International Relations and Security MA at University of Liverpool

This MA offers a fantastic opportunity for postgraduate students from across the world to join in and learn about contemporary debates about the meaning of security, democracy and the role of political processes in International Relations. In the context of tightening employment prospects and increasing competitiveness among graduates for the best jobs, this MA programme offers a fantastic opportunity for you to enhance your career prospects by learning about international relations, academic methods and contemporary security debates.

One of the key characteristics of the programme is flexibility and choice, which allows you to pursue your own particular areas of interest through our optional pathways, many of which draw on the unique expert knowledge of staff in the Department of Politics i.e. International Relations and Security, Conflict Resolution, Political Communication and International Law.

The Department of Politics at the University of Liverpool has an internationally recognised expertise on topics of international relations and security. We have a unique combination of expertise in international relations theory, non-state actor violence and resolution of conflicts.

The department puts a strong emphasis on high quality teaching. Classroom seminars and lectures are designed interactively and centre around student engagement. The overall satisfaction of University of Liverpool students rates 85% (NSS 2019). Likewise teaching staff are passionate about making complicated matters of international relations accessible to students.

The programme is designed to provide a constructive mixture of academic and practical skills over the course of 12 month (full time) or 24 month (part-time). There is a strong structure provided by the arrangement of compulsory modules on International Relations Theory, International Security, and Research Methods. However, one of the key characteristics we have sought to develop in the MA programme is flexibility and choice which allows you to pursue your own particular areas of interest through our optional pathways, many of which draw on the unique expert knowledge of staff in the Department of Politics i.e. International Relations and Security, Conflict Resolution, Political Communication and International Law.

Career prospects

Student career development is a major interest for the department and we actively encourage you to integrate career planning into your academic studies. This is promoted through individual modules which have strong policy and career relevant aspects, a close relationship with the University’s excellent Careers Service and visits to relevant UK and EU actors in Liverpool, London and Brussels.

Over the course of your studies you will acquire unique analytical, problem-solving, written and verbal presentation, and methodological skills. This broad skill-set increases your employment opportunities as it allows you to market themselves in several areas. For example, a politics degree opens career prospects in these areas:

• Parliament, e.g. assistant to member of parliament,
• Government institutions (state or local level), e.g. civil servant or as a diplomat,
• International Organisations (e.g. UN, NATO, EU),
• Non-governmental organisations (e.g. Human Rights Watch),
• Newspaper journalism and other media,
• Corporate sector, e.g. lobbying or consultancy positions, in public relations, or to provide strategic analysis within the companies,
• Publishers,
• Academia or political consultancy (Think Tank).

Student career development is a major interest for the department and we actively encourage you to integrate career planning into your academic studies. This is promoted through individual modules which have strong policy and career relevant aspects, a close relationship with the University’s excellent Careers Service and visits to relevant UK and EU actors in Liverpool, London and Brussels.

Over the course of your studies you will acquire unique analytical, problem-solving, written and verbal presentation, and methodological skills. This broad skill-set increases your employment opportunities as it allows you to market themselves in several areas. For example, a politics degree opens career prospects in these areas:

• Parliament, e.g. assistant to member of parliament,
• Government institutions (state or local level), e.g. civil servant or as a diplomat,
• International Organisations (e.g. UN, NATO, EU),
• Non-governmental organisations (e.g. Human Rights Watch),
• Newspaper journalism and other media,
• Corporate sector, e.g. lobbying or consultancy positions, in public relations, or to provide strategic analysis within the companies,
• Publishers,
• Academia or political consultancy (Think Tank).