Overview

The Politics and International Relations (Political Theory) program from Durham University equips you with the skills to challenge conventional thinking, master complex political concepts, and analyse your own views about some of the most pressing global challenges.

Immersing yourself in debates about a wide range of issues, from human rights and the ethics of armed conflict to the history of political thought, you will develop the knowledge and skills to critically review the complex relationships between governments and societies. You will learn to evaluate concepts, theories, and paradigms, drawing lessons from real-world studies informed by quantitative and qualitative investigations.

Your learning will be informed by a wealth of ongoing research by experts working at the forefront of their field. Core modules in political ideologies and thought and international theory and organisation form the foundation of the course.

Careers opportunities

Our courses focus on developing self-aware, thoughtful and ambitious global citizens with the skills and knowledge to secure rewarding and stimulating careers inside and outside of politics.

This is underpinned by additional employability support from the University through its careers programme, through employment-related events and by maintaining the alumni network which stretches across the globe.

Our postgraduates achieve successful careers in a wide range of fields including local and national government, diplomacy, newspaper and broadcast journalism, the charity sector, business and finance, publishing, law, manufacturing, teaching and academia, and the armed forces.

Programme Structure

Courses included:

Contemporary Political Philosophy
Core Concepts in Political Science
The Politics Global Europe
Designing Political Inquiry
Global Governance
Global Political Theory
Ideologies and Political Thought
International Politics of the Middle East
International Relations Theory
International Organisations
The Politics of East Asia

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months
Part-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-29 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-31 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-31 00:00:00 , National

More details

Applicants needing a student visa must submit postgraduate applications by end July, while those not requiring a visa must apply by end August.

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

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TOEFL^® IBT

80

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

62

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

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4.9/5 student rating

Credits

180 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Durham, United Kingdom

Disciplines

International Relations Political Science View 338 other Masters in International Relations in United Kingdom

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Academic requirements

GPA

Upper Second Class

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

80

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

62

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

UK 2.1 Bachelor degree, or equivalent.
A degree in the field of Social Sciences is preferable, however, in assessing the application we also take into account other facilitating factors such as relevant such as relevant experience in lieu of this requirement.
English language requirements band E.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

27500 GBP / year

≈ 27500 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

14000 GBP / year

≈ 14000 GBP / year

Additional Details

Part Time Fees

Home students £7,700 per year
International students £15,200 per year

Living costs

Durham

United Kingdom

660 - 1140 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Politics and International Relations (Political Theory).

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Careers opportunities

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Durham

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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