1
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Awarding body/institution:
University of London
Teaching institution (if different
from above):
Queen Mary, University of London
Name of the final award and
Programme title:
MA International Relations
Duration of
Registration
Study/Period
of 1 Year (Full Time) 2 Years (Part Time)
UCAS code:
L2S3 (FT), L2S4 (PT)
QAA Benchmark Group
Politics and International Relations
Academic Department/s
involved in programme delivery
Department of Politics
If accredited by a
professional/statutory body,
please give the name, date of
last accreditation visit,
approximate date of next visit
and details of exemptions that
will be given to QMUL
graduates.
N/A
Criteria for admission to the programme
Upper second class degree in Politics, International Relations, or a related discipline.
Aims of the programme
The aims of the MA programme in IR are:
 To introduce students to the dominant theoretical paradigms used in the analysis
of International Relations.
 To enable students to apply the various approaches and paradigms to current and
historic events and issues in international politics.
 To develop a critical awareness of approaches to the study of International
Relations
Learning outcomes for the programme
On successful completion of the programme, students should be able to:
 Articulate, both orally and in writing, a theoretical critique of the dominant
theoretical paradigms used in the analysis of International Relations.
 Demonstrate an ability to apply such paradigms to current and historic events
and issues in international politics.
 Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate methodologies in the study of
International Relations, and to undertake a piece of extended research and
analysis.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies
The programme will be delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars and
individual tutorials.
Assessment will be by essay and examination.
Assessment details:
Theories of International Relations:

Essay (50%); Other Coursework
(50%)
there may be some variation in the assessment for particular options offered
across the Department and Faculty.
Programme structure(s) and requirements, levels and modules
Students enrolling on this MA programme will take the following core module, worth 30
credits:
POLM023 Theories of International Relations
Students will then choose 3 options, worth 90 credits each from the two lists of options,
below. They must choose at least one of the (core) options from list A and a maximum
of two (general) options from list B
List A – Core Options:
 POLM026 Globalization and the International Political Economy of
Development
 POLM027 International Security: War and Peace in a Global Context
 POLM028 Globalisation and International Relations
List B – General Options
 POLM014 Democracy in Plural Societies
 POLM015 Democratisation and State Autonomy in the Middle East
 GEG7109 Empire, Race and Immigration
 POLM011 Global and Comparative Politics
 GEG7110 Globalisation and Development in Practice
 POLM035 Ideas and Power in Spanish America 1512 – Now
 POLM003 Implementation and Evaluation
 POLM002 International Public Management
 POLM012 Issues in Democratisation
 POLM008 Migrants, Diasporas and Law 1
 POLM009 Migrants, Diasporas and Law 2
 POLM005 Typologies and Theories of Migration 1
 POLM006 Typologies and Theories of Migration 2
 POLM016 Nationalism, Democracy and Cosmopolitanism
 POLM019 Policy Analysis for the Developing World
 POLM013 The Politics of Media
 GEG7114 Understanding Globalization and Development 1
 GEG7114 Understanding Globalization and Development 2
Students will then prepare a 12-15,000 word dissertation (worth 4 CUs)
Quality assurance mechanism (please include details of: SSLC meetings,
student feedback mechanisms, personal tutor arrangements, programme
induction, programme review and monitoring.)
Students on the programme will elect a representative to serve on the SSLC. Individual
tutorials with a member of academic staff will be offered as part of the programme in
which any issues of an academic or personal nature may be discussed. All post-graduate
students will receive a full Departmental induction at the start of the programme, as well
as an introduction and induction to the College. Specific facilities will be offered to
international and overseas students enrolled on the programme.
Employers Links
Please provide details of any links with employers e.g.
•
Details of advisory panels that include current or potential employers;
•
Organisations that regularly employ graduates from this programme
and the roles that graduates undertake.
•
Student prizes donated by organisations that may offer employment to
graduates from this programme.
If there are no links with employers consider the learning outcomes and
transferable skills and explain how these might be used to inform employers
about the qualities and skills a graduate from this programme might be
expected to have.
Students completing this programme successfully will acquire a number of transferable
skills that will be of value in a research career, whether in academia or beyond. These
include:
 An ability to present work and research findings in an appropriate and accessible
way.
 To deliver effective oral presentations, including the use of visual aids
 To meet deadlines for work and to plan and organise their work efficiently and
productively.
Person
Completing
Specification
Programme
Patricia Owens
Person responsible for management of
programme
Patricia Owens
Date programme specification agreed by
Department or teaching and learning
committee
Date of approval by Faculty Board/SMD
Education Board
7 April 2009
Date of update/amendment