International Relations

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

• International Relations in Theory and Practice

  In this module you’ll explore advanced investigation into a diverse range theoretical approaches in International Relations and link them to contemporary issues. Through the module you’ll cover topics like;

  • the role of the state
  • security and insecurity
  • international order and disorder
  • democracy and global governance
  • global development, justice and sustainability
  • the legacies of colonialism
  • race, class and gender.

  You will establish a clear understanding of the role and purpose of theory, and its relation to substantive issues in international relations.

• Exploring Security Studies

  Explore what security really means in today’s complex world. This module challenges traditional views of security focused on military power, examining instead how societies, institutions, and individuals create - and experience - both security and insecurity.

   

  You’ll engage with key debates in International Relations and apply diverse perspectives, including critical, poststructural, and feminist theories, to contemporary global issues such as conflict, migration, and environmental crises.

   

  By analysing how security is defined and whose interests it serves, you’ll develop advanced analytical and research skills, preparing you to think critically about policy, power, and justice in international affairs - essential for careers in diplomacy, defence, NGOs, and global governance.

• Designing a Research Project

  Gain the tools to explore and explain the complex forces shaping world politics. This module introduces you to the key theories and research methods used in International Relations and International Security Studies. You’ll learn how to design and carry out your own research project, from identifying a real-world problem to choosing the right methods to investigate it.

  Through hands-on engagement with approaches such as interviews, surveys, discourse analysis, and documentary research, you’ll discover how evidence is produced and evaluated in global politics. By the end of the module, you’ll have the confidence and skills to design a rigorous, well-founded research project - preparing you for your dissertation and for future professional or academic work in the international field.

Optional modules

• Global Development

  Since the end of the Cold War one of the key dynamics in world politics – the gap between rich and poor – has come into sharper focus. In this module, you’ll examine both the theory and practice of the international politics of development. 

  You’ll start by looking at key theoretical debates and how these have related to practice. You’ll go on to explore contemporary issues in development that illustrate the theoretical debates, such as fair trade and sustainable development.

• Ukraine: Revolution, War and Global Politics

  In this module you’ll focus on the politics of Ukraine; its context in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the complex politics of the post-Soviet order and its relations with Russia and global geopolitics. You’ll take a historical approach to the topics covered to understand how the Ukrainian state and Ukrainian politics have evolved over time. Explore the political, social and economical factors of the Ukrainian state and through critical analysis of its history you’ll develop an advanced understanding of international relations and the nature of war in the 21st Century.

• Violence and Peacebuilding

  In transitions from civil war to peace, why does violence often continue, even when ceasefires are in place? How does violence affect peace processes, and how can continuing insecurity be managed? 

  In this module, you’ll explore concepts of violence, peace and peacebuilding, as well as studying examples from peace processes and post-war societies, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Rwanda, South Africa and Northern Ireland. You’ll be assisted to critically analyse the causes of violence in the context of peacebuilding and to make recommendations for its management.

• Critical Approaches to Terrorism

  You’ll critically consider debates about how we define and understand terrorism, as well as thinking about the nature of the threat that terrorism poses. You’ll also explore causes of terrorism and the gender politics of terrorism. We’ll encourage you to take a critical approach and try to think beyond mainstream and conventional answers to some of these issues.

• Independent Study

  This is your chance to undertake a programme of study that you choose yourself, in consultation with a member of staff. Previous examples of independent study have focussed on:

  • International Energy Security
  • Oil and the Global Economy
  • Human Rights and Foreign Direct Investment.

• Global Governance

  Explore how global decisions are made - and who shapes them. This module examines the complex web of global governance in a world no longer led solely by nation-states. You’ll investigate how international organisations, corporations, and civil society groups influence policy on issues such as security, trade, and human rights.

  Linked to the MA research trip to Brussels and The Hague, the module offers first-hand insight into institutions like the EU, UN, NATO, and international courts. You’ll assess their roles, challenges, and impact on global policymaking.

  Through this module, you’ll develop practical research and policy analysis skills valued by employers in international organisations, NGOs, and government.

• Media, Power and Public Affairs

  Examine how the media shapes politics, policy, and public perception in modern Britain. This module explores the relationship between journalism, government, and democracy - from Westminster and Whitehall to local government and international affairs.

   

  You’ll analyse how the press influences decision-making on key issues such as public health, welfare, and national security, while investigating questions of media ownership, bias, and political power.

  Through contemporary case studies - from scandals and spin to social media and celebrity politics - you’ll assess how journalism holds power to account, and when it crosses the line into sensationalism. The module equips you with a critical understanding of how media and politics interact, preparing you for roles in policy, communications, or public affairs.

• Work-Based Learning

  This module offers you the opportunity to build on the skills and knowledge you've gained in semester one in order to undertake a placement or work-related experience with organisations that are engaged in areas relevant to the study of International Security and/or International Relations. You'll be able to evaluate and reflect critically upon your experience that links theory and practice in a professional context. The content of the module is negotiated between the yourself and the work placement provider and must be approved by the module leader in advance of the commencement of the placement.