COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA International Relations at Nottingham Trent University is a QAA-accredited postgraduate programme designed to develop advanced understanding of global politics, diplomacy, and international cooperation through both theoretical and practical lenses. The course begins with International Relations Theory, where students critically examine key concepts such as power, the state, global order, agency, and structure while engaging with major schools of thought in international politics and reflecting on their own ideological assumptions. The Diplomacy, Foreign Policy and Security module builds on this foundation by focusing on real-world decision-making, foreign policy analysis, and contemporary global security challenges, helping students understand how international relations theory is applied in practice. Issues and Methods in Social Research equips students with essential research skills, covering epistemology, methodology, and research design, and preparing them for independent academic work and policy-oriented analysis. The programme culminates in a 60-credit dissertation, allowing students to conduct in-depth research on a topic of their choice within international relations, supported by academic supervision and structured workshops. Alongside these core modules, students select an optional specialism such as Environmental Citizenship, which explores sustainability and environmental politics through diverse theoretical traditions; Global Governance and International Institutions, which examines the role of international organisations in managing global challenges; Negotiating in International Contexts, which develops practical diplomacy skills through simulations such as Model UN or EU decision-making exercises; Gender and Security, which analyses the gendered dimensions of global conflict and insecurity through feminist and interdisciplinary perspectives; or Intercultural Communication at Work, which focuses on building effective cross-cultural communication skills for global professional environments. Together, these modules combine critical theory, applied policy analysis, research training, and practical skill development to prepare graduates for careers in diplomacy, international organisations, government, NGOs, policy research, advocacy, journalism, and global consultancy, while also developing the analytical, communication, and intercultural competencies needed to operate effectively in an interconnected world.