single degree

Master of International Relations

A single two year graduate award offered by the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific

MIR
  • Length 2 year full-time
  • Minimum 96 Units
First year student? There’s more information about enrolling in your degree.
  • Mode of delivery
    • In Person
  • Field of Education
    • Political Science
  • Academic contact
  • Length 2 year full-time
  • Minimum 96 Units
First year student? There’s more information about enrolling in your degree.
  • Mode of delivery
    • In Person
  • Field of Education
    • Political Science
  • Academic contact

Program Requirements

The Master of International Relations requires the completion of 96 units, which must consist of:

24 units from the completion of the following Introductory Compulsory courses:

INTR8069 Writing International Relations 12 Units

INTR8071 World Politics 12 Units

30 units from the completion of the following Compulsory courses:

INTR8011 International Relations Theory

INTR8013 International Political Economy

INTR8032 Global Security

INTR8068 Foreign Policy Analysis


A minimum of 12 units from the completion of the following International Politics, Policy and Security courses:

INTR8017 Issues in Australian Foreign Policy

INTR8018 Special Topics in International Relations

INTR8020 The Responsibility to Protect

INTR8022 Asia Pacific Security

INTR8028 Global Environmental Politics

INTR8036 World Politics

INTR8040 Ethnicity and Conflict in Asia and the Pacific

INTR8043 The Post-Colonial Pacific and Global Change

INTR8044 Global Civil Society and the Role of NGOs 1

INTR8045 Global Governance

INTR8046 The Evolution of the International System

INTR8050 States, Globalisation and the Movement of Peoples

INTR8052 Conflict Resolution and Peace Building

INTR8053 Ethics of Peace and War

INTR8058 Islam, Politics and Conflict in Southeast Asia

INTR8059 Democracy in World Politics

INTR8060 China: Global Engagement and Domestic Transformation

INTR8062 Humanitarianism in World Politics

INTR8063 Japan & the World: Politics, Identity & Security

INTR8064 Gender, War, and Justice in South and Southeast Asia

INTR8065 Writing International Relations

INTR8067 U.S. Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific

INTR8070 International Organisation

INTR8072 Approaches and Methods in International Relations

INTR8073 Human Security

INTR8074 Chinese Thinking on International Relations

INTR8076 The History of International Thought

INTR8077 Women, Peace and Security: Defining and Addressing Complex Security Challenges of the 21st Century

INTR8078 Interventions and Statebuilding: From Fragility to Resilience

INTR8079 Radical and Reactionary Ideas in International Politics


A maximum of 6 units from the completion of Experiential courses from the following list:

ANIP6503 Australian National Internships Program Internship A (Graduate)

CRWF7001 Editor’s practicum: online public engagement, academic blogging and digital disruption

VCPG6001 Unravelling Complexity

VCPG6002 Mobilising Research

VCPG6003 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World

VCPG6004 Creating Impact

VCPG6200 Innovation and Professional Practice Internship

VCPG8001 Dealing with Wicked Problems

VCPG8002 Ignorance!

24 units from the completion of further International Politics, Policy and Security courses

OR

24 units from the completion of 6-unit 8000-level courses with the following Alpha codes:

ASIA, DIPL, MEAS, NSPO, PASI, POGO, POLS, STST

Hurdle Requirements

Students must complete the Bachelor degree with a minimum GPA of 5.0 in order to commence the Master degree.

Specialisations

Study Options

Year 1 INTR8069 Writing International Relations 12 Units 12 units INTR8071 World Politics 12 Units 12 units
INTR8032 Global Security 6 units INTR8068 Foreign Policy Analysis 6 units International Politics, Policy and Security elective International Politics, Policy and Security elective
Year 2 INTR8011 International Relations Theory 12 units INTR8013 International Political Economy 6 units International Politics, Policy and Security elective
International Politics, Policy and Security elective International Politics, Policy and Security elective International Politics, Policy and Security elective International Politics, Policy and Security elective

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry.

 

Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0

 

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

 

Academic achievement & English language proficiency

The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0.

 

However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes.

If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of:

• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or

• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

Further information: English Language Requirements for Admission 

Diversity factors

As Australia’s national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.

 

Assessment of qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.

 Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au

ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.

 

Applications for Course Credit

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units (one semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Bachelor degree with Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 48 units (one year) of credit.

Cognate Disciplines

International relations and world politics; political science with a global focus; strategic and security studies; international history

Annual indicative fee for domestic students
$32,256.00

For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees

Annual indicative fee for international students
$45,864.00

For further information on International Tuition Fees see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/international-tuition-fees

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Studying international relations at ANU means you will be studying the best program of its kind in Australia and graduating with one of the most respected degrees in this field in the world. The Master of International Relations is the only international relations program in Australia that blends a concern with global politics, leading disciplinary innovations in thought and practice, and an engagement with the Asia-Pacific region. The program equips you with a keen understanding of the pressing issues of our time by providing you with access to globally recognised experts in face-to-face seminars. 


In this degree, students will learn to make sense of the big political and security trends taking place in the region and the world and come to terms with the significant debates in the field of International Relations. The Master of International Relations encourages and equips students to form their own world views and generate their own analyses of the important issues shaping our world today. 

Career Options

Graduates from ANU have been rated as Australia's most employable graduates and among the most sought after by employers worldwide.

The latest Global Employability University Ranking, published by the Times Higher Education, rated ANU as Australia's top university for getting a job for the fourth year in a row.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Discuss the dynamics of contemporary international relations, especially in the Asia-Pacific region;
  2. Discuss the key theories for the analysis of contemporary international relations;
  3. Use international relations theory to reflect upon contemporary problems in areas such as international security, global governance, international political economy or human rights;
  4. Conduct high-level research and writing to undertake self-directed study in international relations;
  5. Analyse new areas of concern in both scholarly and policy-relevant terms;
  6. Communicate findings in academic and practical contexts, justifying the approach and methods used as appropriate.

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirements is currently not available for this program.

Back to the Master of International Relations page

Welcome to the Master of International Relations. This section will help you choose the courses in which you should enrol for your first semester and also provides general information to assist you throughout your degree.

Students are to follow the degree requirements for the year they commenced the program. If you would like to undertake a course that is not listed in your degree requirements, you need to seek approval by sending an email to bell.postgrad@anu.edu.au

Enrolment is managed through the Interactive Student Information System (ISIS) while the online learning platform is known as WATTLE. These two websites will be essential throughout your degree. It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with them as soon as possible.

I have not received any credit. What courses should I enrol in?

If you have not received any credit for previous study you must follow the standard program of study with your first semester consisting of the following courses:

INTR8069 Writing International Relations (12 Units)

INTR8071 World Politics (12 units)

 

I have received 24 units of credit. What courses should I enrol in?

If you have received 24 units of credit you are exempt from INTR8069 and INTR8071 and are not permitted to enrol in these courses.

If you are commencing in semester 1, you should enrol in the following courses:

INTR8011 International Relations Theory (12 units)

INTR8013 International Political Economy (6 units)

An elective of your choice (6 units)

If you are commencing in semester 2, you should enrol in the following courses:

INTR8032 Global Security (6 units)

INTR8068 Foreign Policy Analysis (6 units)

An elective of your choice (6 units)

An elective of your choice (6 units)

 

I have received 48 units of credit. What courses should I enrol in?

If you have received 48 units of credit you are exempt from INTR8069 and INTR8071 and are not permitted to enrol in these courses. You have also received credit for 24 units of electives.

If you are commencing in semester 1, you should enrol in the following courses:

INTR8011 International Relations Theory (12 units)

INTR8013 International Political Economy (6 units)

An elective of your choice (6 units)

 

If you are commencing in semester 2, you should enrol in the following courses:

INTR8032 Global Security (6 units)

INTR8068 Foreign Policy Analysis (6 units)

An elective of your choice (6 units)

An elective of your choice (6 units)

 

 

Transfers

If you are considering applying for the Master of International Relations (Advanced), you will need to maintain a GPA of 6/7 in the Master of International Relations (ANU courses only, credit will not be included in this calculation) and have completed 72 units of study (this can include credit from previous study). You should also ensure that you undertake the elective INTR8072 Approaches and Methods in International Relations as this is a compulsory course in the Advanced Program.

A GPA of 6/7 is equivalent to a Distinction average. See GPA website for more information.

Applications to transfer generally close 31 May for a semester 2 transfer and 31 October for a transfer to semester 1 the following year. This means that you need to apply before you have received your final results however the application will only be processed once all grades are finalised.

For more information, please see the following websites:

Master of International Relations (Advanced)

Transferring between degrees

 

If you have any queries regarding your degree, courses or enrolments, please feel free to contact the Student Engagement Team at: bell.postgrad@anu.edu.au

 

We look forward to assisting you through your degree and your time here at ANU with the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs and the Department of International Relations










Double degree

If you are undertaking the Master of International Relations as a Flexible Vertical Double degree, you will undertake the following courses in your undergraduate degree:
INTR8069 Writing International Relations 12 Units
INTR8071 World Politics 12 Units

Academic Advice

Do you want to talk to someone before enrolling?

Contact International Relations Student Office at: bell.postgrad@anu.edu.au




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