International Relations and Security - MA *
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
Interested in studying International Relations and Security in Birmingham? This course, open to graduates from any subject, is the ideal preparation for careers in settings including domestic and international NGOs, third sector organisations, the civil or diplomatic service, educational institutions, and media and political institutions.
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Award MA
- Start date September 2025
- Subject
- Location City Centre
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
Our International Relations and Security course explores issues of governance, international intelligence, security, decision-making, conflict, and cooperation across the globe. You will develop knowledge and high-level skills to equip you for a successful career in sectors such as policing, counterterrorism, the intelligence services and the diplomatic corps. You will gain knowledge and critical understanding of communities and states facing challenges such as migration, terrorism, state violence, climate change and social inequalities through exploring security, power relations, globalisation and the ways states interact, whether through cooperation or through conflict.
The course is designed with employability at its core, through both teaching and authentic assessments. These authentic assessments include projects, crisis games, live debates or presentations, designed to directly link learning to meaningful contexts. You will actively engage with the material, seeing its relevance to future careers, which will foster intrinsic motivation and deeper understanding. Through authentic tasks you will apply your knowledge, analyse, synthesise, and collaborate with classmates. These skills are sought by employers and are vital for lifelong learning.
Assessments also provide opportunities for ongoing feedback and self-reflection. You will receive plenty of opportunities to prepare for employment through placements, work experience or volunteering with external organisations, as well as work-like learning and research experiences embedded into the course via simulations, role-play and practical problem solving activities.
The optional Professional Placement is designed to improve your employability skills and allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Professional Placement option
For our MA International Relations and Security degree, you will have the opportunity to take the Professional Placement version of the course, which is offered as an alternative to the standard version of the course.
This will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability and transferable skills. The placement experience will allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study, with support from our Careers+ team as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Please note that placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course.
For full details, please view the module specification.
Why Choose Us?
- You will critically explore the concept of security, asking what it is, who it is for and what it entails.
- You’ll get to learn about issues of contemporary and international significance that reflect the breadth of the discipline from the proliferation of nuclear weapons to climate change.
- You’ll experience research-led teaching and study alongside a team of academics with diverse expertise who are actively publishing in the field.
- Separate yourself within the job marketplace by demonstrating to potential employers your academic commitment, expertise and transferable skills, such as research training and practice.
Find out more
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 24 November 2024
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
Essential Requirements
| Typical Offers (UK Students) | ||
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A second class degree from a UK University or international equivalent. |
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Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis should a student possess enough relevant professional experience. |
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Additional information for EU/International students
| Essential | ||
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Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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| English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
| IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
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| Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page | |
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 Year
-
TBC
- Register interest
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
-
TBC
- Register interest
- Part Time
- 2 Years
-
TBC
- Register interest
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 Year
-
TBC
- Register interest
- Full Time
- 18 Months (Professional Placement)
-
TBC
- Register interest
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Modules
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 160 credits):
This core module is designed to help you develop a detailed understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of international relations and security through an examination of the various different schools of thought that exist within the discipline. The module makes use of face-to-face teaching in the form of workshops alongside blended learning outside of scheduled time in the classroom. The assessment allows you to apply and critically unpack your theoretical knowledge by applying it to a case study of your choice.
What is the relationship between international law and global conflict resolution? The core module Regulating Conflict and Facilitating Peace: The Role of International Law in Global Politics aims to answer this question by providing you with a critical understanding of the theory and practice of international law as a mechanism for the securitization of global conflict.
This core module gives a broad overview to the various different topics that come under the remit of International Relations. The module gives you a chance to study a series of contemporary and often ongoing issues within security that vary from individual case studies, events or overarching themes.
This core module supports the programme aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the current debates concerning global and regional security, through an examination of the significance of Middle East security in its historical, political, religious and economic settings. It provides insights into the relationship between this troubled security area and the rest of the world, since the start of the 20th century.
This core module will develop your understanding of key conceptual and empirical themes of postcolonial international relations. Focus will centre upon the formation of states, citizenship, and political violence - as they relate to strategies for developing or contesting imperial rule.
This module provides you with the opportunity to carry out a self-directed, empirical and critical investigation of a specific International Relations topic, producing a dissertation.
A dissertation will usually contain an extended literature review, methodology, summary of findings and conclusion, although this is an indicative guide only and the final product will vary dependent upon topic and method selected.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:
This optional module provides an opportunity to develop a critical, nuanced understanding of the sources, dynamics, and consequences of contemporary political violence. You will consider the significance of terrorism and conflict within the broader realm of Politics and International Relations, fostering an interdisciplinary, evidence-based perspective.
This module will outline the established theories and concepts of Green Criminology as well as surveying recent innovations such as the study of state-corporate harm and post-colonial criminology. The module is a response to the gap in the curriculum on green criminology and environmental security. It will allow you to apply multidisciplinary frameworks, including security studies, politics, development studies, human rights and law.
This module will provide you with a thorough grounding in key concepts and issues in international refugee law. It will also provide you with the opportunity to explore what it means to be displaced or on the move in a border-restricted world by engaging with critical legal studies perspectives.
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Professional Placement Year
In order to qualify for the award of MA International Relations and Security with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module:
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 20-week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Download course specification
Download nowEmployability
The teaching team draws on the combined with the expertise of members of the Centre for Security and Extremism, who will give you cutting-edge criminological knowledge from their impactful and high-profile research, as well as giving you excellent access to experienced practitioners and Criminal Justice System organisations.
The access provided to professionals, the presence of practitioners among fellow students and the capacity to reflect upon relevant volunteering or work experience within the structure of the course means that the course provides excellent opportunities for building contacts and networking, as well as developing opportunities for employment.
International
Welcome to Birmingham City University, home to students from all around the world!
Most of our undergraduate and postgraduate courses within the faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences are open to international students, and our courses have been tailored to take a global approach to learning.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent over £400 million on new learning facilities.
The Curzon Building
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other social sciences, law and business students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
Realistic, simulated environments include two mock court rooms, a Magistrates' and Crown Court, and an interviewing suite. We’re also exploring the use of virtual environments as a way to develop case study analysis.
For those studying on the BSc (Hons) Professional Policing or BA (Hons) Criminology, Policing and Investigation degrees, you’ll experience simulations of police interviewing environments for both suspects and witnesses, with access to tape recording and video playback analysis. You’ll also be able to utilise our unique mobile crime scene to simulate true-to-life and interactive situational simulations.
Crime investigation files are prepared using computer-based technology, and the crime data analysis requirements of the degree are supported by appropriate statistical and analytical software.
Psychology students can look forward to using state-of-the-art equipment as well, including the latest in eye-tracking software, and our new EEG machine, all geared towards giving you true hands-on experience with tools you’ll be using in your later career. You will also benefit from facilities across the wider campus including the Parkside and Millennium Point buildings.
The Curzon Building also features:
- An impressive library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
- Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
- A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
- Accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
- Shared facilities with the wider campus including the Parkside Building and Millennium Point
Our staff
Dr Lily Hamourtziadou
Senior Lecturer and Course Leader MA in Security Studies
Lily researches and teaches international politics and security. She is principal researcher for leading NGO Iraq Body Count, twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Lily’s work contributes to peace efforts, civilian harm mitigation in conflict and humanitarian causes, while increasing awareness and understanding of world politics.
More about Lily