MA in International Relations

The MA in International Relations is a one-year comprehensive programme based at the School of History in University College Cork (UCC), in Ireland. The programme draws on international relations, conflict/peace studies and international history; it explores issues such as war and peace, the international order, international crises, counter-insurgency, terrorism and foreign policy.

Our MA course combines an exploration of the contemporary world with a study of the past. It is a field of study that considers the subtleties of diplomacy together with the stark realities of state interactions and looks at how these interactions impact our world. This field of study is of immense importance in today’s richly connected complex world and consequently, individuals skilled in navigating these international relations are prized by potential employers.

Why Choose This Course

This is one of the first MA courses in Ireland to offer you the opportunity to expand your knowledge of international relations. The course has a very successful track record and has produced many high-calibre graduates who have gone on to enter the worlds of international diplomacy, academia, government, and business. It offers a unique combination of contemporary and historical approaches to analysing international relations.

Connected Curriculum

Our learning approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between topics such as history, politics, law, conflict, society, and policy.

Available Scholarships

At UCC we support our student community by offering scholarships and prizes to prospective and current students. Please see the Scholarships & Prizes page for more information. See also the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences postgraduate study page.

Modules

Students take modules to the value of 90 credits comprising taught modules to the value of 45 credits (Part I) and a dissertation to the value of 45 credits (Part II).

Part I

• HI6026 US Foreign Policy and Contemporary History (10 credits)
• HI6056 Issues in World Politics (5 credits)
• HI6092 International Relations Theories and Approaches (10 credits)
• HI6035 Foreign Policy & Diplomacy: Case Studies in Crises and Decision-making (10 credits)

Plus 10 credits from:

• HI6045 War and Peace: the European State System from 1648 to 1990 (10 credits)
• HI6060 The Politics of Terrorism (10 credits)
• GV6115 European Security (10 Credits)
• LW6633 Public International (5 Credits)* and
• LW6566 Contemporary Issues in Public International Law (5 credits)*
• HI6063 Work Placement and Portfolio (10 Credits)

Part II

• HI6100 History Dissertation (45 credits): A dissertation of a maximum of 20,000 words must be submitted by a specified date in September. Your thesis will be on a relevant topic within the broad areas of international relations, including international history and conflict/peace studies.

*The two 5-credit LW modules (LW6633 & LW6566) must be studied as a 10-credit package.

Note: All electives are chosen in consultation with the programme director and are subject to availability and timetable requirements.

Postgraduate Certificate in History (International Relations): Candidates who pass at least 30 credits of taught modules may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in History (International Relations).

Practicalities

The Masters in International Relations is a full-time, taught programme running for 12 months or part-time over 24 months from the date of first registration for the programmes. The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years. In total, you will attend 144 lecture/seminar hours in UCC.

The taught half of the course is centred on continuous assessment such as long and short essays, the compilation of portfolios, policy papers, in-class exercises, analysis of international texts, class participation, and oral presentations. There is one formal written examination. The 50% weighting for the thesis reflects the importance of independent research.

Who teaches on the programme:

Dr David FitzGerald

Dr Detmar Klein

Dr Mervyn O’Driscoll

Professor David Ryan

Dr Jérôme aan de Wiel

Past graduates of the course over the last decade have gone on to further study, academia, diplomatic service, international organisations, the EU, international think tanks, non-governmental organisations and public service. Others have embarked on careers in multinational companies, as well as in traditional sectors such as teaching, journalism, and the civil service.

Postgraduate research

The School of History at UCC is a leading international centre for postgraduate research in history, international relations, and European studies. Consult our PhD page for areas of potential PhD supervision in the field of international relations.