Bachelor of Arts/Master of International Relations
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Arts / Master of International Relations |
| Course Credit Points | 36 |
| Deakin course code | D305 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2020 to 2022 |
| Final Intake | Offered to continuing students only. The final intake to this course was in teaching period 1, 2022. Students should contact Student Central for course, course map and enrolment information. |
| Duration | 4.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS code | 0101372 Burwood (Melbourne) |
Course sub-headings
Articulated courses
| Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (A400) | |
| Bachelor of Communication and Creative Arts (Honours) (A450) |
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Arts | Course Learning Outcomes Master of International Relations |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the Arts disciplines, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines or areas of practice. | 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 | Demonstrate highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to communicate research outcomes, and produce scholarly papers. | 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 | Research, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information using a range of appropriate technologies and resources in a rapidly-changing global environment. | 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 | Use critical and analytical thinking and judgment in selecting and applying appropriate theories and methodologies to evaluate information and knowledge about society, culture and the arts. | 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 | Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Creative Arts, including cross-disciplinary approaches. | 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 and accountability for personal actions and a continued commitment to learning in personal, professional, and scholarly contexts. | 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 colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community. | 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 | Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues, cultural diversity, and social responsibility when engaging in scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community. | 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 by Faculty Board July 2019 | ||
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Arts/Master of International Relations you must pass 36 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Arts
- An approved Bachelor of Arts major sequence in International Relations
- An approved Bachelor of Arts minor sequence of at least 4 credit points, or a second approved Bachelor of Arts major sequence of at least 8 credit points
- No more than 10 credit points of units at level 1
- At least 6 credit points of units at level 3
Students must have completed 24 credit points of study successfully and achieved a WAM of 60 to continue through to the Master of International Relations. Students not having fulfilled this requirement are eligible to graduate with the Bachelor of Arts as an alternative exit.
- 12 credit points from the Master of International Relations
- 4 core units
- 8 credit points of study from one of the Minor Thesis, Research Paper, or Professional Experience Pathways. Course Elective units may be used to form a Specialisation.^
^Course elective units may be used to form up to 2 specialisations
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Majors
All students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts are required to complete at least one Arts major sequence. Please see A310 Bachelor of Arts for available majors and minors.
Course structure
Core units
| AIR707 | The United Nations and International Organisation |
| AIR742 | International Relations Theory |
| AIR747 | Contemporary International Politics |
| 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 5 credit points chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
Plus 7 credit points chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^
| APE701 | Internship Capstone |
Plus 6 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
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
Course Electives are available from the following:
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.