International Relations

Entry requirements

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in politics, history, international relations or similar disciplines.

Months of entry

September

Course content

About the MSc programme

MSc International Relations is an advanced, academic study of the subject from a global perspective.

You will have the opportunity to study a broad range of issues, including the formulation and implementation of foreign policy, relations between states and governments, international organisations and NGOs, international law, conflict and post-conflict peace-making and transitional justice, the role of empire or revolutions in world politics, and gender and international relations. You can also choose to focus on specific regions, such as Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa or specific countries such as China, Russia and the US.

The programme includes a core course, International Politics, which provides an historical and theoretical analysis of core concepts in international relations, of the normative and analytic issues involved, and of their relationship to the social sciences in general. You will also submit a 10,000 word dissertation, which allows you to explore a topic of your own choice in depth, and choose optional courses to the value of two units.

You may also be interested in the MSc International Relations (Research) programme which has a different core course, Theories of International Relations, and entails a compulsory methodology course.

Department of International Relations

International Relations has been taught at LSE since 1924 and the department was set up three years later. We are one of the oldest as well as largest IR departments in the world, with a truly international reputation. We are ranked 2nd in the UK and 4th in the world in the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2022 tables for Politics and International Studies.

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students.

Fees and funding

Fees

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme. Visit the website for more information about the fees.

Funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the Graduate Support Scheme, Master's Awards, and Anniversary Scholarships.

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.

Find out more about financial support.