Queen's University Belfast · Full-time
International Relations
Why do states behave the way they do? Why do wars happen and when do they start? What is the role of the United Nations and is it effective in promoting and maintaining global peace and security? How do terrorist organisations influence decision making? Such q…
Postgraduate1 yearFull-time
Browse social sciences courses in UK
School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics · Social sciences
Why do states behave the way they do? Why do wars happen and when do they start? What is the role of the United Nations and is it effective in promoting and maintaining global peace and security? How do terrorist organisations influence decision making? Such questions and others are at the core of this program, which provides a foundation in the academic discipline of International Relations - the array of ‘real world’ practices and problems that produce world politics. Having introduced the theoretical and methodological components which facilitate our study of the field, we use these tools to examine, explain, and understand the issues and processes that make up our world: looking, for example, at war; diplomacy; arms control and arms proliferation; global health policy; humanitarian intervention; international development policy; race and legacies of colonialism; human displacement; inequality and injustice. While still attending closely and consistently to traditional issues of world politics the program offers a significantly broader education in international politics by examining contemporary issues of international politics from a multitude of perspectives, both traditional and more critical. Throughout the program, students are able to balance engagement with core content in the field of International Relations with active development of their own areas of specialisation as they choose elective courses according to their own interests. Among the central aims of the programme is the provision of high-quality methodological and research design training needed to conduct independent research projects to an academically accredited standard. This culminates in the final dissertation stage of the programme. Recent students' dissertation topics have included: Jihadi use of social media; Russian foreign and security policy after the Ukraine conflict; Extreme right-wing terrorism and the internet; Russian private military actors; EU defence policy after BREXIT; Baltic security and the future of NATO; Paramilitarism and the Northern Irish border; Indian defence and security in relation to rising China; The limits of ‘truth and reconciliation’ in conflict resolution and more. This programme equips students to examine, question, understand and explain global issues which affect the world around us, from security and terrorism, migration and mobility, to global financial crises.
Getting in
As the university states it
Normally a 2.2 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Social Sciences, Humanities or Arts related discipline, or a 2.2 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject with relevant professional experience. Applicants who do not meet this entry requirement may, at the discretion of the relevant programme convenor be considered for admission on the basis of relevant work experience and/ or an assessed piece of work. The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicyQUB for more information.
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