International Relations (Taught)

The Masters in International Relations is designed for those interested in study of the most challenging problems our world currently faces, such as international conflict and instability, terrorism, climate change, or rapid globalisation. Building on a thorough understanding of international relations theory, it trains you in how to apply and leverage methods and research design to answer the most pressing societal questions of our time.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• This programme offers comprehensive training in what international relations has to say about some of the most challenging problems in international politics and equips you with the appropriate methods and a good understanding of research design to analyse political data.

• It draws on expertise in the fields of international relations theory, normative international theory, international security, international organisations, non-state actors, human rights, humanitarian intervention, and international political economy.

• You can choose between the General and Global Russia pathway, allowing you to specialise in a particular area of international relations and develop knowledge on specific world regions and specific themes.

• You will benefit from a number of research and teaching initiatives which touch on important international issues, including Global Security Roundtable, Global Security Network, Glasgow Centre for International Development, Glasgow Refugee, Asylum & Migration Network; and Glasgow Human Rights Network.

• During a 3-day study trip to Brussels you will gain first hand experience on how international relations is done in practice and get access to a highly sought after job market. Past visits have included the European Commission, the European Parliament, NATO, Scotland House, and the World Bank.

• You will gain a wide range of transferrable skills, including how to convey complex ideas and information effectively both orally and in writing, or how to analyse problems in international politics to inform the public debate. Extensive, tailored, writing, assessment and employability support is available throughout the programme.

• International Relations at Glasgow is ranked 5th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2026.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
You will take two core and four optional courses. You will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and undertake independent research.

Core courses
International Relations Theory
Research Design for Politics and International Relations

Your remaining course choices will depend on the pathway you enrol for.

Pathway A: General
You will choose at least three courses from the following:

Conflict Analysis
Decolonisation & International Economic Relations
Gender, Race and International Relations
Global Development and Human Rights
Global Social Movements
Globalisation: Challenges from the South
Humanitarian Intervention: Civilian or Sovereignty
International Organisations
International Relations and Development
International Relations of the Middle East
Quantitative Data Analysis
The Ethics of War and Peace

Pathway B: Global Russia
You will choose at least two courses from the following:

Contemporary Challenges in Eastern Europe, Russia and Eurasia
Energy, politics and society in Eurasia
Media and Democratisation in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union
Russian Foreign Policy
Russian Politics and Society
War-making and Peace-making in the former Soviet Union
Yugoslavia and After: Themes and Controversies

You can also choose one of three available Russian language courses. These courses are available to take in semester one or semester two.

Russian for Social Scientists Beginners Semester 2
Russian for Social Scientists Intermediate Semester 2
Russian for Social Scientists Advanced Semester 2