MA in International Relations

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Durham University

Program Overview

This MA gives you a comprehensive grounding in how global politics works — from the theory behind world affairs to the institutions that shape international policy. It’s ideal for anyone interested in global issues, diplomacy, policy, or international organisations, whether you come from a social-science background or a different field but want a deeper understanding of global affairs.

Curriculum structure

At Durham, the MA is offered full-time (12 months) or part-time (24 months) — making it a focused but flexible way to deepen your knowledge.

In the first part of the programme, you’ll take core modules like International Relations Theory — where you engage with major IR theories such as realism, liberalism, critical theory, post-colonialism, and more, and learn to apply these to understand global power, security, ethics and state behaviour.

You’ll also study International Organisations, focusing on the history, functioning and politics of global institutions — how they influence diplomacy, development and international cooperation across regions.

As you advance, you choose from optional modules (List A) such as Contemporary Political Philosophy, The Politics of Global Europe, or other electives depending on availability — allowing you to tailor the degree to your interests, whether that’s global governance, political theory, regional politics or other areas.

Finally, you complete your degree with a Dissertation — an in-depth research project where you can explore an issue in global politics or international relations of your choice, guided by faculty experts.

Focus areas

“International relations theory; global governance & institutions; global security; political philosophy; regional/global politics; international cooperation and diplomacy”

Learning outcomes

“You will develop advanced theoretical and analytical skills to understand global political systems, critically assess international institutions and diplomacy, conduct independent research on international issues, and engage with both qualitative and quantitative approaches to study global politics.”

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The programme is offered by Durham University’s School of Government and International Affairs, a globally recognised institution for political and social science — ensuring academic rigour and credibility. There’s no separate “professional-body accreditation” (since IR is an academic/social-science discipline), but the degree’s global reputation and rigorous structure make it highly respected in academia, diplomacy, international organisations and research bodies.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Durham, your MA isn’t only about reading theories — it’s crafted so you build practical research skills, engage in lively debates, benefit from a global-minded community, and draw on world-class institutional resources. As a postgraduate student in the School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA), you’ll be treated as an emerging expert: encouraged to research independently, attend seminars by leading scholars/practitioners, and participate in the school’s vibrant research and policy-oriented community.

Here’s how that works in real, concrete terms:

Access to active research centres and institutes: Through SGIA you’ll engage with a suite of research groups, centres and institutes that focus on international politics — themes like global security, conflict studies, political sociology, political economy and global governance. These institutes regularly host seminars, workshops and guest-speakers, giving you opportunities to interact with academics and practitioners beyond your coursework.
Independent dissertation research under expert guidance: The programme’s core includes a substantial Dissertation — giving you the chance to design, research and write about a topic in global politics that interests you most, with mentoring from faculty at the forefront of their fields.
Seminars, tutorials and group-based learning: Rather than only large lectures, you’ll have many learning sessions in seminar or tutorial format — encouraging discussion, debate, peer interaction and collaborative thinking. This helps you sharpen analytical skills, build argumentation, and learn from classmates with diverse international perspectives.
Access to rich library & archival resources: As a Durham student you can make use of the university’s expansive library and collection resources — including rare collections, historical archives, and research-level materials that support deep study and advanced academic work (perfect for dissertation or research modules).
Opportunity to interact with global community and diverse peers: The School attracts students and staff from around the world — giving you exposure to many viewpoints, cultures and global debates. That international mix enriches classroom discussion and broadens your understanding of politics, diplomacy and world affairs.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of this MA often move into global-facing, policy-oriented, or international-affairs roles — for example as Policy Analyst, Diplomatic Service Officer, International NGO / Development Officer, or Research & Consultancy Associate. Because of Durham’s strong reputation and support services, you’ll leave well positioned for work in government, diplomacy, international organisations, NGO sector, think-tanks or global businesses.

Here’s what you can expect in terms of support and outcomes:

University services to support employment: After your MA, you can draw on Durham’s central Careers & Enterprise Centre, which offers career-planning services, employer networking events, CV/interview workshops, and support with job search or further study planning.
Employment stats and salary benchmarks: As per recent data for postgraduate leavers at Durham, a large majority secure employment or further study within 15 months; in fact, the median starting salary for international graduates in full-time graduate-level roles is reported to be around £34,000.
Flexible employer-reputation and global opportunities: Durham’s strong global reputation and its position in employer-reputation rankings (QS ranking Employer Reputation among world universities) give your degree international visibility — useful if you want to work abroad, in diplomacy, policy-research or global organisations.
Graduation outcomes — broad scope: Completing the MA gives you theoretical depth, strong research skills, and a globallyrelevant qualification — putting you into consideration for roles in international organisations, think-tanks, government agencies, NGOs, consultancy, and diplomacy or public-policy-oriented jobs.