International Relations and Security MRes

12 Months On Campus Masters Program

University of Liverpool

Program Overview

This MRes offers a focused, research-intensive immersion into international relations and security studies — ideal if you want to become a serious researcher, policy-analyst or ultimately do a PhD. It suits those who care about global politics, conflict, security, and wish to gain strong methodological and analytical tools to understand and influence world affairs.

Curriculum structure

This is a one-year full-time (or two-year part-time) programme that combines in-depth theoretical grounding, rigorous methods training, and a major independent research project (dissertation) under supervision.

At the start, you complete a 30-credit core module (covering essential theories and frameworks in International Relations and Security) and a 30-credit research-training module — together these give you the theoretical and methodological foundations needed for advanced research.
During the year, you’ll study key subjects such as security theory, international relations theory, conflict analysis — allowing you to understand traditional and critical approaches to security, including how issues like non-state violence, global governance, human rights, and geopolitics are studied.
The final and central element is the dissertation (120 credits total programme) — an independent research project where you design your own research question, apply the methods you have mastered, analyze data or texts, and produce a substantial piece of original academic work. This is excellent preparation — whether you aim for academic career, policy-research, or consultancy in IR/security domains.

Focus areas

“International relations theory; security studies; conflict analysis; global governance; state and non-state actor violence; human rights and international justice; global political economy; advanced social-science research methods”

Learning outcomes

“You will gain deep theoretical understanding of global politics and security; master social-science research methods (qualitative and quantitative) for IR; develop capacity to conduct independent, original research; and be able to apply analytical frameworks to real-world global issues, conflicts and security challenges.”

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Liverpool, this MRes doesn’t just teach theory — it’s structured to help you become an independent researcher, using high-quality academic infrastructure, small-group teaching, and tailored supervision. This environment gives you real-world-relevant research and analytical skills, preparing you for doctoral study, policy work, or analysis roles.

Here are some of the concrete experiential learning opportunities and supports you’ll benefit from:

Personalised, research-oriented degree structure: The programme is explicitly described as “a personalised and focused introduction to postgraduate research,” where you work closely with a supervisor to design and complete an independent research project. This means you learn how to formulate research questions, choose methods, do in-depth analysis — skills essential for academic or policy research careers.
Access to the University’s campus facilities & resources: The University of Liverpool campus offers extensive teaching and research infrastructure — including lecture theatres, seminar rooms, libraries, and research-support facilities — across its central campus.
Seminars, interactive teaching, and optional pathways: Teaching is delivered through interactive lectures and seminars. The MRes (and its related MA programme) offers flexibility via optional pathways (e.g. Conflict Resolution, Political Communication, International Relations and Security) — allowing you to tailor your studies to your interest. This variety helps you build analytical, theoretical and thematic versatility.
Strong methodological training: Through the degree’s design, you engage with social-science research methods appropriate to IR and security studies — enabling you to analyse data, international security issues or political trends with rigor.
Support for independent research and dissertation work: The MRes emphasises completing an original research dissertation — giving you practical experience in research design, sourcing literature/data, writing and presenting findings — akin to early-career research practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of this MRes are well-placed for roles such as Policy Analyst, Security / International Affairs Researcher, Diplomatic / Government Advisor, or Think-Tank / Consultancy Analyst — because the course combines rigorous theory, methods training, and a major independent research project to build strong analytical and research skills. And with Liverpool’s strong graduate-employability environment and support infrastructure, you’ll have good chances to launch a meaningful career in global affairs, security, policy or research.

Here’s what supports and outcomes you can expect:

Dedicated career-support services for graduates: The university’s Careers & Employability team continues to support you after graduation — offering services like CV and interview coaching, job-search assistance, access to job postings via Handshake, and networking opportunities.
Strong overall graduate-employability record of the University: According to recent institutional reporting, Liverpool has improved its share of graduates finding “high-skilled employment or further study” 15 months after graduation — placing the university among the stronger performers in the UK.
Wide range of sectors and employer reach: Because the MRes builds high-level research and analytical capacity — in security, IR, conflict, governance — graduates are eligible for roles in government, international organisations, NGOs, think-tanks, policy consultancies, security/defence analysis, academia or research institutions.
Flexible qualification with long-term academic value: As a research-oriented MSc, the MRes offers an excellent foundation for doctoral-level study (e.g. MPhil / PhD) or long-term careers in research and policy — giving the degree enduring academic credibility.

Further Academic Progression:

You also have a clear pathway to advanced academic study: after the MRes, you could pursue a PhD in International Relations, Security Studies, Global Governance, Conflict & Peace Studies, or related social-science fields. The strong methodological and research training, along with the MRes’s reputation at Liverpool, will give you a solid foundation for doctoral-level work or academic research careers.