MSc International Relations

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Glasgow

Program Overview

The MSc International Relations at Glasgow offers a broad and rigorous grounding in global politics, international security, and global development — blending theory, empirical methods, and real-world issues. It suits students who want to understand contemporary global challenges (conflict, development, migration, globalisation, human rights, etc.) and prepare for careers in diplomacy, international organisations, policy, research, or global advocacy.

Curriculum Structure

Since this is a 12-month full-time master’s (on-campus) programme:

Core Courses (Term 1): You study fundamentals including International Relations Theory — covering major theoretical traditions in IR — and Research Design for Politics and International Relations (or equivalent methods training)** — which equips you with methodological tools needed for advanced analysis and research in IR.
Pathway-specific or Optional Courses (Terms 1 & 2): Depending on whether you follow the general pathway or a regional/ thematic pathway (e.g. Global Russia, Global China, or general IR), you pick from a wide set of optional courses. For example: Conflict Analysis, Decolonisation & International Economic Relations, Gender, Race and International Relations, Globalisation: Challenges from the South, International Organisations, International Relations of the Middle East, Quantitative Data Analysis, Humanitarian Intervention, among others.
Specialized Regional or Thematic Pathways: If you choose a specialised pathway (e.g. Global Russia), you may take courses such as Russian Foreign Policy, Media and Democratisation in Central and Eastern Europe, Energy, Politics and Society in Eurasia, or language-based courses such as Russian for Social Scientists (beginners to advanced) — supporting regional/language specialisation when needed.
Dissertation / Independent Research (Summer): The programme concludes with a dissertation — enabling you to conduct rigorous independent research on a global-politics topic of your choice, combining theories, method training, and thematic/regional interest developed during coursework.

Focus areas

“International Relations Theory; Global Security & Conflict; Global Governance; International Political Economy; Human Rights & Development; Globalisation & Global South; Regional Studies (e.g. Middle East, Eurasia, China); Quantitative and Qualitative Methods; International Organisations; Humanitarian Intervention; Gender, Race & Global Politics.”

Learning outcomes

“You will develop a strong theoretical and conceptual understanding of global politics; gain robust methodological and research skills to analyse international issues; acquire ability to critically assess global challenges — including conflict, development, human rights, globalisation, and regional dynamics; and emerge ready for careers or further research requiring advanced analytical, policy-oriented, and research capabilities.”

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

When you study this MSc at Glasgow, you benefit from a well-resourced, research-intensive environment where theory meets practice — combining lectures/seminars, independent research, institutional support and access to high-quality library/archives to support deep learning and global affairs work:

Part of a strong research community via the school’s research centres and networks: The programme is embedded within the School of Social & Political Sciences, and students benefit from research- and teaching-initiatives such as the Glasgow Centre for International Development, the Glasgow Refugee, Asylum & Migration Network, the Glasgow Human Rights Network and the “Global Security Network / Roundtable” events. You get to engage with academic staff, attend seminars and events — gaining exposure to current global-policy debates and research projects.
Hands-on real-world exposure via a study trip to Brussels: The programme includes a 3-day study trip to Brussels, where students have historically visited places like the European Commission, the European Parliament, NATO, “Scotland House” and the World Bank — giving you a chance to observe how international relations and diplomacy work in practice and to build networks.
Access to strong academic and research facilities: As a postgraduate student in Social & Political Sciences you get access to the university’s extensive library system — the main library has large collections and a dedicated postgraduate area with study spaces, computers and digital resources — essential for research, dissertation work or global-politics analysis.
Opportunities for internships and real-world work experience: Through the university’s Student Opportunities Hub, postgraduate and graduate students — including MSc IR students — can access a range of internships, both part-time during the academic year and full-time over summer. These can be with external organisations or within the university itself, helping you build practical work experience, professional skills, and improve employability.
Flexible curriculum + independent research (dissertation) enabling hands-on policy/research experience: The MSc combines core modules such as “International Relations Theory” and “Research Design for Politics and International Relations”, plus optional modules (on security, development, globalisation, humanitarian intervention, regional politics, etc.) — giving you flexibility to tailor your studies. The dissertation gives you a chance to conduct independent, substantive research on a topic of your choice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the MSc International Relations at Glasgow are well positioned for impactful careers in diplomacy, global institutions, policy-making, research, and international organisations. Typical roles include: Diplomatic Service Officer / Foreign Affairs Officer, Policy Analyst / Advisor, International Organisations Staff, Researcher at think-tanks or NGOs.

Because the programme combines strong theoretical grounding, methodological training, and real-world exposure (via study-trips, optional modules, and research networks), you also emerge ready for roles involving global security, humanitarian work, development, global governance, and regional specialisation.

How University of Glasgow Supports These Outcomes

On-campus Career & Employability Support: The university’s Careers Service offers dedicated help for international and postgraduate students — including CV/applicant-profile advice, interview preparation, job search support, and sessions on working in the UK or international job markets.
Strong Graduate-Outcome Record: For recent cohorts across disciplines, a very high proportion of graduates find employment or continue with further studies within months of graduation — a positive indicator for degrees like this.
Access to Global Employer & International Organisation Networks: Through the programme’s study trip to Brussels (visiting institutions such as the European Commission, European Parliament, NATO, World Bank, etc.), you get a rare opportunity to see international governance in action and build contacts — a valuable step toward careers in diplomacy, international policy, or global governance.
Research-Ready Skills & Interdisciplinary Credentials: The MSc provides rigorous training in theory, methods, and research design — giving you the analytical and academic tools that are valuable for think-tanks, NGOs, international organisations, policy-research units, or further academic work.
Flexibility for Specialisation and Global/Regional Focus: The course offers pathways and optional modules (e.g. area-studies, humanitarian intervention, global security, international political economy, etc.), allowing you to tailor your profile toward interests in regional politics, human rights, global development, international security or global governance — increasing relevance for specialised sectors.