MPol International Relations (integrated masters) including placement year

What is the Integrated Master in Politics (MPol) in International Relations?
The Integrated Master in Politics (MPol): International Relations is a four-year degree, or five years with an optional placement or study abroad. This integrated programme combines undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Develop advanced analytical skills, specialist knowledge of international relations and a master’s-level qualification. Gain the research expertise, global awareness and critical insight needed to understand complex international issues, assess foreign policy decisions and engage confidently with debates that shape the global system.

Why this course
An MPol in International Relations gives you the tools to understand and respond to the forces shaping the global arena. You’ll study conflict, security, diplomacy, and international institutions while developing advanced research, analytical, and communication skills highly valued by employers.

This integrated programme lets you fast-track your studies, completing both an undergraduate and master’s qualification in a streamlined route. It reduces visa and application complexity, giving you a more direct and efficient pathway to advanced study or globally focused professional opportunities.

Learn within a vibrant department at the forefront of international relations research exploring global conflict, diplomacy and international cooperation. Through hands-on learning - from independent research to collaborative projects - you’ll gain experience applying international relations theory to real-world global challenges.

You can choose a placement or study abroad year to apply your learning in professional or international settings, building the global awareness, practical experience and confidence that support strong career development.

This degree will help you develop the advanced research skills, methodological training and conceptual tools needed to analyse international systems, evaluate competing explanations of global conflict and cooperation, and interrogate the evidence behind major foreign policy decisions.

Who should apply
Students driven to understand conflict, cooperation, and change in the global system
Future policymakers, diplomats, and analysts who want to bridge theory and practice
Those aiming for postgraduate-level expertise without taking separate BA and MA routes
Ambitious learners who want to stand out in international relations, politics, and global governance

What you’ll learn
Conflict and security: Explore the causes of war and peace, terrorism, peacekeeping, and strategies for conflict resolution
International relations: Analyse diplomacy, international institutions like the UN and NATO, and mechanisms of global governance
Global challenges: Examine issues such as climate change, migration, inequality, and international development
Political ideas and theory: Understand philosophies underpinning human rights, democracy, and global cooperation
Research methods: Develop practical skills in data analysis, research design, and tools for studying international politics
Advanced insight: Engage with postgraduate-level modules in your final year, gaining an academic and professional edge