Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MA International Relations
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MA International Relations | Programme code | PTA1HPSHPS01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
At its core, the programme provides solid foundations in International Relations theory and will provide you with an understanding of how states, regions and multinational organisations have developed and interact. You will investigate the important questions relevant to world politics such as what are weak states, how do they become this way, and why do states go to war?
While the MA International Relations has particular focus on issues such as security, terrorism, global resistance movements, human rights, international law and governance, there is considerable scope to study specific topics of interest to you. Students in the past have investigated topics as diverse as the aboriginal territorial protests in Australia, the war on terrorism, US immigration policy and the power of global corporations.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
- To provide a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the key concepts and principle mainstream approaches to international relations;
- To provide a sophisticated understanding of new perspectives in international relations, and their application to contemporary issues and practice in world politics;
- To produce graduates who are highly competent in subject-specific, core academic, and personal and key skills;
- To offer students a wide choice of option modules to enable them to construct a coherent programme of study that matches their interests and needs.
4. Programme Structure
The programme is studied over 12 months (full time) or 24 months (part time) and is University-based throughout the period. The programme comprises 180 credits in total: taught modules worth 120 credits in total, and a supervised dissertation, incorporating dissertation skills taught sessions, worth 60 credits. Teaching takes place over two semesters (October to May), followed by completion of the dissertation over the summer (June to September). Each taught module is normally taught through seminars, underpinned by reading and essay assignments. The taught element consists of core modules and options.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
Politics and International Relations modules https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/modules/?prog=politics
You will complete 180 credits which include 3 compulsory modules: POLM502 International Relations: Power and Institutions (30 credits), POLM341 Omnishambles! Global Politics Simulation (30 credits), and POLM886 Dissertation (60 credits).
Stage 1
Students must take 3 compulsory modules: POLM502 (30 credits), POLM341 Omnishambles! Global Politics Simulation (30 credits) and POLM886 (60 credits). The remaining 60 credits come from optional modules listed below.
Up to 30 credits of modules may be taken from another discipline in the university, with approval from the programme director (or equivalent) of the relevant discipline.
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLM502 | International Relations: Power and Institutions | 30 | No |
| POLM886 | Dissertation | 60 | No |
| POLM341 | Omnishambles - Global Politics Simulation | 30 | No |
Optional Modules
60 credits of option modules
Please note that modules are subject to change and not all modules are available across all programmes, this is due to timetable, module size constraints and availability
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA International Relations option modules 2025-6 | |||
| POLM082 | International Relations of the Middle East | 30 | No |
| POLM088 | State-building after Civil War | 30 | No |
| POLM144 | The West, Civilisations and World Order | 30 | No |
| POLM217 | Conflict, Security and Development in Eurasia | 30 | No |
| POLM239 | International Organisation | 30 | No |
| POLM084 | Conflict, Security and Development in World Politics | 30 | No |
| POLM168 | From Oppression to Resistance: Exploring the Intersections of Race, Class and Gender | 30 | No |
| POLM173 | Theories of International Development | 30 | No |
| POLM174 | Tools, Policy and Practice of International Development | 30 | No |
| POLM503 | Foreign Policy Decision-Making | 30 | No |
| POLM651 | State and Society in the Middle East | 30 | No |
| POLM803 | Sources in Modernity and Post-Modernity | 30 | No |
| POLM897 | Surveys and Experiments: Design, Implementation and Analysis | 15 | No |
| SPAM002 | Security, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies | 30 | No |
| SSIM912 | Introduction to Social Network Analysis | 15 | No |
| POLM343 | Gender, War and Militarism | 30 | No |
| POLM063 | Qualitative Methods in Social Research | 15 | No |
| POLM140 | Qualitative Methods in Social Research | 30 | No |
| POLM809 | Applied Quantitative Data Analysis | 15 | No |
| POLM222M | The Politics, Policy and Practice of Sustainable Development | 30 | No |
| POLM228M | Leadership, Equality and Diversity | 30 | No |
| POLM237M | Collaborative and Participatory Governance | 30 | No |
| POLM342M | Public Accountability and Governance | 30 | No |
| POLM148 | Brexit: Causes, Interpretation and Implications | 30 | No |
| POLM156 | The Transformation of Politics in the Global Age | 30 | No |
| POLM158 | Digital Politics and Policy | 30 | No |
| POLM307 | International Politics of the Body | 30 | No |
| POLM887 | Public Policy Process | 30 | No |
| POLM231 | State Crime | 30 | No |
| POLM110 | Theories of Diplomacy and Foreign Policy | 30 | No |
| POLM242 | Strategy | 30 | No |
| POLM241 | How to Make a Decision | 30 | No |
| POLM240 | Security Futures | 30 | No |
| POLM245 | Ethnopolitical Conflicts in International Law and Politics | 30 | No |
| POLM246 | The Politics of the Future | 30 | No |
| SOCM021 | Food Systems, Alternative Food Networks and Ethical Consumption | 30 | No |
| SOCM054 | Food Systems, Alternative Food Networks and Ethical Consumption | 15 | No |
| SOCM045 | Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment | 30 | No |
| SOCM044 | Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment | 15 | No |
| SPAM007 | Which Policies Work? Causal Methods for Policy Evaluation | 15 | No |
| POLM344 | Empire and Hierarchy in Russia and Eurasia | 30 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the key concepts from international relations | 1-6 are developed through seminar discussion and assignments in the core modules, and applied in the dissertation. | 1-6 are assessed through coursework assignments, and in particular through the dissertation. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
7. Synthesise and comment critically on contemporary research in International Relations | 7 is developed through seminar work and assignments in all modules. 8-9 are developed through written assignments. 10 is developed through the dissertation module. | These skills are assessed through assessed assignments and the dissertation. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
11. Think independently at an advanced level | 11-13 are requirements of all modules, and especially the dissertation. 14-15 are core requirements of all modules, and especially the dissertation. 16 is developed through seminar work on the taught modules. 17 is developed primarily through module assignments and the dissertation. | 11-13 are assessed in all modules by essay work, and by the dissertation. 14-15 are assessed on all modules through the essays that go to make up the portfolio on which the coursework is assessed, and in the dissertation. 16 is reflected in seminar work and presentations. 17 is assessed indirectly through coursework and the dissertation. |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
Students are normally required to have a 2.1 or better in Politics or a cognate discipline at first degree level.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MA International Relations
19. UCAS Code
C5IN
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | ECTS credits |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 01/10/2009 |
Date of last revision | 29/03/2021 |
|---|
