Program Requirements

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

12 units from the completion of the following Foundational courses:

INTR8069 Studying International Relations

INTR8071 Issues and Concepts in International Relations

12 units from the completion of the following Compulsory courses:

INTR8011 International Relations Theory

INTR8046 Evolution of the International System

A minimum of 24 units from the following Core courses:

INTR8013 International Political Economy

INTR8018 Special topics in International Relations

INTR8022 International Relations in the Asia Pacific

INTR8032 Global Security

INTR8072 Researching International Relations: Curiosity, Methods and Ethics in the Study of Global Politics

INTR8080 Global Ethics

INTR8083 Race and Global Politics: Re-imagining a Discipline

A minimum of 24 units from the following Thematic lists:

 International Relations of the Asia Pacific

ASIA8011 Rethinking Northeast Asia: Region, Culture and Society

ASIA8040 Engaging Asia: Australia and the Asian Century

ASIA8049 International History from Asia and the Pacific: Framing Critical Perspectives

ASIA8050 Social and Environmental Challenges in Asia and the Pacific

DIPL8016 The Role of Non-State Actors in East Asia Diplomacy

INTR8043 Globalisation and Development in the Contemporary Pacific

INTR8060 China's Global Engagement

INTR8063 Japan and the World: Politics, Identity and Security

INTR8064 Gender, War and Justice in South and Southeast Asia

INTR8067 US Foreign and Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific

INTR8082 Regionalism and Southeast Asia

NSPO8034 China, America and National Security

POGO8220 Issues in Japanese Policy

STST8010 Strategic Studies Concepts and Asia Pacific Conflict

STST8026 Nuclear Strategy

International Ideas and International Change

INTR8066 International Relations in the Information Age

NSPO8028 History for Policymakers

REGN8005 Restorative Justice in the World

Foreign Policy Analysis

DIPL8001 Transnational Diplomacy

DIPL8006 Diplomacy, Politics and the United Nations

DIPL8012 Special Topics in Diplomacy

DIPL8044 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

INTR8017 Issues in Australian Foreign Policy

INTR8068 Foreign Policy Analysis

Global Security

INTR8053 Ethics of Peace and War

INTR8084 Revolution, Resistance, Rebellion, Riot: Unruly Politics in the Contemporary World

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

NSPO8007 National Security: Concepts and Methods

NSPO8034 China, America and National Security

STST8052 The Resort to the Force: Understanding Military Power

STST8053 Alliances in Asia: Theory, History and Practice

Global Governance

ANTH8107 Global governance and the role of Multilateral Development Banks

INTR8020 The Responsibility to Protect

INTR8045 Global Governance

INTR8062 Humanitarianism in World Politics

INTR8078 Intervention and Statebuilding: From Fragility to Resistance

LAWS8567 International Dispute Resolution

LAWS8182 Principles of International Law

LAWS8183 Advanced Principles of International Law (LAWS8182 is prerequisite)

POLS8043 State Formation and Contested Political Orders

REGN8019 Biyam-burru-wa-la-nha: Indigenous Peoples and Self-Governing Systems (3 units)

REGN8022 Governance in a Complex and Uncertain World

REGN8023 Governing Global Migration

REGN8052 Regulation and Governance

International Political Economy

CRWF8000 Government, Markets and Global Change

POGO8016 The Economic Way of Thinking

POGO8213 The Global Trading System

REGN8018 Consumptagenic Systems (3 units)

REGN8054 Global Business Regulation (3 units)

A maximum of 24 units of Advanced Independent Research (pre-requisite: completion of INTR8072 and a minimum coursework average of 70% ):

INTR8038 Thesis

INTR8039 Thesis (Part Time)

A maximum of 24 units of other 8000-level courses with the following Alpha codes:

ASIA – Asian Studies

DIPL – Diplomatic Studies

LAWS – Law (subject to approval)

MEAS – Middle Eastern Studies

NSPO – National Security Policy

PASI – Pacific Studies

POGO – Public Policy

POLS – Political Science

STST – Strategic Studies

A maximum of 6 units of Experiential courses from the following list (subject to availability):

ANIP6503 Australian National Internships Program Internship A (Graduate)

VCPG6001 Unravelling Complexity

VCPG6003 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World

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.

• a Bachelor or international equivalent with GPA 5/7
• a Bachelor or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program
• a Bachelor or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7
• a Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7
• a 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7
• a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program
• a Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General test, completed no more than 5 years before the time of application, with a minimum score of 155 for Verbal Reasoning, 155 for Quantitative Reasoning and 4.0 in Analytical Writing and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program
• a minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program

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 admission requirements and post-admission support

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.

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.

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.

Applications for course credit: Applicants who have completed a degree in a cognate discipline from a recognised university may be eligible to receive coursework credit towards this degree, in line with the ANU Recognition of prior and external learning policy.

Cognate Disciplines

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

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

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.

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.