Expand+How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal go.qub.ac.uk/pgapply and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 12th August 2022 fo...

Hide-How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal go.qub.ac.uk/pgapply and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 12th August 2022 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

Expand+Graduate
Normally a 2.2 Honours degree (minimum 57%) or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Social Sciences, Humanities or Arts related discipline, or a 2.2 Honours degree (minimum 57%) or above, or equivalent qualif...

Hide-Graduate
Normally a 2.2 Honours degree (minimum 57%) or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a Social Sciences, Humanities or Arts related discipline, or a 2.2 Honours degree (minimum 57%) or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject with relevant professional experience.

Applicants who do not meet this entry requirement may, at the discretion of the relevant programme convenor be considered for admission on the basis of relevant work experience and/ or an assessed piece of work.

The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level.

Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Expand+Overview
This programme equips students to examine, explain and understand global issues which affects the world around us, from security and terrorism, migration and mobility, to global financial crises.

The diploma provides a foundation in the ...

Hide-Overview
This programme equips students to examine, explain and understand global issues which affects the world around us, from security and terrorism, migration and mobility, to global financial crises.

The diploma provides a foundation in the academic discipline of International Relations and the array of ‘real world’ practices and problems that produce world politics: looking for example, at diplomacy, arms control and arms proliferation, global health policy, humanitarian intervention and international development policy. While attending closely and consistently to issues such as armed conflict, it thus offers a significantly broader education in international politics.

The programme provides an opportunity to study the deep structures that constitute world order, and the pressing contemporary issues that we face, such as armed conflict, human displacement, inequality and injustice. As such, it offers a balance between covering core content in the field of International Relations while allowing students to actively develop areas of specialism as they progress through choosing elective courses according to their own interests.

Many students on our PgDip who make satisfactory academic progress transfer on to the MA programme, thus taking on the additional challenge of an independent research project in the form of a dissertation. Recent students' dissertation topics have included: Jihadi use of social media; Russian foreign and security policy after the Ukraine conflict; Extreme right-wing terrorism and the internet; Russian private military actors; EU defence policy after BREXIT; Baltic security and the future of NATO; Paramilitarism and the Northern Irish border; Indian defence and security in relation to rising China; The limits of ‘truth and reconciliation’ in conflict resolution.

Learning and Teaching
Students will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars involving small group discussions and analytical exercises of various sorts. These can involve simulations, looking at original policy documents, pieces of media coverage or film, as well as academic resources and analysis from think tanks and other independent sources. In addition, students will have access to a range of visiting speakers, academic research seminars and other events of direct relevance to the programme.

Cognitive and Transferable

At the end of the programme learners will have the capacity to be self reflexive and practice sound judgement, and will possess the necessary skills to enhance their ability, think critically and pursue independent research.

Students will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding about the history of the discipline and knowledge of its specific concepts, issues and vocabulary. Students will enhance their knowledge of the general methodological and theoretical approaches to key issue areas of the discipline. Students will be able to solve problems, process and prioritize a wide variety of information, and express arguments and positions in oral and written form.

The Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations provides postgraduate learners with the opportunity to develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills.

Knowledge and Understanding

Students will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding about the history of the discipline and knowledge of its specific concepts, issues and vocabulary. Students will enhance their knowledge of the general methodological and theoretical approaches to key issue areas of the discipline. Students will be able to solve problems, process and prioritize a wide variety of information, and express arguments and positions in oral and written form.

Specific Skills

The Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations provides postgraduate learners with the opportunity to develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills.

Expand+Course Structure
The programme has two different components: Core modules and Elective modules.

Core Modules
To acquire foundational knowledge and understanding in International Relations, students will take four core modules covering the evolut...

Hide-Course Structure
The programme has two different components: Core modules and Elective modules.

Core Modules
To acquire foundational knowledge and understanding in International Relations, students will take four core modules covering the evolution of International Relations as a discipline, issues of order, conflict and governance, and the trends toward globalisation, regionalisation and devolution.

Elective Modules
The programme provides students with a number of elective modules that will enable them to specialise in areas of interest, build on foundational knowledge, and develop focused expertise.

Core Modules
Core Modules students currently must take:
HAP7001 - Approaches to Research Design (Semester 1)
PAI7026 - Theories and Issues in International Relations (Semester 1)
PAI7030 - International Political Economy (Semester 2)

Course Details
The programme has two different components: Core modules and Elective modules.

Elective Modules

Students must take one of:

PAI7007 - Global Terrorism (Semester 2)
PAI7051 – Contemporary Security (semester 1)

Student who do not take:

PAI7051 – Contemporary Security

should choose one course from the list below:
PAI7021 – The Politics of Northern Ireland

PAI7036 – The Politics and Political Economy of Energy and Low Carbon Transitions
PHL7056 – Global Ethics

Student who take PAI7051 – Contemporary Security should choose one course from the list below:

PAI7022 – The Politics of the Republic of Ireland
PAI7027 - Conflict Intervention
PAI7032 - Gender & Politics
PAI7052 - Institutions and Politics of the EU
PHL7038 - Philosophy of Conflict and War


*This list of elective modules may vary from year to year.

Expand+Career Prospects
Introduction
All of the PgDip programmes offered in the School provide our graduates with the skills to pursue a wide range of careers in the private, public and voluntary sectors.

International Relations graduates go on to an e...

Hide-Career Prospects
Introduction
All of the PgDip programmes offered in the School provide our graduates with the skills to pursue a wide range of careers in the private, public and voluntary sectors.

International Relations graduates go on to an extraordinarily broad range of careers. Typical examples include: International Non-Governmental Organisation roles (humanitarian, conflict resolution, environmental, development etc.); media and journalism; government, diplomacy and international civil service roles; military and intelligence careers; political risk analysis; political research, lobbying and consultancy roles with an international focus; think-tank research; academic careers in IR and cognate disciplines; business roles involving significant transnational trade or operations.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Employment after the Course
International Relations graduates go on to an extraordinarily broad range of careers. Typical examples include: International Non-Governmental Organisation roles (humanitarian, conflict resolution, environmental, development etc); media and journalism; government, diplomacy and international civil service roles; military and intelligence careers; political risk analysis; political research, lobbying and consultancy roles with an international focus; think-tank research; academic careers in IR and cognate disciplines; business roles involving significant transnational trade or operations.