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 credit point research thesis. If you wishing to use this master's course as a pathway to a higher degree by research.

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

* If you have not studied International Relations previously you are encouraged to take this unit

** If you have studied International Relations previously you 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

• APG5092 Human rights in global politics (12 points)

Plus 12 points from the following units: 

• 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:

• APG5966 Academic and professional presentation skills
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments
• APG5967 Professional enhancement A
• APG5968 Professional enhancement B (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: 

International Development 

• APG5067 Cultural economy and sustainable development 
• APG5390 Contemporary tourism and development in emerging economies 
• APG5628 Deconstructing development 
• ECF5921 International economics

International Law and Ethics 

• APG5393 Ethical theory
• 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

Environmental Sustainability

• APG5067 Sustainable cultural development
• APG5122 Corporate sustainability
• APG5230 Field studies in environmental governance
• APG5428 Environmental governance and citizenship 
• APG5627 Power, politics and development in a changing environment
• ENS5010 Global challenges and sustainability (12 points)
• ENS5020 Perspectives on sustainability (12 points) 
• ENS5320 Climate change, energy and human security 

Community Development and Disaster Management

• APG5140 Guiding principles for professionals engaged in disasters and humanitarian crises 
• APG5619 Community resilience and disaster risk reduction

Governance, Public Policy, and Policy Analysis and Evaluation

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5102 Governance 
• APG5103 Policy analysis
• APG5104 Public sector reform 
• APG5129 Evaluation
• APG5181 Intergovernmental relations
• APG5195 Implementation and service delivery
• BSA5904 Political economic and business dynamics in Chile and Latin America

Applied Public Policy

• APG5076 Health and family violence
• APG5106 Understanding, designing and delivering criminal justice policy
• APG5163 Inclusive health policy and practice
• APG5164 Global health policy
• APG5354 Indigenous peoples and the state
• APG5450 Cultural policy
• APG5458 Digital technology, policy and governance
• APG5640 Media, law and ethics
• APG5730 Bioethics, public policy, and the law

Applied Research and Data Analysis

• APG5050 Doing media and communications research
• APG5075 Using data to understand family violence
• APG5079 Research ethics

• APG5374 Data analytics in communications
• APG5426 Environmental analysis
• APG5434 Sustainability measurement

• APG5704 Discourse analysis: Texts and talk

Linguistic and Intercultural Competence

• APG5043 Language and multilingual societies
• APG5069 Australia and Asia in the Asian Century: Politics, business, media (12 points)
• APG5652 Language and intercultural communication

Media, Journalism, and Communications Studies

• APG5400 Issues in international communications
• APG5401 Global media industries 
• APG5397 Media and social change
• APG5398 Digital media futures  
• APG5454 Screen and social justice
• APG5456 Understanding media audiences
• APG5457 Digital cultures and platforms  
• APG5640 Journalism in society 

Professional Communications Practice

• APG5133 Principles of global communications
• APG5180 Strategic political leadership and communications
• APG5366 Strategic communications in a digital era
• APG5367 Campaigns, advocacy and change
• APG5373 Engaging audiences 
• APG5380 Public relations in a global context 
• APG5381 Crisis communications and issues management 

Arts enhancement units 

A maximum of 6 points can be taken from the following:

• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• APG5170 Social entrepreneurship challenge in the Indo-Pacific
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments