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International Relations (Distance Learning)

MA or PGDip or PGCert

Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026

Full time: MA: 12 months; PGDip: 9 months; PGCert: 9 months

Part time: MA: 24 months; PGDip: 18 months; PGCert: 18 months

Location: Distance learning

Department(s): School of Law and Social Sciences

Overview
Course details
Careers
Entry requirements
How to apply
Tuition fees

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Overview

Explore pressing issues and power struggles in today’s globalised world. You’ll examine how states and societies cooperate on our international relations postgraduate course, and question world politics and the global economy.

You’ll get to know the key players, organisations, and policies that underpin world economies. You’ll challenge their aims, and discuss the obstacles they face. You’ll explore how systems impact individuals like refugees and protesters, as well as global problems like the climate emergency.

You’ll have the freedom to pursue what interests you. This might involve scrutinising the Paris Agreement or analysing Fair Trade. Or examining social movements like the Yellow Vests, Flygskam, or pro-democracy activism in Hong Kong. 

You can also study this course on-campus

Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • A political epicentre

    In Oxford, you’ll be at the heart of modern political discourse – there are active discussions on racism and colonialism, and refugee action.

  • Focus on you

    You’ll be taught in small classes, always getting the attention and support you need.

  • An accessible programme

    You can join this course without having studied our international relations undergraduate degree.

  • Taught by experts

    Your tutors are active researchers in their fields of study, and they’ll share their expertise with you.

  • More than essays

    Assessment methods also include presentations, projects, reports and a dissertation, and you’ll receive feedback throughout the year.

Course details

Course structure

In your first semester, you’ll study modules to build your core knowledge of international relations. By examining key theories and how they connect to global issues, and analysing the global economy in several different ways, you’ll develop advanced research skills.

In Semester 2, you’ll gain more understanding of areas of international relations including International Development, Ukraine: Revolution, War and Global Politics and Critical Approaches to Terrorism. You could debate how to handle debt in the Global South, examine the politics of Ukraine, with particular reference to its relations with Russia and global geopolitics or analyse how we define and understand terrorism.

You’ll also complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice. It’s a great opportunity to study something that matches your professional, voluntary or research interests at a deeper level. And you’ll have the opportunity to present your research proposal to fellow students and staff in an online dissertation seminar, for the chance to receive critical feedback from a wider audience.

Three students talking on the way to a lecture

Learning and teaching

You’ll learn directly from leading researchers in international relations. You’ll be able to nurture your interests and develop your expertise.

You’ll learn via:

  • online discussion with your tutors and peers
  • online quizzes
  • narrated slides
  • individual presentations
  • case study analysis
  • live consolidation webinars

And you’ll have access to the  Centre for Global Politics, Economy and Society which runs topical events online.

Assessment

Assessment is conducted through a variety of assignments linked to the expected learning outcomes.

Assignments will include:

  • essays
  • presentations
  • projects
  • reports
  • your dissertation.

These will be spread over the year to provide constant feedback and assessment.

Study modules

The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.

Semester 1

Compulsory modules

  • International Relations in Theory and Practice

    In this module you’ll explore advanced investigation into a diverse range theoretical approaches in International Relations and link them to contemporary issues. Through the module you’ll cover topics like;

    • the role of the state
    • security and insecurity
    • international order and disorder
    • democracy and global governance
    • global development, justice and sustainability
    • the legacies of colonialism
    • race, class and gender.

    You will establish a clear understanding of the role and purpose of theory, and its relation to substantive issues in international relations.

  • Global Political Economy

    You’ll examine competing theoretical perspectives on the emerging global political economy. You’ll look at how these perspectives have evolved, both through theoretical debates and real-world developments.

  • Advanced Research in International Relations

    You’ll examine the main approaches to the study of International Relations. You’ll consider a variety of relevant research methods so that you can understand how evidence is produced and critically appraise the research you use. You’ll discuss documentary research, interviews and focus groups, discourse analysis, surveys and questionnaires, and quantitative methods.

Semester 2

Compulsory modules

  • International Development

    Since the end of the Cold War one of the key dynamics in world politics – the gap between rich and poor – has come into sharper focus. In this module, you’ll examine both the theory and practice of the international politics of development. 

    You’ll start by looking at key theoretical debates and how these have related to practice. You’ll go on to explore contemporary issues in development that illustrate the theoretical debates, such as fair trade and sustainable development.

  • Ukraine: Revolution, War and Global Politics

    In this module you’ll focus on the politics of Ukraine; its context in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the complex politics of the post-Soviet order and its relations with Russia and global geopolitics. You’ll take a historical approach to the topics covered to understand how the Ukrainian state and Ukrainian politics have evolved over time. Explore the political, social and economical factors of the Ukrainian state and through critical analysis of its history. You’ll develop an advanced understanding of international relations and the nature of war in the 21st Century.

  • Critical Approaches to Terrorism

    You’ll critically consider debates about how we define and understand terrorism, as well as thinking about the nature of the threat that terrorism poses. You’ll also explore causes of terrorism and the gender politics of terrorism. We’ll encourage you to take a critical approach and try to think beyond mainstream and conventional answers to some of these issues.

Final project

Compulsory modules

  • Dissertation

    The dissertation is an extended, supervised piece of work on a topic that you choose yourself, ideally related to your professional, voluntary, political or research interests. Examples of dissertation areas would include:

    • a case study of a particular policy initiative
    • an analysis of alternative approaches to a particular policy problem
    • a systematic review and analysis of published evidence on a particular topic
    • an empirical study using methods such as a survey, interviews or observation.

    You’ll also present your dissertation topic at an online dissertation seminar. This is a valuable chance to receive feedback from a wider audience.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Research

Our vibrant research culture is driven by a thriving and collaborative community of academic staff and doctoral students. from across the globe.

83% of International Relations and Politics research was recognised internationally, and rated as either excellent or world leading in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework.

Our research is organised within the Centre for Global Politics, Economy and Society.

Within the Centre we run four dedicated research groups:

  • Critical Security Studies
  • International Political Theory
  • Cultures and Identities
  • State and Society.

As well as meeting to discuss and analyse central texts in the field each group undertakes a number of activities including:

  • organising work-in-progress seminars
  • offering support and feedback for external grant applications
  • hosting visiting fellows
  • sponsoring seminars and symposia.

Find out more by visiting our web pages and browsing our staff profiles.

Female student working from home

Careers

After completing the course, you’ll have picked up sought-after transferable skills including project management, critical analysis, problem-solving, and communication. You’ll have developed a good intercultural awareness and be ready for a career in a field like international development, corporate social responsibility, or with NGOs.

Our graduates now have roles including:

  • Research Analyst at Africa Risk Consulting
  • Senior Consultant at the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency
  • Communications Officer at Save the Children
  • Parliamentary Assistant to a Westminster MP
  • Commercial Manager in the net zero energy sector.

You could also progress further in academia and research.

Our Staff

Dr Molly Cochran

Molly has research and teaching interests in international relations theory, international political thought, American pragmatism, human rights, gender and IR, and democratic global governance.

Read more about Molly

Dr Stephen Hurt

Stephen lectures on international development and South African politics.

Read more about Stephen
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Right

Dr Molly Cochran

Molly has research and teaching interests in international relations theory, international political thought, American pragmatism, human rights, gender and IR, and democratic global governance.

Read more about Molly

Dr Stephen Hurt

Stephen lectures on international development and South African politics.

Read more about Stephen

Related courses

Related course
International Security
Related course
International Relations
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Right

Entry requirements

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) distance learning full time
Masters £9,350; Diploma £8,350; Certificate £4,675
Home (UK) distance learning part time
£4,675
International distance learning full time
Masters £9,350; Diploma £8,350; Certificate £4,675
International distance learning part time
£4,675
Home (UK) distance learning full time
Masters £9,950; Diploma £8,950; Certificate £4,975
Home (UK) distance learning part time
£4,975
International distance learning full time
Masters £9,950; Diploma £8,950; Certificate £4,975
International distance learning part time
£4,975

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) distance learning full time
Masters £9,350; Diploma £8,350; Certificate £4,675
Home (UK) distance learning part time
£4,675
International distance learning full time
Masters £9,350; Diploma £8,350; Certificate £4,675
International distance learning part time
£4,675
2025 / 26
Home (UK) distance learning full time
Masters £9,950; Diploma £8,950; Certificate £4,975
Home (UK) distance learning part time
£4,975
International distance learning full time
Masters £9,950; Diploma £8,950; Certificate £4,975
International distance learning part time
£4,975

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Postgraduate Master's Loan - England

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.