FAQs for prospective MSc International Relations applicants

Full details and how to apply:

MSc International Relations
MSc International Relations (Research)

You can find information on How to apply and Supporting Documents on the School’s Prospective Student webpages.

Please note that for entry into the programme the GRE or GMAT is not required and you will not need to attend an interview. Decisions are normally made on the basis of the application form, transcripts and references.

No, all such queries are answered by the School's Graduate Admissions Office. For queries about admissions documents, entry requirements or your application, you should contact Graduate Admissions directly. 

There are no on-campus graduate open days or evenings, but there are many ways to make contact and discover the LSE, for those thinking of applying for graduate study. 

See Meet, Visit and Discover LSE for more details.

We normally require an Upper Second class first degree (3.5 GPA) or equivalent in International Relations or a related discipline, eg History or Politics.

We normally require students to meet the ‘Higher’ English language requirements as listed under B. Higher table on the English language requirements page.

Unfortunately, there is a disadvantage to applying without a strong educational background. We do sometimes take on a few 'cross over' students in any given year, but the bulk of our students have done well in one of the relevant social science subjects such as International Relations or a related discipline, e.g. History or Politics.

Although relevant work experience is taken into account, your academic background will be considered of most relevance. 

The Department co-hosts an open day with the LSE Careers team about research opportunities for MSc students within the Department, followed by a Q&A session, each November.

Watch the Virtual Graduate Open Events

You can also check the Department of International Relations PhD FAQ page for information on our MPhil/PhD programme and how to apply.

You can also find further information on the LSE Careers further study webpage. 

If you have any other questions about the PhD programme, please contact our team at ir.research@lse.ac.uk.

The MSc International Relations is an advanced, academic study of the subject. It is suitable if you plan to progress to a career that might have an international focus. The MSc International Relations (Research) is designed as a preparation for research work and includes compulsory methodology courses.

The majority of students will be taking the MSc International Relations programme. They will be required to choose two out of four paper 1 options (Core Theories and Debates, Global Applications, Critical Perspectives, and a Methodology course), two optional papers which can be chosen from a number of subjects, and a compulsory 10,000-word Dissertation.

Students taking the MSc International Relations Research programme will be required choose one of three paper 1 options (Core Theories and Debates, Global Applications, Critical Perspectives), two Methodology courses in Paper 2, and 1.5 optional papers which can be chosen from a number of subjects. They must also complete the compulsory 10,000-word dissertation.

Transfers between the MSc IR and MSc IR Research programmes are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

Transfers from either of the two versions of the MSc IR to either of the two versions of the MSc International Political Economy (IPE) at the beginning of the session are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

Although the two programmes 'MSc in International Relations' and 'MSc in Political Science (Global Politics)' share certain options and are both concerned with world politics, they are distinctive in their approaches and concerns.

The MSc in International Relations is primarily concerned with the theories and paradigms that are central to International Relations as a distinctive discipline, and these are the focus of its core course.

The MSc in Political Science (Global Politics) has 'globalisation' as its central unifying theme. Its core course is focused on arguments about how world politics are shifting from an 'inter-state' to a 'global' framework and it encompasses contributions from Political Science, Development Studies and International Relations.

As the compulsory papers for the MSc IR and MSc IR Research differ, and transfer between the two programmes on arrival will not normally be possible, it is advisable to list the two programmes separately as first and second choices.

You will find a description of each course in the online IR-prefixed Graduate Course Guides.

Watch our MSc IR introductory video

No. Normally, a few are 'Not Available' due to staff on sabbatical leave or other absences.  You can view the list of updated programme information for more details.

You can read the full list of suspended and withdrawn courses for 2023/24 for reference.

Suspended and withdrawn courses for 2025/26 will be published later in 2024.

No. However, it is advisable to address fully why you wish to study IR (albeit as a second choice) in your application statement.

If you applied last year when the MSc IR/MSc IR Research programme was already full but you have the requisite qualifications, it may be worthwhile re-applying. As to the likelihood of your being accepted, this will depend on the quality and number of other applications.

If you applied last year when the MSc IR/MSc IR Research programme was not full, it is unlikely that you would be successful second time around.

Details of the core courses for 2023/24 can be found through the link below:

MSc International Relations

Watch our MSc IR introductory video

Details of the new core courses for 2023/24 can be found through the link below:

MSc International Relations (Research)

Please have a look at our Current Students subsite to get an idea of the department and the student experience.