Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Mile End
- Fees
- Home: £12,250
Overseas: £25,500
EU/EEA/Swiss students
What you'll study
Challenge the policies that affect real people in this innovative and flexible programme. We tailor the modules to reflect the current political landscape, both domestic and international, meaning you get to delve into a wide gamut of captivating topics, from HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa to the rise of populism in Europe.
You will explore the historical significance of globalisation in lively group discussions and how it relates to a number of key issues in international relations, including state sovereignty and international order, conflict and war, human rights and the political economy of North-South relations.
The academics who are involved in the Mile End Institute and the Centre for European Research continue to conduct research on constantly changing policy issues and organise free events throughout the year - giving you front-row access to groundbreaking research in action.
You don’t have to have a background in Humanities or Social Sciences to complete this course.
Structure
- One compulsory taught module
- Three taught elective modules
- 12,000-word dissertation
- One non-credit bearing professional skills module (optional)
Compulsory/Core modules
The Masters' Dissertation is an independent programme of study of an approved topic within the field of Politics completed over the summer months (May-August) of your degree programme. It is a compulsory element of your degree amounting to sixty credits (providing one-third of the credits for your degree). It is designed to enable students to undertake independent research and, through this, allow them to develop a specialised knowledge in an area of the Politics discipline which is of particular interest to them. Thus, it may draw upon, and develop an existing topic or issue associated with a module that they have studied in the earlier part of their programme, or emerge out of a student's specific research interest in an area not covered by other module modules. Although the dissertation is meant to be an exercise in independent research and writing, each student will be offered guidance and support through the assigning of a supervisor within the department who will oversee the progress of the dissertation.
The module is designed to give students a good command and understanding of key concepts and theoretical traditions in International Relations and their relevance for understanding contemporary themes in world politics. The module seeks to provide students with a more nuanced understanding of the various social forces and processes shaping world politics including the co-constitutive relationship between the theory and practice of international relations. The module also aims at developing the students' capacity to reflect critically about the main claims, strengths and weaknesses of theories in international relations.
Compulsory/Core Elective modules
The module provides students with a detailed examination - and critique - of theories of globalisation and assessment of contemporary globalising processes, and how these particularly influence the developing world. It examines these influences through detailed analysis of contemporary manifestations of globalisation, including neo-liberalism, US hegemony and contemporary imperialism, capital flows, global commodity chains, state-market relations, patterns of global inequality, international institutions, and questions of cultural homogenisation/imperialism. The module also examines the ways in which globalisation is resisted, focusing on the rise of transnational social movements and NGOs, and the politics of anti-globalisation, and how this relates to an ostensibly post-development era. In addressing these issues, the module concludes by asking the most important question: how do we think of development in an era of globalisation, US hegemony, neo-liberalism and imperialism?
Violent conflict and the use of force remain salient issues in contemporary international relations. While some have theorised that the advent of globalisation and spread of liberal democracy would make the use of force and violent conflict less relevant to the world, war and conflict have remained an integral part of the international system, as well as forming an obstacle to providing stability and security for many states. The module offers an examination of the ways in which violent conflict and the use of force impact on international relations, how force is used by states and other actors, and how force is managed in world politics. The module surveys a variety of perspectives on the causes of war and peace in order to better examine the roots of violent conflicts and security problems in the present day. A major theme is looking at war in a global context, not only in terms of integrating contemporary concerns with globalisation, but also by looking at interconnections between north and south, and war and society. Additionally, the responses of the international community to violent conflict will also be explored, looking broadly at the contested notion of the "Just War", international law, and the role of the United Nations. Overall, the module gives a broad perspective on the place of armed force in contemporary international relations.
Elective modules
This module will consider the principal forms in which US foreign policy has been practised and interpreted since the foundation of the Republic. Amongst these are American Exceptionalism and Anti-Americanism, spheres of influence, liberal interventionism and protectionist isolationism, Cold War containment, the War on Terror following 9/11, and the strains on unipolarity in the early 21st century. Amongst the case studies linked to these themes, we shall consider the role of Native Americans and immigration, the war of 1898, gunboat diplomacy in the Caribbean, the ideas of Woodrow Wilson, the Vietnam War, the consequences of the 9/11 attacks, and the challenges posed by China.
This module will examine the key concepts, debates, actors and processes within international public policy in the contemporary period. Concepts explored include cooperation, international law, globalisation and governance, and regionalism. The module will explore the role of various agents, including states, international organisations, regiobal organisations, private authorities and NGOs in the processes of international public policy-making. The course also examines these issues through a series of case studies, including climate change negotiations, the global financial crisis, human rights regimes, European policy-making and the International Criminal Court.
The European Union has developed from a narrow organisation that sought the peaceful cooperation of certain industries into a supranational political system with executive, legislative and judicial institutions. Over the last three decades the process of European integration has made rapid progress withe the deepening of the Single Market, the creation of a currency union, successive rounds of enlargement . On the other hand, recent setbacks and crises (such as Covid-19, the War in Ukraine, the Eurozone crisis, the 'migratory crisis', Brexit and the grow euroscepticism) have rekindled debates concerning the legitimacy, speed and direction of the European project. The module explores the governance of policy areas in the EU to understand the current challenges within the EU project and the drivers of these crises.
This module provides an introduction to the theoretical foundations of the contemporary analyses of advanced capitalism. How have thinkers within politics and economics theorised and analysed the relationship between the two disciplines? Is it even possible to analytically distinguish between the two? The aim of this module is to answer these two questions by reference to the major theories within the field of political economy. The module analyses both classical and contemporary theories of political economy, and explores their continued relevance to understanding the development of advanced capitalism. Towards the end of the module we will consider some heterodox approaches brought to the fore by the onset of the ongoing financial and economic crisis and consider their relevance.
This module will examine the historical and contemporary place of Latin America in the world system through issues of political economy, cultural identity and international relations. The module will explore dependency, modernization and marxist theories, the legacy of European empires, and the independence movements of the 19th century. It will then consider the more contemporary phenomena of a contested Pan-Americanism, exceptionalist theses for Cuba and Brazil, the evolving role of indigenous American societies and that of Latinos in the USA. The module will conclude with appraisal of the regional experience of neo-liberalism and the reactions to it on continental and international planes.
This module gives students the opportunity to study the international relations of the Middle East through the lens of contemporary conflict. The Middle East is often characterized as the most conflict-ridden region of the world. This module seeks to explore firstly if that is an accurate assessment and secondly why so many conflicts have occurred in this region. Focusing on the contemporary Middle East, while also discussing recent history, `conflict¿ is broadly defined to mean not just wars, but also contested politics. Exploration of these conflicts will be framed by international relations theory and the theories of civil conflicts. The module will first consider the key state (and non-state) actors involved in many of these conflicts, whether regional (Turkey, Iran, Saudi, Israel, UAE/Qatar) or international (US, Russia, China). Thereafter, we will explore different conflict case studies each week in which these rivalries have play out and interacted with domestic politics: Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Kurdistan, Palestine and Libya.
This module will provide an advanced examination of International Organisations (IOs) as a transnational political workspace for both cooperation and contestation between global actors. The module will be grounded in a historical and critical examination of the development of IOs in the 19th century as a tool to manage European international order, and it will emphasize the ways in which IOs developed in conjunction with the modern state. Building upon this critical grounding, the module will examine today's IOs, with a particular focus on the UN system, and their effectiveness in confronting global challenges in the 21st century. The module will conclude with a capstone day-long Model UN simulation.
This module equips students with the necessary analytical tools to navigate a complex world that is constantly challenging borders and boundaries. It highlights the interconnectivity between local and global processes, as well as the intricate relationship between human societies, technology and nature. Through this module, students will develop a critical understanding of the value and limitations of International Political Sociology as a transdisciplinary field. They will gain fresh perspectives on current international, global, and planetary conditions, which will enable them to engage with pressing world political issues in creative and meaningful ways.
The demise of the nation-state and the disappearance of nationalism have been predicted on many occasions, yet they stubbornly stick around. This module explores the past, present, and possible futures of nationalism through an interdisciplinary approach that brings together insights from sociology, history, political theory, and international relations. During the module, students will acquire an advanced understanding of the sources of nationalism, the role of nationalism in the making of the international order, and the multifaceted ways that nationalism continues to shape society and politics today.
US politics attracts high levels of attention around elections, but far less notice afterwards. In order to understand the politics of the United States, we must study not only who holds power but also how power is exercised. Public policy is the marshalling of public resources and legal power to shape individual and collective outcomes. This module explores the US policy-making process before examining a wide range of domestic and foreign policy competences, such as education, housing, trade, and immigration.
The module introduces students to the study of violence from an anticolonial, feminist and queer perspective in the twenty-first century. Rather than take a case study approach, the module equips students with the necessary analytical, epistemic and ethical tools to understand the complexities of confronting and researching violence with themes such as debility/disability; ecocide and urbicide; femicide and anti-gender violence; extraction and racial capitalism; militarisation and occupation; epistemic violence; coloniality and technology, among others. In addressing these themes, the module will highlight the connections and query the neat distinctions between the global/international and the everyday through a feminist and gender perspective. Students will learn what it means to see the world through anticolonial, feminist and queer perspectives, enabling them to engage with pressing issues in global political in creative and ethical ways.
You must take either the ‘International Security: War and Peace in a Global Context’ module or the ‘Globalisation and the International Political Economy of Development’ module. You can take both of these modules if you wish.
Assessment
Modules are assessed through coursework. You will also be assessed through an individual dissertation.
Dissertation
The final dissertation is your chance to conduct in-depth and independent research on a topic that is of direct interest to you and your career goals. Previous outstanding work includes:
- Is China challenging US economic hegemony?
- Postcolonial President? Barack Obama and humanitarian intervention
- Globalisation, inequality and underdevelopment: The myth of economic convergence
- Is the UN fit to prevent genocide?
Teaching
Our interdisciplinary approach includes lectures led by internationally-recognised academics at the cutting edge of their fields.
You will gain invaluable insight from guest speakers, experience ground-breaking research and develop communication skills through interactive seminars, presentations and lively group discussions with your peers.
We invest in both your educational and personal development, and you will be assigned an Academic Adviser who will support you during your studies.
Professor James Dunkerley
Where you'll learn
Facilities
At Queen Mary, you will have access to a number of advanced facilities, some of which are designated exclusively for postgraduate students. These include:
- Mile End Institute, a significant policy centre based at Queen Mary brings together policymakers, academics and local communities to address national political challenges.
- State-of-the-art media suite with editing software (QUBE)
- A Graduate Centre, offering purpose-built study spaces and an exclusive rooftop standard room
- Think Pod - an interactive collaboration space with presentation, recording and video conferencing facilities
- Access to some of London’s outstanding facilities including The British Library, Senate House Library and Copac
Campus
You will study in the heart of London, the UK’s capital. Home to parliament, political think tanks and economic powerhouses, London is where all the action occurs. We host a range of high-profile speakers on campus and offer students regular contact with Westminster, Whitehall and the third sector through our events.
If you prefer to study online via distance learning, find out more about our International Relations Online MA
About the School
School of Politics and International Relations
The School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary has an interdisciplinary structure that enables us to deliver a modern approach to educational research.
With a focus on high-quality teaching and innovation, the school ensures engaging educational pathways, alongside supportive staff and excellent research facilities. Our staff are active researchers with diverse interests across politics, international relations, and sociology, from security and war to migration and environmental politics, which is reflected in our high-level teaching and the breadth of our programmes.
We are also a member of the Russell Group of leading research universities in the UK.
Career paths
A master's from the School of Politics and International Relations offers a competitive advantage to enter into a number of professions.
During your studies, you'll have access to support at every stage in your degree, including one-to-one academic guidance, tailored workshops, and external guest speakers on topics such as careers in public affairs and working in parliament.
Graduates of this course have gone on to work in roles such as:
- Project Coordinator
- Freelance journalist
- Account executive
- Plan and policy analyst
- Manager of student affairs
- Finance inspector
- Researcher.
Fees and funding
Full-time study
September 2025 | 1 year
- Home: £12,250
- Overseas: £25,500
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Conditional deposit
Home: Not applicable
Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits
Part-time study
September 2025 | 2 years
- Home: £6,150
- Overseas: £12,750
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Conditional deposit
Home: Not applicable
Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits
Queen Mary alumni can get a £1000, 10% or 20% discount on their fees depending on the programme of study. Find out more about the Alumni Loyalty Award
Funding
There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Postgraduate loans (UK students)
- Country-specific scholarships for international students
Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:
Entry requirements
UK
Degree requirements
A 2:1 or above at undergraduate level in Politics or a related discipline.
Other routes
Candidates that do not currently meet the set entry requirements may also have the option to study the Graduate Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences. Meeting the required grades on completion of this programme will provide a pathway to study MA International Relations.
Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.
International
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.
The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the School of Politics and International Relations falls within the following English band:
Band 5: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 7.0 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.
Visas and immigration
Find out how to apply for a student visa.