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Requisite map

Overview

The Bachelor of International Relations examines the dynamics of power, governance, conflict, and cooperation at the local, national and global levels. In this course, you will study how national and global political institutions operate, how and why conflict and cooperation occur, and the role that power, political ideas, material resources, civil society, and historical legacies play in shaping the opportunities and the constraints for political actors, institutions, states and the wider structure of the international system. You will be taught how to explain and anticipate political behaviour, analyse the impact of political decisions, and to interpret the complexities and the interdependencies of national and international systems in an interconnected and ever-changing world.

In addition to acquiring disciplinary training and knowledge on international relations, this course offers five elective streams: i) Peace, conflict and security; ii) Policy and governance; iii) Comparative politics; iv) Development, rights and gender; and v) Climate futures. These elective streams are designed to deepen your expertise on those areas of international relations and politics in which you plan to pursue your future career.

The knowledge and the skills acquired through this course will provide you with the ability to interpret, analyse and affect political change in constantly evolving global and national contexts. You will be encouraged to develop your skills of critical and analytical thinking, teamwork, communication, intercultural competence, applied research skills and to use them to address the pressing challenges in international relations.

You will also have the opportunity to enrich your degree by honing your academic and professional skills through a range of flagship rich educational experiences (FREE). For more information on eligibility please see FREE.

Course structure

Rules

The course comprises 144 credit points, of which 96 credit points are international relations and 48 credit points are free electives, structured in three parts Part A. Foundational knowledge (72 credit points), Part B. Specialist knowledge (24 credit points) and Part C. Free Electives (48 credit points).

To satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of International Relations you must complete 144 credit points as specified in the course requirements, including:

-a maximum of 60 credit points at level 1 and,
-a minimum of 36 credit points must be completed at level 3.

Part A. Foundational knowledge72 credit points

Level 1 core units

24 credit points

You must complete the following units

Level 2 and 3 core units

48 credit points

You must complete 48 credit points from the following list, with at least 24 credit points at Level 3.

International study tours

Part B. Specialist knowledge24 credit points

You must complete 24 credit points, with at least 12 credit points at Level 3, chosen from one or more elective streams listed below.

You may also choose to complete units not already completed in Part A.

Peace, conflict and security

Policy and governance

Comparative politics

Development, rights and gender

Climate futures

Part C. Free electives48 credit points

You must complete 48 credit points of free elective study. Units from the discipline elective list in this course are recommended as they will enable you to further your knowledge in international relations more broadly.

You can use free electives to broaden your university experience and consolidate your learning by undertaking a study tour, field trip, exchange opportunity or practical units. See Arts enrichment and Monash Intercultural Lab list of units to discover the breadth of options available.

Elective units may be chosen from the faculty or across the University as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units. The units may be at any level ensuring that the course rules are satisfied for the Bachelor of International Relations.

Free electives can be identified using the browse units tool and indexes of units in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

The handbook's description of this structure

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Foundational knowledge; Part B. Specialist knowledge and Part C. Free electives

Part A. Foundational knowledge

You will be introduced to key concepts and knowledge generated by the discipline of International Relations that provides frameworks for understanding and analysing the ways in which power and politics shape the international system, and to address the challenges that they ultimately generate.

Part B. Specialist knowledge

You will develop more specialist knowledge that allows you to engage in specific areas including: i) Peace, conflict and security; ii) Policy and governance; iii) Comparative politics; iv) Development, rights and gender; and v) Climate futures.

Part C. Free electives

Free elective units enable you to further your knowledge of International Relations more broadly, or to select units from across the University in which you are eligible to enrol. You can also use your free electives for study tours, field trips, internships, exchange opportunities or explore the Arts enrichment and Monash Intercultural Lab for other available options.

Master's accelerated pathway

If you satisfy the below requirements, you may be invited to join the master's accelerated pathway program:

have achieved a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65%; and
have completed a minimum of 96 credit points in your bachelor degree.

Please note that you should also have a minimum of 24 credit points of free electives available.

On joining the accelerated pathway your 24 credit points of free elective units will be replaced with specified units from your destination master's degree. As long as you attain a minimum WAM of 60% at the end of your bachelor studies, you will be eligible to continue your chosen master's studies the following year.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 144 points, of which 96 points are international relations and 48 points are free electives, structured in three parts Part A. Foundational knowledge (72 points), Part B. Specialist knowledge (24 points) and Part C. Free Electives (48 points).

To satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of International Relations you must complete 144 credit points as specified in the course requirements, including:

a maximum of 60 credit points at level 1 and,
a minimum of 36 credit points must be completed at level 3.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundational Knowledge (72 credit points)

a. You must complete the following units (24 points):

ATS1056 Geopolitical security in the Indo-Pacific
ATS1071 Political theory in a changing world: Concepts, issues and debates
ATS1873 Introduction to international relations
ATS1945 Issues in Australian politics and government

b. You must complete (48 points) from the following list, with at least 24 points at level 3:

ATS2298 From terrorism to revolution: Understanding political violence
ATS2319 Public policy: Practice and impact
ATS2321 International political economy
ATS2624 Global governance
ATS2836 De-democratisation and contentious politics in 21st century America
ATS2961 Political ideas
ATS3183 Foreign policy analysis
ATS3258 Australia’s regional security strategy
ATS3282 International relations and politics research practicum
ATS3340 International security studies
ATS3705 Knowledge and power in world politics
ATS3719 Modern political thought

International study tours

ATS2275 The European Union: Challenges, crises and opportunities
ATS3275 The European Union: Challenges, crises and opportunities.

Part B. Specialist knowledge (24 credit points)

You must complete 24 points, with at least 12 credit points at level 3, chosen from one or more elective streams listed below. You may also choose to complete units not already completed in Part A.

Peace, conflict and security

ATS2057 Genocide
ATS2640 Ethics of global conflict
ATS3222 Developing research literacy
ATS3380 Right-wing terrorism, extremism and fringe politics
ATS3462 International crime and justice
ATS3950 Activism for academic freedom: Applied workshop in research advocacy
ATS3994 World Wars: Asian and European perspectives

Policy and governance

ATS2256 The mind, the self and political behaviour
ATS2322 The personal is political: Examining gender politics in Australia
ATS2868 Anarchy, property, and the state
ATS3182 Elections, parties and voters
ATS3222 Developing research literacy
ATS3399 Politics of identity
ATS3836 Victorian parliamentary internship
ATS3903 Leaders, politics and power
ATS3950 Activism for academic freedom: Applied workshop in research advocacy
ATS3974 Nationalism and populism in the European Union

Comparative politics

ATS2314 Comparative politics
ATS2316 Comparative disorientations: Circa 1492
ATS2856 Populism and the crisis of democracy
ATS2858 Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
ATS3163 The rise of China in the Asia Pacific region
ATS3222 Developing research literacy
ATS3380 Right-wing terrorism, extremism and fringe politics
ATS3580 The modern Middle East
ATS3660 Global nuclear order
ATS3950 Activism for academic freedom: Applied workshop in research advocacy
ATS3959 Chinese politics and political cultures
ATS3974 Nationalism and populism in the European Union
ATS3994 World Wars: Asian and European perspectives
ATS3996 Anxieties and apprehensions: Asian and European perspectives

Development, rights and gender

ATS2322 The personal is political: Examining gender politics in Australia
ATS2378 Global inequality and alternatives to development
ATS2553 Indigenous justice in Australia
ATS2625 Mobile worlds: Borders, displacement and belonging
ATS2628 Global inequality and international development
ATS3222 Developing research literacy
ATS3229 Cities, globalisation and sustainability
ATS3563 Global consumption
ATS3634 Indigenous peoples globally
ATS3697 Gender and international relations
ATS3916 Critical perspectives on human rights
ATS3950 Activism for academic freedom: Applied workshop in research advocacy

Climate futures

ATS2548 Climate and environmental policy and management
ATS2628 Global inequality and international development
ATS2871 Environmental ethics
ATS3222 Developing research literacy
ATS3229 Cities, globalisation and sustainability
ATS3554 Resource evaluation and management
ATS3563 Global consumption
ATS3730 Imagining tomorrow, climate change and social futures
ATS3950 Activism for academic freedom: Applied workshop in research advocacy

Part C. Free electives (48 credit points)

You must complete 48 points of free elective study. Units from the discipline elective list in this course are recommended as they will enable you to further your knowledge in international relations more broadly.

You can use free electives to broaden your university experience and consolidate your learning by undertaking a study tour, field trip, exchange opportunity or practical units. See Arts enrichment and Monash Intercultural Lab list of units to discover the breadth of options available.

Elective units may be chosen from the faculty or across the University as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units. The units may be at any level ensuring that the course rules are satisfied for the Bachelor of International Relations.

Free electives can be identified using the browse units tool and indexes of units in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1
identify, describe and critically assess the key theoretical frameworks and methods of investigation in International Relations;
2
generate and apply evidence based empirical and theoretical disciplinary knowledge to real world political problems;
3
critique and constructively engage with written, visual and audio artefacts and locate them in an appropriate theoretical and empirical context;
4
engage collaboratively and ethically in International Relations scholarship and professional practice;
5
communicate effectively and clearly across different formats and to different audiences.

Entry requirements

Guaranteed ATAR and selection rank

80; International: UERT Year 12/Foundation Band 2 (75-77.49); UERT Post-Secondary Band 2 (Credit)

Other applicants

All applicants must satisfy the equivalence of the VCE subject prerequisites.

VET Diploma graduates: To be considered, applicants who have completed VCE or its equivalent and who are applying with a Humanities or Social Science based diploma will require an average result of at least 60%. Applicants who have not completed VCE but have completed a Humanities or Social Science based diploma will require an average result of at least 70%. Programs that involve competency-based assessment without grades or marks will not meet the admission requirements.
VET Certificate IV graduates: To be considered, applicants who have completed VCE or its equivalent and who are applying with a Humanities or Social Science based Cert IV will require an average result of at least 80%. Programs that involve competency-based assessment without grades or marks will not meet the admission requirements. No credit is granted for these studies
University: To be considered on the basis of tertiary study alone, applicants who have completed VCE or equivalent will be required to complete the equivalent of one year (48 credit points) of a recognised university degree and will require an average result of at least 60% (including failed units). For applicants who have completed less than the equivalent of one year of study, both the senior secondary qualification results and the units completed will be considered.
For applicants who do not have any formal qualifications, completion of two single units at an Australian higher education or equivalent overseas educational institution satisfies minimum entry requirements, but four units are recommended to be competitive for selection, especially in Humanities or Social Science areas. Applicants should have at least a 60% average in their studies (including failed units). Studies must have been completed within five years of intended commencement.

English language

Monash Level A, that is: IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test

Pathways

A0001 Monash Transition Program

More information

Progression to further studies

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a masters course. You must have completed all the requirements for your undergraduate degree with a 60% average

Notes for students

You can enrich your degree by honing your academic and professional skills through a range of flagship rich educational experiences (FREE), including the Monash Innovation Guarantee, Global Immersion Guarantee, Research, Experimentation and Discovery and/or Volunteering. These FREE units may be credited in place of your free electives if approved by the faculty. There are both 6 and 12 credit point unit options available.

If you are enrolled in a double degree it may be possible to utilise credit from one or both of your degrees to do a 6 and/or 12 credit point flagship rich educational experience. For information on eligible double degree combinations please see FREE.

Other information

International Relations is the study of the nature and exercise of power in the international system. It examines how political actors - including states, international organisations (IOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and transnational corporations (TNCs) - address global challenges. These include not only the ‘traditional’ agenda of war, peace and security, but also contemporary ‘problems without passports’: issues such as pandemics, globalisation, climate change or terrorism which span borders and which cannot be solved by any one country alone

The Bachelor of International Relations examines the dynamics of power, governance, conflict, and cooperation in the international system. In this course, you will study how national and global political institutions operate, how and why conflict and cooperation occur, and the role that power, political ideas, institutions, and material resources play in shaping outcomes in world politics. You will be taught how to explain and anticipate political behaviour, analyse the key challenges facing the international community, and interpret the complexities of an interconnected and ever-changing world.

In addition to acquiring disciplinary training and knowledge of international relations, this course offers five elective streams: i) Peace, conflict and security; ii) Policy and governance; iii) Comparative politics; iv) Development, rights and gender; and v) Climate futures. These streams are designed to deepen your expertise on those areas of international relations in which you plan to pursue your future career.

The knowledge and the skills acquired through this course will provide you with the ability to interpret, analyse and affect political change in constantly evolving global and national contexts. You will develop your skills of critical and analytical thinking, teamwork, communication, intercultural competence and applied research skills and use them to address the pressing challenges facing the world.

You will also have the opportunity to enrich your degree by honing your academic and professional skills through a range of flagship rich educational experiences (FREE). For more information on eligibility please see FREE.

Contacts

Academic Coordinator: Dr Ben Zala

Common questions

How long is Bachelor of International Relations ?

3 years full time, 144 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 6 semesters of full-time study.

What ATAR do I need for Bachelor of International Relations ?

The guaranteed ATAR listed for 2025 entry is 80.

Where can I study Bachelor of International Relations ?

At Clayton.

How do I plan my Bachelor of International Relations units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification: Bachelor Degree
AQF level: Level 7
Credit points: 144
Full time: 3 Years
Part time: 6 Years
Maximum time: 8 years

Faculty: Faculty of Arts
CRICOS code: 114243M
Abbreviation: BInterRel
Award title: Bachelor of International Relations
Handbook years: 202420252026 2027