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Understand power, diplomacy, and global governance
Online or on campus
The MA International Relations at Haverton examines how states, international organisations, and non-state actors shape world politics. Core modules cover international theory, security studies, diplomatic history, and global political economy. You will simulate UN Security Council negotiations, write policy briefs for real NGOs, and engage with faculty who have served in diplomatic corps and multilateral agencies. The programme prepares graduates for careers in foreign services, international NGOs, journalism, and further doctoral study. MA International Relations is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 24 months, and the credit total is 36. Students move from Theories of International Relations through Theories of International Relations; International Security & Conflict; Global Political Economy; Diplomatic History since 1945; International Law & Organisations; Foreign Policy Analysis, and finish on MA Dissertation. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students apply the method of the subject to a defined problem and defend the result. Reading is a core text, a case or dataset, and a critique. The artefact a marker expects is a submission that shows the method, the evidence, and the limit of the claim. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Apply major IR theories to contemporary geopolitical crises Draft policy memos and diplomatic correspondence to professional standards Analyse trade agreements, sanctions regimes, and international law Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Simulations include UN Security Council crises, trade negotiations, and humanitarian access dilemmas. You will brief a policy audience in written and oral formats each term. Language support modules (French, Arabic, Spanish) are optional electives.
Faculty spotlight
Ambassador (ret.) James Thompson teaches diplomatic practice; Dr. Fatima Al-Rashid researches Gulf–Africa economic corridors.
Study online
Online tuition is free. Online examinations and certificates are 100% free and sponsored.
On-campus study
Prefer to learn at our London campus? Campus tuition is published on each programme page. All examinations are 100% free of charge.
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| IR501 | Theories of International Relations Theories of International Relations (IR501) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| IR502 | International Security & Conflict International Security & Conflict (IR502) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| IR503 | Global Political Economy Global Political Economy (IR503) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| IR504 | Diplomatic History since 1945 Diplomatic History since 1945 (IR504) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| IR505 | International Law & Organisations International Law & Organisations (IR505) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| IR506 | Foreign Policy Analysis Foreign Policy Analysis (IR506) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| IR507 | Research Methods in IR Research Methods in IR (IR507) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| IR508 | Regional Studies (Africa, Asia, or Europe) Regional Studies (Africa, Asia, or Europe) (IR508) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| Code | Course | Credits · hours |
|---|---|---|
| IR601 | Contemporary Geopolitics Seminar Contemporary Geopolitics Seminar (IR601) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| IR602 | Policy Simulation & Negotiation Policy Simulation & Negotiation (IR602) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 15 credits and 150 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 15 · 150 h |
| IR603 | MA Dissertation MA Dissertation (IR603) is a course on MA International Relations. It carries 30 credits and 300 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at master's level. Students compare a weaker method, judge the evidence, and state what the result does not show. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.
| 30 · 300 h |
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
The published duration is 24 months. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
You may study this award fully online from your country, or — where published — on campus at Haverton. Online study does not require a student visa. Campus study may.
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. All online degree examinations and certificates are 100% free and sponsored — the only cost for online study is the application fee. Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged separately. Check the Fees page for details.
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Haverton University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@haverton.org.
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