Master of Philosophy in International Relations

1. The regulationsprogramme madeshall bybe under the supervision of 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 twothe parts, as followsfollowing: 

Qualifying Examination

• 4. 1.Candidates Awill single, three-hour examination paper covering material fromcomplete the core papers as taught in the first year, namely:

  • core course (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: Ideas about, and explanations of, international relations, concentrating mainly (but not exclusively) onassessed theby majora theoreticalwritten approaches in the academic study of international relations since 1945examination. The key theories and approaches to 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. 

• 5. 2.Candidates Awill designated course of research methods training covering material from the programme as taught in the first year, including written work and/or tests in statistics and incomplete Research Design and Methods in International Relations. The(Combined) assessed by coursework, full details of thesewhich requirementswill arebe set out in the StudentCourse Handbook and on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment. 

• 36. To pass the qualifying examination and proceed to the second year each candidate must pass both courses. Candidates who fail either or both of the first-year written examinationscourse will normally be allowedable to retake the failed paper(s)it before the beginning of the next academic year.