MSc International Relations

MSc International Relations is an advanced, academic study of the subject from a global perspective.

You'll have the opportunity to study a broad range of issues, including the formulation and implementation of foreign policy, relations between states and governments, international organisations and NGOs, international law, conflict and post-conflict peace-making and transitional justice, the role of empire or revolutions in world politics, and gender and international relations. You can also choose to focus on specific regions, such as Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa or specific countries such as China, Russia and the US.

The programme includes a core course, International Politics, which provides an historical and theoretical analysis of core concepts in international relations, of the normative and analytic issues involved, and of their relationship to the social sciences in general. You'll also submit a 10,000 word dissertation, which allows you to explore a topic of your own choice in depth, and choose optional courses to the value of two units.

You may also be interested in the MSc International Relations (Research) programme which has a different core course, Theories of International Relations, and entails a compulsory methodology course.

• H Bliddal C Sylvest and P Wilson (eds.) Classics of International Relations: essays in criticism and appreciation (Routledge, 2013)
• C Brown, and K Ainley Understanding International Relations (4th edition, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009)
• M Cox, T Dunne and K Booth (eds.) Empires, Systems and States: great transformations in international politics (Cambridge University Press, 2001)
• T Dunne, M Cox and K Booth (eds.) The Eighty Years’ Crisis: international relations 1919-1999 special issue of the Review of International Studies (Cambridge University Press)
• T Dunne, M Karki and S Smith (eds.) International Relations Theories: discipline and diversity (Oxford University Press, 2013)

You'll choose courses to the value of one unit from four available half unit courses and complete a 10,000-word dissertation. You'll also choose courses from a range of International Relations options. You may be able to substitute one of your options for a course from another department.

The Department of International Relations is one of the largest of its kind in the world, home to 500 students, from 30 countries.

Founded in 1927, our department is a leading centre for teaching and research in international relations – ranked second in the UK and fourth globally in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

Many leading thinkers in the field – including Martin Wight, Hedley Bull and John Vincent – have taught in the department and pioneered new developments and thinking in the field. The department also helped found the student-run Millennium: Journal of International Studies – one of the most prestigious international relations journals.

We have around 225 undergraduates, 220 postgraduates and 30 postgraduate research students on our programmes. Our aim is to provide a wide range of study options, covering diverse themes such as major theoretical perspectives on international relations, the study of conflict and conflict management, the work of international institutions and the major regions of the world, from Europe to the Middle East.

We’re proud of the broad international profile of our department – with students and staff from Europe, North America and further afield. As a department we’ve played a pivotal role in training diplomats and academics and we’re proud of their success in various fields.

Learn more about our programmes and research.

Department of International Relations

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two academic references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Please note: The applications, intake and ratio values below include the MSc International Relations (Research).

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course and/or by final examination at the end of the course. You must also submit a 10,000-word dissertation at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Most of our former MSc students go on to work in government, international organisations, financial institutions, journalism and corporations, but some continue on to research degrees and the academic profession.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.