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	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	The time and cost could be reduced based on your previous qualifications and professional experience. This means you can fast track the masters degree from 1.5 years down to 1 year duration. See entry requirements below for more information.
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025: Conflict and Security Specialisation Course Electives Only - No Specialisation Diplomacy and Activism Specialisation Human Rights and International Law Specialisation Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9

Course sub-headings

Course overview

If you’re interested in understanding, investigating and responding to global issues, the Master of International Relations will give you the high-level skills in theoretical and empirical analysis to do so.

Are you ready to create practical responses to global issues?

Geo-political tensions, climate change, poverty, pandemics, human insecurity, and human rights abuses. These overarching concerns are just some of the pressing issues currently impacting our global community.

By studying the Master of International Relations, you will better understand the nature of these problems, what the current responses to these problems are, and how these responses can be improved.

You’ll develop skills in policy analysis, get a systematic understanding of the threats to peace and security, and global forces shaping political, social and economic life.

As you gain knowledge and perspective, you will be able to demonstrate high-level skills of theoretical and empirical analysis. Not only will you gain a thorough understanding of the complexities of contemporary international relations but be able to interpret these global issues and events to form a hopeful, positive solution for all parties.

You’ll complete the following core units:

The United Nations and International Organisation
Security and Strategy
Research Design.

You can also complete study that combines research and certain course elective units that may be used to form a specialisation in one of the following areas:

Conflict and Security
Diplomacy and Activism
Human Rights and International Law.

Specific research options meet the thesis requirements for admission to a PhD pathway so you can start focusing on the area of international relations you’re truly passionate about from the moment you start the course.

The masters degree also offers postgraduate internship opportunities, giving you the chance to gain valuable international experience and begin building your industry networks and connections.

Career opportunities

Graduates of Deakin’s Master of International Relations have gone on to work for organisations such as:

Australian Government
Australian Defence Force
United Nations
World Vision
Save the Children.

The nature of international relations roles is changing due to the impacts of climate change, the rise of China and other forms of geopolitical change. After examining key contemporary issues and developments around the world, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, you will graduate ready to enter the industry with current and best practice knowledge to make your impact.

Opportunities to make your impact exist in:

all levels of government
private sector corporations and small business
non-government organisations (NGOs)
the media
management consultancies
multicultural associations
education
health
research.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT.

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

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 rules

To complete the Master of International Relations students must pass 8 or 12 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate: The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL).

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
2 credit points of core units
6 or 10 credit points of study (depending upon entry point), from the following:
- one pathway option:
  - Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
  - Research Paper - non-PhD Pathway
  - Professional Experience - non-PhD Pathway
- any remaining credit points can be chosen from the course electives list (course elective units may be used to form a specialisation)

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Specialisations

Students who complete a specialisation will have the specialisation indicated on their academic transcript.

Specialisations are available in the following areas:

Conflict and Security*

Diplomacy and Activism*

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

Course Electives

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 or 7 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives

Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^

AIX701

Research Paper

Plus 5 or 9 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives

Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^

APE701

Internship Capstone (2 credit points)

Plus 4 or 8 credit points (depending upon entry point) chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives

^The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.

Course Electives

ACR709

Global Crime, Prevention and Responses

ADH714

Gender, Race and Culture

ADH717

Climate Change and Sustainability

AHA721

Humanitarian Knowledge and Principles

AIP781

Political Communication: Public Watchdog Or Propaganda Machine?

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

Work experience

Elective units and the Internship Capstone may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

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 your chosen pathway option

***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?

Plus your chosen pathway option

***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

AIR728

Global Political Economy ***

AIR726

Human Rights in World Politics **

Plus your chosen pathway option

***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 duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Other learning experiences

There are options for WIL and study tours across many of the SHSS courses.

Research and research-related study

Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.

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.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.