University of Surrey, MSc, International Relations

Mastering key skills in political science will allow you to explore the links between local, national and international structures, particularly in relation to the nature of the international system and processes of global governance.

The programme is composed of three pathways. The International Relations pathway provides a deep understanding of key issues in the contemporary international system. The second pathway, Terrorism and Security, focuses on the key domestic and international security threats facing states in the 21st century. Finally, the innovative International Intervention pathway enables you to understand and evaluate contemporary debates in the study of international intervention. This pathway also includes a placement option, allowing you to spend three months working in the field of international politics.

The programme provides you with the skills necessary to design and complete a dissertation or placement project on a specialist topic, including formulating research questions, conducting a literature review, selecting appropriate methods of data collection, engaging with data analysis to provide answers to the research questions, and presenting research according to scholarly conventions.

Career Prospects

This MSc programme in International Relations is a great stepping stone in your career development, whatever your plans. Through its assessed, three-month placement, the International Intervention pathway offers an excellent opportunity to enhance a wide range of transferable skills and build personal networks which will significantly enhance your employment opportunities upon graduation.

Students from the School have gone on to a wide range of employment choices. These include working for international organisations, national and local government, lobby groups and non-governmental organisations, as well as private businesses and media organisations. The University also offers doctoral supervision in a wide range of political subjects for talented students who wish to continue their studies.