A6010 Master of International Relations

The course is structured in four parts: Part A. Core Master's Study, Part B. Specialist Studies, Part C. Application studies and Part D. Advanced Expertise.

Part A. Core Master's Study

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of international relations practice and research exploring the theoretical, analytical, economic, and security dimensions of global politics. 

Part B. Specialist Studies

These studies cover key issues in diplomacy and global political economy, gender, peace and security, global migration, and political violence and counter-terrorism. 

Part C. Application studies

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options:

• a program of coursework study where you select the units to suit your own interests and professional development needs. This option includes the opportunity to undertake an internship in the field.
• a 24 point research thesis. Students wishing to use this master's course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this second option.

You will receive credit for Part C if you have a recognised honours degree in a cognate discipline in the humanities or social sciences. However, should you wish to complete a 24 point research thesis as part of the course, you should consult with the course director.

Part D. Advanced expertise

Choose from a variety of units to further your knowledge of your chosen specialisation, or world politics more broadly.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part. A, Part. B, Part.C, and Part.D.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 points, comprising Part. A, Part. B, and Part. C.  
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 points, comprising Part. A and Part. B. 

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course progression maps

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

If you are eligible to enrol in the 1.5-year entry point, you have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression map.

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Core Masters studies (24 points), Part B. Specialist studies (24 points), Part C. Application Studies (24 points) and Part D. Advanced expertise (24 points).

Part A: Core Master’s Study (24 points)

You must complete the following units (18 points): 

• APG5154 Researching international relations 
• APG5324 International political economy 
• APG5332 Contemporary security topics

Plus the one unit from the following list (6pts)

• APG5746 Reading and writing international relations *
• APG5105 Foreign policy of emerging powers**

* Students without previous study in International Relations are encouraged to take this unit

** Students with previous study in International Relations are encouraged to take this unit 

Part B: Specialist Studies (24 points)

You must complete 24 points from units listed below under your chosen specialisation or Advanced International Relations. 

International Diplomacy and Trade 

• APG5105 Foreign policy of emerging powers
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
• BTF5114 Regulatory issues for transnational business 
• BTF5905 Global trade governance and law
• MGF5730 International trade policy
• MGF5760 International institutions and organisations
• MGF5911 Geo-politics and business globalisation 

Gender, Peace and Security 

• APG5045 Gender and development 
• APG5064 Gender, security and conflict (12 points)
• APG5073 Conflict, security and development  
• APG5078 Gender-based policy and planning (12 points) 

Global Migration

• APG5086 Governing migration: Refugees, borders, and development (12 points)

Plus 12 points from the following units: 

• APG5092 Human rights in global politics (12 points)

• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights
• LAW5454 Climate change and displacement 
• LAW5651 Human rights and migration in comparative perspective 
• MPH5214 Demographic methods 

Political Violence and Counter-terrorism

• APG5092 Human rights in global politics 

• APG5327 Political violence
• APG5590 Political Islam (12 points)
• APG5666 Terrorism, counter-terrorism, and technology
• APG5667 Terrorism, fringe politics, and extremist violence 

Advanced International Relations

You must complete 24 points of units from a combination of any or all specialisations in Part B above.  

Part C: Application studies (24 points)

You must complete either Option 1 or Option 2 below

Option 1 (24 points)

You must complete the following units:

• APG5849  Research thesis A
• APG5084  Designing research 
• APG5850  Research thesis B (12 points)

If you elect to take the 24 point Research Pathway you must first consult with the Course Coordinator and receive approval.

Option 2 (24 points)

You must complete one capstone unit (12 points) from the following:

• APG5044  Professional internship (12 points) 
• APG5091  International relations in theory and practice (12 points) 
• APG5093  International relations field unit: Governing peace and security (12 points) 
• APG5856  Research project (12 points) 
• APG5969  Advanced application simulation (12 points)

You must complete one professional enhancement unit (6 points) from the following:

• APG5100 Colab M: Mentoring for development practice and professional development
• APG5966 Academic and professional presentation skills
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments
• APG5967 Professional enhancement 
• APG5968 Professional enhancement: extended option (12 points)

If you selected a 6 point unit from the above professional enhancement list, you must complete one unit (6 points) from the following:

• One 6-point unit not completed in Part B. above
• One Professional Enhancement Modules not already completed (6 points)
• One 6-point unit from Part D. below

Part D: Advanced Expertise (24 points)

You must complete 24 points from one or more of the following elective clusters and/or from units in Part B not already completed: 

Communications, Journalism, and Media Studies 

• APG5401 Global Media Industries 
• APG5066 Shanghai City Lab (12 points)
• APG5351 International Reporting 
• APG5397 Media and Social Change 
• APG5400 Issues in International Communications 
• APG5640 Journalism in Society 

Community Development and Disaster Management

• APG5140 Guiding Principles for Professionals Engaged in Disasters and Humanitarian Crises 
• APG5619 Community Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction

Environmental Sustainability

• APG5230 Field Studies in Environmental Governance
• APG5433 Corporate Sustainability Management
• APG5428 Environmental Governance and Citizenship
• APG5627 Political Ecology: Critical Explanations of Socio-environmental Problems 
• ENS5010 Global Challenges and Sustainability (12 points)
• ENS5020 Perspectives on Sustainability (12 points) 
• ENS5320 Climate Change, Energy, and Human Security 

International Development 

• APG5067 Cultural Economy and Sustainable Development 
• APG5189 Monitoring and Evaluation 
• APG5390 Contemporary Tourism and Development in Emerging Economies 
• APG5628 Deconstructing Development 
• APG5805 Project Planning and Management in International Development 
• ECF5921 International Economics  

International Law 

• LAW5304 Overview of International Human Rights Law
• LAW5359 International Human Rights Law and Women 
• LAW5365 Terrorism and Human Rights  
• LAW5383 International Refugee Law and Human Rights 
• LAW5392 Globalisation and International Economic Law
• LAW5398 Transnational Labour Law

Language and Intercultural Competence

• APG5043 Language and Multilingual Societies
• APG5069 Australia and Asia in the Asian Century: Politics, Business, Media (12 points)
• APG5470 Managing Multicultural Teams
• APG5471 Leadership in Intercultural Environments
• APG5481 Language for Professional Purposes Part 1 
• APG5482 Language for Professional Purposes Part 2 
• APG5483 Language for Professional Purposes Part 3

Public Policy, Management, and Governance

• APG5081 Public Health Ethics 
• APG5101 Foundations of Public Policy
• APG5102 Governance 
• APG5103 Policy Analysis and Evaluation 
• APG5104 Public Sector Reform 
• APG5181 Intergovernmental Relations
• APG5730 Bioethics, Public Policy, and the Law  
• BSA5904 Political Economic and Business Dynamics in Chile and Latin America
• LAW5361 Foundations of Regulation: Policy, Principles, and Practice
• MPH5269 Foundations of Health Policy
• MPH5272 Principles of Health Systems    

Strategic and Political Communications 

• APG5180 Strategic Political Leadership and Communications
• APG5366 Strategic Communications in a Digital Era
• APG5367 Campaigns, Advocacy and Change
• APG5373 Engaging Audiences 
• APG5374 Data Analytics in Communications
• APG5380 Public Relations in a Global Context 
• APG5381 Crisis Communications and Issues Management