Course summary
International relations examines relationships between countries and looks at, amongst other things, the roles of states, governmental and non-governmental organizations, academic and public policy fields, economics, international law and cultural studies. Royal Holloway’s MSc in International Relations gives you the opportunity to engage critically with the forces at play in various regions around the world. As such, you will be asked to explore issues affecting the world right now such as economic crises, EU fragmentation, mass migration and human rights. The core of the programme introduces key themes and approaches to the study of international politics, and then allows you to bring these to bear on social, economic, and political interactions of key actors in world politics. You will study a mixture of core units and elective options, including a generous choice of free options, and write a supervised dissertation over the summer. Option courses for the programme do vary from year to year, but normally include courses on US foreign policy, south Asian politics, EU foreign and security policy, media and war, and international law. Teaching is conducted primarily in small group seminars that meet weekly for two hours, supplemented by individual tuition for the dissertation. The Department of Politics and International Relations has a strong commitment to high quality, cutting-edge research which informs our teaching. We are a research community that draws on various methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of domestic, transnational, regional and global politics. This includes research into areas such as security, international diplomacy, international law, the use of military force, the European Union and the impact of new communication technology on politics, nationalism and migration. This course is also offered at Postgraduate Diploma level for those who do not have the academic background necessary to begin an advanced Masters degree. The structure of the Diploma is identical except that you will not write a dissertation. If you are successful on the Diploma you may transfer to the MSc, subject to academic approval.
Modules
Core modules: Analysing International Politics; Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods in Politics and International Relations; Theories and Qualitative Approaches in Politics and International Relations; Dissertation. Optional modules: Media, War and Conflict; Transnational Security Studies; Human Rights - From Theory to Practice; Internet and New Media Politics; Transnational Security and the Law of Targeting; United States Foreign Policy; Understanding Defence; Politics of the European Union; The Law of Cyber Warfare; Non-State Violence as a Challenge to Security; Social Media and Politics; Sovereignty, Rights and Justice; Revolutions and Rebellion in International Politics.
Assessment method
You will study a mixture of core units and elective options, including a generous choice of free options, and write a supervised dissertation over the summer.
Entry requirements
2:1 Prospective students should have an undergraduate honours degree (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant subject area such as politics, international relations, history, geography, or economics. Normally we require a UK 2:1 (Honours) or equivalent in relevant subjects but we will consider a high 2:2 or relevant work experience. Candidates with professional qualifications in an associated area may be considered. Where a ‘high 2:2’ is considered, we would normally define this as reflecting a profile of 57% or above.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £10600 | Year 1 |
| EU | £19100 | Year 1 |
| England | £10600 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £10600 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £10600 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £10600 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £10600 | Year 1 |
| International | £19100 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.
All postgraduate fees are subject to inflationary increases. Please be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree (if longer than one year’s duration). This means that the overall cost of studying the course part-time will be slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year.
This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2024/25. Find out more (https://royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/fees-and-funding/postgraduate/tuition-fees/)
These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2024/25 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
Provider information
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham
TW20 0EX