Global Governance and Diplomacy (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy investigates a broad range of policy issues related to the institutions and processes of global governance and diplomacy – at international, transnational, state, and domestic levels.

The MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy will equip you to understand and explain global governance and diplomacy, and will prepare you for a career in these areas and beyond.

By focusing on the institutions and processes of global governance and diplomacy, you will not only develop a comprehensive big-picture view of world politics but also specialise on topical aspects and make an original contribution based on your own research.

Course structure
The course comprises a foundation course, two option courses from a list of choices, a course on research methods, and a dissertation.

Over the duration of the course, you will benefit from a series of plenary lectures and other events. The speakers discuss important issues of global governance and diplomacy and/or provide research-led presentations followed by discussion.

The degree is academic in style but teaches highly topical and relevant real-world phenomena and has enabled past cohorts of students to seek professional employment.

You will find further information, including further details about course offerings, on the departmental website.

Most of the department's teaching takes place in small classes to encourage active participation and enable students to learn from each other. Teaching styles vary and include lectures, seminars, workshops, and student presentations. Reading for a seminar class is normally in the order of five to seven articles, or 100-150 pages per week.

Students and staff are passionate about research for graduate dissertations, which are due in late May or early June. Your general and dissertation supervisor(s) will support you in your academic development and you will meet them regularly. In addition, you will have a college advisor whom you may consult on issues concerning your personal wellbeing.

As a student on the course, you will be able to attend a wide range of public seminars organised within the department and a great variety of events across the University. In particular, the Global Governance and Diplomacy Public Speaker Series brings diplomatic practitioners and academic scholars to the department for public lectures. These enable students to interact with experienced professionals and to discuss new perspectives on current diplomatic events and global governance challenges.

The degree's series of Plenary Lectures familiarises you with the research of core staff, sometimes followed by a social event. Transition to graduate life is helped by a voluntary Coaching Colloquium where students can discuss academic concerns in a friendly atmosphere.