Politics and International Relations (Political Theory)

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Durham University

Program Overview

This MA gives you a chance to deeply explore political thought, global governance, and international relations — mixing classical theory with cutting-edge global issues. It’s perfect for students who want to shape how we think about politics, diplomacy, and international justice, or plan a career in policy, academia, or global affairs.

Curriculum structure

The course is a one-year full-time programme (or two years part-time), designed to build both theoretical understanding and research skills.

In the initial part of the MA, you select a core module from List A — either Ideologies and Political Thought or Contemporary Political Philosophy — guiding your grounding in political ideas and philosophical foundations.

Simultaneously, you take a core module from List B — either International Relations Theory or International Organisation — offering a rigorous framework to analyse global politics, institutions, and world order.

As you progress, you choose optional modules from List C, allowing you to tailor your path — for example into global political economy, regional politics (Middle East, East Asia), global governance, or deeper political-theory topics — depending on your interests.

Finally, you complete a major independent research project — the dissertation — giving you first-hand experience in academic-level research and writing on a topic of your choice within political theory or international relations.

Focus areas

“Political thought & theory; global governance & international institutions; international relations theory; regional/global politics; global political economy; comparative politics and global affairs”

Learning outcomes

“You will gain advanced theoretical understanding of political ideologies and international relations; learn to critically analyse global political systems and institutions; master research methods to study political and international issues; and develop capacity to formulate independent scholarly arguments or policy-oriented insight.”

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The MA is offered through Durham’s School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA), a research-intensive department known globally for political science and IR teaching — giving academic credibility and strong preparation for careers in policy, diplomacy, research or academia.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The programme doesn’t just give you lecture-based learning — at Durham, you become part of a research-intensive environment, and you’re supported by libraries, research centres, group seminars and academic resources that help you practise analysis, engage with real political issues, and work with peers and staff across global political topics. As part of the school, you’ll benefit from institutional backing that blends academic depth with real-world relevance.

And here are some of the key experiential-learning resources you’ll have access to:

Access to active research centres & institutes: As a student in the relevant school, you’ll be able to engage with several research groups and institutes focused on politics, international relations, political sociology, global governance, etc. This gives opportunities for attending research-led seminars, events, guest-lectures and potentially collaborating on research.
Dedicated postgraduate-level IT and study-room facilities: The school provides postgraduate students with dedicated study rooms and IT-supported facilities — good for group work, data analysis (for whichever module or research you’re doing), and independent research.
Extensive library & archival resources: You’ll have access to the university’s main libraries, including large collections, special-collections / archives (via the university’s library and Palace Green & Bill Bryson Library), plus group and individual study rooms, 24/7 study-space availability during term or exam periods, and PC workspaces for research.
Seminars, tutorials, and group-based learning / research-led teaching: Instead of just large lectures, students benefit from seminar-style sessions, tutorials, and smaller group-based learning which encourage discussion, debate, and critical thinking — essential for political theory, IR, and global politics.
Research and dissertation supervision — preparing for real-world academic or policy work: As the school emphasises scholarly enquiry and independent research, you will get training in research methods and get supervised support when working on your dissertation or research projects, which helps you build practical analysis and writing skills relevant to academia, policy-research or advocacy.
Opportunities to engage with global and diverse peer-community: The school hosts students and scholars from many countries, giving you exposure to multiple perspectives on global politics — a real plus especially for international relations and political theory, helping you understand varied contexts, debates and worldviews.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this MA often go on to roles in diplomacy, policy-making, research, media or international organisations — common jobs include Policy Analyst, Diplomatic Service Officer, International Affairs Consultant, or Researcher / Academic Fellow. Because the programme combines rigorous theory with global awareness and research skills, you’ll leave well equipped for work in government, NGOs, think-tanks, international institutions, media, or academia.

Here’s how Durham supports you — and what outcomes recent graduates tend to achieve:

University services to support employment: Durham’s central Careers & Enterprise Centre provides career-planning support, employer-network events, help with CVs/interviews, and guidance for international students seeking graduate-level work.
Strong graduate employability outcomes & salary benchmark: According to the latest data, 87% of Durham graduates (across courses) are in work or further study 15 months after graduation, with a median starting salary of £34,000 for international graduates in full-time graduate-level roles.
Wide range of sectors & employer exposure: Former post-graduates from this course have entered sectors including government, diplomacy, media/broadcast journalism, charity or NGO sector, business & finance, law, academia, and the armed forces.
Global reputation & long-term value of the degree: Being part of a globally respected, research-intensive university’s school of government and international affairs gives your MA long-term credibility and opens doors internationally.
Graduation outcomes — research, policy, media, global roles: Graduates often move on to influential positions in policymaking, diplomacy, international NGOs, journalism, consultancy, and academic or research roles — a sign that the MA offers both theoretical depth and practical relevance.