an advanced and comprehensive understanding of the historical evolution of the international system, its relationship to conflict, how to understand it, the leading ideas that underpin it, how it is evolving, and the current challenges it faces. Processes of globalisation, including the movement of monies and peoples, the impact of new technologies, the rise of identity politics, the rise of transnational or non- state actors and transformations in the character of contemporary war all pose direct challenges to the state, the international system and global politics. These themes are considered in depth.The course is structured so that you will firstly develop an understanding of international relations, ways of thinking about its structures, concepts, and issues of conflict and security. You can then choose optional modules and write your dissertation on a subject of your choice, giving you the opportunity to concentrate on those aspects of war and international relations that interest you most.This MA is based at the Department of War Studies, one of the few academic departments in the world to focus solely on the complexities of conflict and security. War Studies is an interdisciplinary department, and this programme is designed to empower you to think independently, across traditional disciplines, and to provide you with the knowledge and the tools necessary to analyse, evaluate and understand international politics, policy-making, war, peace, and diplomatic practices.All War Studies students benefit from research-led teaching in a broad range of subjects, such as theories of international relations, strategic studies, the history of war, international law and ethics, specific aspects of modern warfare (e.g., intelligence, seapower, insurgency), future war studies, and regional specialisms (e.g. Russia, the Middle East).Careers:EmployabilityPast students from this course have gone on to build careers in NGOs, civil services, NATO, the UN, media and publishing, finance and investment and teaching, as well as in the armed forces. A number of our students have had articles published in peer-reviewed journals and undertaken further academic research. Several students have gone on to complete a PhD.