International Relations

How should we make sense of the many global challenges that are increasingly destabilising international politics? On this course you'll learn how to practically address some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, from global heating and ecological destruction, to geopolitical conflict, public health crises and rapid technological change.

Course description

On this course you'll expand your understanding of contemporary international relations. You will investigate how the global order is constituted, the ways in which it functions, and whether it might be under strain.

Throughout your studies you will about key concepts and theories that will help you address the following questions:

• Who are the key actors in international relations and how do they shape the context in which a range of urgent global challenges are identifiable?
• How do states, their people, and global governance bodies influence international politics?
• Why has the world order evolved in apparently less politically and ecologically stable ways in recent years?
• Where should we look to try to make sense of global politics, and whose perspectives and interpretations should we privilege?
• What critical theories and concepts can help us make better sense of a changing world that conventional ones seem increasingly unable to explain?

The MA International Relations degree attracts a hugely diverse student body. Some may have already studied politics and international relations previously, whereas others may have little academic experience in the subject but wish to better understand the evolution of global politics.

Please see our University website for the most up-to-date course information: https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2026/international-relations-ma