Master of International Relations
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of International Relations |
| Deakin course code | A703 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Campus | Burwood (Melbourne), Online For students who commenced prior to 2024 only |
| Duration | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 0101370 Burwood (Melbourne) |
The final intake into this course version was in 2023. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course information. For students who commenced prior to 2023, please refer to handbook archive for course structure information. | |
Course sub-headings
- Alternative exits
- Research information
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course structure
- Details of specialisations
- Fees and charges
Alternative exits
| Graduate Diploma of International Relations (A603) |
Research information
Students will complete a research pathway in 1 of the 3 following options:
- Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
- Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
- Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Review and analyse major theoretical, conceptual and policy debates and disputes in International Relations pertaining to foreign policy, conflict and security, international and regional politics, globalisation, and international law with reference to empirical cases. |
| Communication | Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of International Relations theories, concepts and their application to real-world contexts, in a selection of written, oral and digital formats, to a range of audiences. |
| Digital literacy | Employ a range of digital communication technologies and platforms appropriately to conduct research, engage in debate, communicate findings, and deliver reports and presentations to a diverse range of audiences. |
| Critical thinking | Analyse, critically evaluate and synthesise theoretical conceptualisations of international politics and policy responses by a range of actors in the context of the changing international political system. |
| Problem solving | Employ initiative and creativity in conjunction with appropriate Social Science methods of research and analysis to investigate complex real-world problems in a systematic manner and generate and evaluate potential responses to issues in the areas of conflict and security, globalization, international crises and risks, foreign policy and international law. |
| Self-management | Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a continued commitment to learning and skill development personally, academically and professionally in the field of International Relations. |
| Teamwork | Work and learn collaboratively with others in the field of International Relations and from other backgrounds while still maintaining responsibility for their own learning. |
| Global citizenship | Analyse and respond to issues in global politics in domestic, regional and international contexts as a reflective scholar and practitioner, taking into account cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and adherence to professional and academic ethical standards. |
Approved at Faculty Board May 2019
Course structure
Core Units
| AIR707 | The United Nations and International Organisation |
| AIR748 | Security and Strategy |
Pathways
Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
| AIX706 | Research Design |
Plus 2 credit points of research units:
| AIX704 | Minor Thesis A |
| AIX705 | Minor Thesis B |
Plus 3 credit points chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
Plus 5 credit points chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^
| APE701 | Internship Capstone (2 credit points) |
Plus 4 credit points chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
^The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.
Course Electives and Specialisations
To qualify for a specialisation within the Master of International Relations, a student must successfully complete 4-5 credit points of study from within that specialisation.
Students who complete a specialisation of 4 or 5 credit points will have the specialisation indicated on their academic transcript
Specialisations are available in the following areas:
Human Rights and International Law **
*Trimester 3 study is required, Professional experience Trimester 1 intake part-time study only
** Available as a part-time study option for Research Option 2 in Trimester 1 & 2 only
Details of specialisations
Conflict and Security
Unit Set Code
SP-A703CON
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Units
| AIR701 | China and the World ** |
| AIR717 | International Conflict Analysis |
| AIR732 | Terrorism in International Politics |
Plus
| AIX704 | Minor Thesis A |
and
| AIX705 | Minor Thesis B |
OR
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
OR
| APE701 | Internship Capstone (2 credit points) |
**Students who have previously completed this unit within the Graduate Certificate of International Relations are required to substitute with a unit selected from the course electives
Diplomacy and Activism
Unit Set Code
SP-A703DIP
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Units
| AIR712 | Australian Foreign Policy ** |
| AIR720 | Transnational Activism and Policy |
| AIP781 | Political Communication: Public Watchdog Or Propaganda Machine? [replaces AIR753] |
Plus
| AIX704 | Minor Thesis A |
and
| AIX705 | Minor Thesis B |
OR
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
OR
| APE701 | Internship Capstone (2 credit points) |
**Students who have previously completed this unit within the Graduate Certificate of International Relations are required to substitute with a unit selected from the course electives
Human Rights and International Law
Unit Set Code
SP-A703HUM
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Units
| AHA721 | Humanitarian Knowledge and Principles [replaces AIR729] |
| AIR728 | Global Political Economy ** |
| AIR726 | Human Rights in World Politics ** |
Plus
| AIX704 | Minor Thesis A |
and
| AIX705 | Minor Thesis B |
OR
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
OR
| APE701 | Internship Capstone (2 credit points) |
**Students who have previously completed this unit within the Graduate Certificate of International Relations are required to substitute with a unit selected from the course electives
Course Electives
Units
| ACR709 | Global Crime, Prevention and Responses |
| ADH714 | Gender, Race and Culture |
| ADH717 | Climate Change and Sustainability |
| AHA721 | Humanitarian Knowledge and Principles [replaces AIR729] |
| AIP781 | Political Communication: Public Watchdog Or Propaganda Machine? [replaces AIR753] |
| AIR701 | China and the World ** |
| AIR712 | Australian Foreign Policy ** |
| AIR717 | International Conflict Analysis |
| AIR720 | Transnational Activism and Policy |
| AIR726 | Human Rights in World Politics ** |
| AIR728 | Global Political Economy ** |
| AIR732 | Terrorism in International Politics |
| AIX706 | Research Design |
| APE700 | Internship A |
| MLJ734 | Public International Law |
**Students who have previously completed any of these units within the Graduate Certificate of International Relations are required to substitute with an alternate unit from the course electives
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.