Master of Philosophy in International Relations

(See1. alsoThe programme shall be under the general notice at the commencementsupervision of these regulations.)

The regulations made by the International Relations Graduate Studies Committee are as follows:

First-Year Examination

Every candidate must pass a first-year examination beforeof the endDepartment of Politics and International Relations, which is under the supervision of the thirdSocial termSciences fromDivisional commencementBoard. 

2.  Candidates will be required to follow a full-time course of the course unless given exemption by the International Relations Graduate Studies Committee. The first-year examination shall be set and administered by the examiners appointed to examineinstruction for thesix Mterms.Phil 

3. inThe International Relations. This testexaminations shall consist of threethe parts, as followsfollowing: 

• Qualifying Examination

  4. 1.Candidates Awill formally assessed Research Design Proposal of 4,000 words, excluding bibliography, oncomplete the subjectfirst of the student's proposed M.Phil. thesis. Two hard copies, together with a copy on CD, must be submitted to the Examination Schools by noon on the Monday of sixth week of Trinity Term. It must be accompanied by a separate signed declaration that it is the candidate's own work except where otherwise indicated and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment, either at Oxford or at another institution. The scope and the format are as stated in the Student Handbook.

• year2. A single, three-hour examination paper covering material from the core paperscourse as taught in the first year, namely:

  • (The Development of the International System: The history of the relations between states in peace and war, and the development of the international system. It will include such topics as: major traditions of thought on International Relations; 19th century imperialism and euro-centrism; the concert system, the balance of power and the causes of the First World War; the peace settlement, collective security and the League of Nations; political and economic co-operation in the interwar period; the USA, Soviet Union, Middle East and Far East in the inter-war years; the impact of revolution, domestic politics and ideology on foreign policy; the causes of the Second World War; post-war reconstruction and the origins of the Cold War; the nuclear revolution and the impact of technological change; the evolution of the Cold war; decolonization, nationalism and self-determination; détente, arms control and regional conflicts; the end of the Cold War; the evolution of international economic institutions; the evolution of security institutions; and international relations in the post-Cold War world.

  • Contemporary Debates in International Relations Theory:) Ideasassessed about,by a written examination. 

    5. Candidates will complete Research Design and explanations of, international relations, concentrating mainly (but not exclusively) on the major theoretical approachesMethods in theInternational academicRelations study(Combined) assessed by coursework, full details of internationalwhich relations since 1945. The key theories and approaches towill be examined include: realism and neo-realism; theories about war, security, and the use of force in international relations; classical liberalism, globalization, and transformation in world politics; theories about inter-state co-operation and transnationalism; the concept of international society; constructivism and the impact of law and norms in international relations; neo-Marxist and critical theory approaches to international relations; normative theory and international ethics.

• Details of the scope and coverage are given in the Student Handbook. The examination shall take place on the Friday of eighth week of Trinity Term, the exact time to be set by the examiners.

• 3. The examiners must also be satisfied that candidates have satisfactorily completed their designated course of research training, and candidates must submit to the examiners all coursework completed as a part of their research methods training. The coursework requirements, including administrative arrangements and dates of submission, are set out in the StudentCourse Handbook. Candidatesand should note thaton the StudentUniversity’s HandbookVirtual willLearning setEnvironment. 

  6. datesTo forpass the submissionqualifying (examination and, whereproceed necessaryto resubmission)the ofsecond workyear foreach individualcandidate researchmust modulespass both courses.

• 4. Candidates who fail theeither written examination part of the first-year examinationcourse will normally be allowedable to retake it before the beginning of the next academic year. Candidates who fail the Research Design Proposal or the coursework submitted for the research modules may resubmit their work by the last Friday of August following the end of Trinity Full Term .