MA (Hons) Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen focuses on the role of politics, power, states, and governments in an ever-changing global context, taught by internationally renowned academics regularly appearing as experts in the media on events unfolding in the world today. This programme offers the perfect foundation for careers in politics, international affairs, NGOs, media and more.
Please note: MA (Hons) is equivalent to a Bachelor degree with Honours.
At a Glance
Politics and International Relations explores the world in which we live by considering how the decisions we make collectively affect the culture, society and economy of the world as a whole, including an in-depth look at how various political actors including governments and international institutions influence our world.
We provide a supportive yet challenging environment within which students develop knowledge of Politics and International Relations, including historical and contemporary political issues and major theoretical debates. Students are supported by research-active staff who are internationally recognised experts in their fields, and our courses reflect staff specialisms.
You will study organisations, how states interact, global wealth and poverty and the ever-present concerns of conflict and peace. You can also take advantage of unique options made possible by the research pedigree of our academic team with a strong track record in publishing international papers and articles.
A degree in Politics and/or International Relations from the University of Aberdeen opens doors to a wide range of professions, including many politics-related roles. Our teaching programme develops advanced understanding of international political issues and these skills are relevant to a vast array of jobs. We work closely with employers in developing our programme and our graduates acquire essential skills to prepare them for challenging professional roles.
What You'll Study
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Depending on start date, courses may vary or change.
Notes
- Designated Degree: A minimum of 360 credit points including at least 90 credit points of Level 3 courses and the prescribed courses listed for programme years 1, 2 and 3.
- Candidates seeking entry to the Junior Honours programme must have accumulated, by award or recognition, or been exempted from, at least 240 credit points at levels 1 and 2, including the prescribed courses required to enter programme year 3.
- Compulsory Courses
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Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (QQ1003) This course, which is prescribed for level 1 undergraduate students (and articulating students who are in their first year at the University), is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.
Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
View detailed information about the Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen course
Academic Practice for Study (QQ1001) Introductory course focusing on developing academic practice skills.
View detailed information about the Academic Practice for Study course
Politics & International Relations 1: Democracy and Governance (QI1001) This course will introduce students to concepts and ideas that form the basis for the study of these disciplines while simultaneously also helping us understand our own place within a global context.
Research Methods in Politics and International Relations (QI3005) Research methods are fundamental to the scientific study of Politics and International Relations. They are also increasingly desired by non-academic employers. This course introduces students to the scientific toolkit and some of the most popular methods of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. It is skills based and provides a hands-on experience. The gained skills will be essential for students at honour’s level and especially crucial for their undergraduate dissertations. The course also constitutes a significant part of their graduate attributes.
View detailed information about the Research Methods in Politics and International Relations course
Politics & International relations 2: Power and Conflict (QI1501) This course will introduce students to concepts and ideas that form the basis for the study of these disciplines while simultaneously also helping us understand our own place within a global context.
View detailed information about the Politics & International relations 2: Power and Conflict course
Ideas & Ideologies in Politics and International Relations (QI2001) This course will introduce students to these with profound questions and struggles over identity, belonging, justice and rights underpinning these theoretical debates.
View detailed information about the Ideas & Ideologies in Politics & International Relations course
Global Politics: Equality & Inequality (QI2501) View detailed information about the Global Politics Equality & Inequality course
Human Rights in Global Politics (QI3506) Human Rights have long been at the epicentre of heated debates in contemporary global politics. This course will examine the theoretical and philosophical foundations of human rights within their historical context, along with the key controversies that shape current implementation and enforcement of the human rights regime in global politics. This course is suitable for specialist and non-specialist alike. No prior knowledge is required.
View detailed information about the Human Rights in Global Politics course
International Security (QI3504) This course explores salient concepts of security and conflict, focusing on contemporary issues and problems.
View detailed information about the International Security course
International Terrorism, Counterterrorism and International Relations (QI3503) Dissertation: International Relations (QI4006) or Politics (QI4007) View detailed information about the Dissertation: International Relations and Politics courses
Climate, the Environment and Colonialism (QI45xx) Soviet and Post-Soviet Russian Foreign Policy (PI4093) This course examines contemporary Russian Foreign Policy through the historical framework of Soviet foreign relations. International, domestic, cultural and ideological factors will be examined throughout the course. This will provide an understanding of a wide range of issues that have affected Moscow’s foreign policy decision making in both the recent past and their legacy in the contemporary situation.
View detailed information about the Soviet and Post-Soviet Russian Foreign Policy course
Maritime Security (QI3505) View detailed information about the Maritime Security course
- Optional Courses
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The Economics of Business and Society (EC1006) This course is an introductory course in microeconomics where we study the decision making of individual actors (consumers, employees, firms, governments, etc.) in an economy. Actors must make decisions about behaviours because they face scarce resources, but often they find that trading with other actors in markets can increase the wellbeing of all parties. This course models and examines the nature of these interactions, highlighting when they work well and when they fail to increase wellbeing and what might be the solution to these failures.
View detailed information about the Economics of Business and Society course
Managing Organisations (MS1009) The aim of this course is to introduce students to the fundamentals of management, the internal structure and processes of organisations. Students will understand the main functions of management, what management is, what managers do and the factors that influence behaviour and performance of managers and other employees within an organisation.
The course will introduce a range of theories, research and real-life illustrations of a diverse range of management practices and organisational behaviour. The course will cover areas of: Staffing, Groups and Teams, Leadership and Management, Human Resource Management, Organisational Structure, Culture and Change, Communication, Marketing, Branding and Organisational Processes.
View detailed information about the Managing Organisations course
Legal System (QL1001) This course introduces the fundamental components and characteristics of the Scottish legal system. It includes a study skills programme which covers different facets of the study of law along with a series of practical workshops which introduce key legal information sources (both electronic and paper) and appropriate search strategies.
Foundations of Private Law (QL1002) The course provides firstly a map of private law as drawn from the Roman-law-derived institutional scheme.
View detailed information about the Foundations of Private Law course
Understanding Property (QB1505) This course introduces students to the world of the built environment, professional surveying practice and the construction industry.
View detailed information about the Understanding Property course
Accounting and Accountability (AC1011) This course introduces the theoretical and contextual foundation of accounting. It does not involve any technical aspects of accounting or bookkeeping but provides an introduction to the political, economic, institutional, professional and managerial context of accounting. The main content includes:
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Socio-political and economic mechanisms of accountability; theories of accountability.
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Constitution of organisations and the role of accounting within organisations.
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Constitution of accounting as a business function: how accounting is organised within organisations.
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Constitution of Accountancy as a Profession: how accountancy is organised as a profession.
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Sustainability and accounting: how accounting is reorganised to address sustainability issues.
View detailed information about the Accounting and Accountability course
A World Full of Law: Legal Cultures Before the Age of Exploration Contract Law (QL1501) The course approaches a selection of current problems in contract law doctrine from the theoretical, comparative and philosophical perspectives.
Delict and Unjustified Enrichment (QL1502) This course introduces students to two of the key branches of the Scots law of obligations, namely Delict (which governs legal liability for situations such as the negligent infliction of harm upon others, or liability for breach of privacy) and Unjustified Enrichment (which is concerned with questions such as, if I pay you money in error, am I entitled to demand that you return it?).
View detailed information about the Delict and Unjustified Enrichment course
Management Accounting 2 (QB2002) This course extends the operational tools and techniques introduced in AC1514. It develops more complex problem-solving techniques in the planning, control and decision-making process.
View detailed information about the Management Accounting 2 course
Finance 2: Business Finance (QB2004) The main aim of this course is to develop a sound understanding of fundamental principles underlying the theory and practice of finance, thereby providing a strong basis for further study of advanced finance theory and cognate disciplines.
View detailed information about the Finance 2: Business Finance course
Introduction to Human Resource Management (QB2006) This course designed is for Business Management students and covers one of the most important functions in an organisation/business, that of Human Resource Management (HRM).
View detailed information about the Introduction to Human Resource Management course
Marketing (QB2007) This course provides students with an overview of the underpinning concepts of marketing, and the requirements for the development of a market oriented organisation.
Foundations of Public Law (QL1005) The Foundations of Public Law course provides students with an overview of the fundamental principles and institutions shared by constitutional democracies. It will cover four broad topics: (1) conceptual building blocks; (2) the main institutions of the government; (3) the state and its citizens; and (4) the state in the context of international relations. The course lays down the foundation for both jurisdiction-specific courses and courses on comparative constitutional law.
Databases and Data Management (QC2002) This course will be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn to design and query databases using major database technologies. The course aims to teach the material using case studies from real-world applications, both in lectures and lab classes.
View detailed information about the Databases and Data Management course
Financial Markets and Regulation (QB2501) This course provides students with an understanding of the financial system, primarily from a UK perspective, introducing students to the reasons for, and nature of, financial markets and institutions before moving on to explore the need and importance of financial regulation, and investigating the causes and consequences of the recent global financial crisis.
View detailed information about the Financial Markets and Regulation course
Financial Accounting 2 (QB2502) The objective of FA2 is to build upon material introduced in first year in order to develop students' technical skills in financial statement preparation.
View detailed information about the Financial Accounting 2 course
Business Law (QB2503) This course is designed to provide non-LLB students with an understanding of the main issues in business law.
Understanding Statistics (QB2504) This course aims to provide students with an understanding of statistical concepts and methods relevant to accounting, management, finance, real estate and economics.
View detailed information about the Understanding Statistics courses
Operations Management (QB2505) Operations is the part of management that considers processes rather than people and focuses on the organisation rather than its environment.
View detailed information about the Operations Management course
Introduction to International Business (QB2506) International Business by necessity spans a number of discipline subject areas and as such it is difficult to locate its boundaries precisely. However, the topic covers a set of ever changing issues and relationships that affect both individuals (whether as consumers, employees, entrepreneurs etc.) and organisations (whether governmental, Not-for-profit, or commercial), and in this course it will be studied from these different perspectives.
View detailed information about the Introduction to International Business course
Foundations of Legal Cultural Comparison (QL1506) Legal culture can be described as ‘ideas and expectations of law made operational by institutional practices’ (Sunde). Differing ideas and expectations about how law should be made operational lead to significant differences across legal systems globally, e.g. in terms of legal methodologies. Using a tried and tested analytical model, students become critically aware of these differences, enabling them to appreciate the rich cultural ‘grammar’ underlying laws as practised around the world.
Foundations of Common Law with English Criminal Law (QL1507) The common law tradition is one of the major legal traditions of the world. This course briefly introduces students to the conceptual and institutional structures of the common law tradition. This in turn introduces the fundamentals of the modern English legal system and its practical operation. A large section of the course then turns to the practical operation of English law through study of English Criminal Law.
Reading Law in Comparative and International Perspectives (QL1508) This course introduces students to the challenges of reading legal sources. It introduces them to reading different ways in which legal norms may be produced or developed in different legal cultures (e.g. through legislative activity, judicial decisions and juristic writings and international treaties). It assesses students by requiring them to read and then analyse a range of primary legal sources in a manner sympathetic to their legal cultures.
Contemporary Issues in Business (QB2009) The aim of this course is to provide an introduction and overview of contemporary business issues. Contemporary business issues are cultural, economic, political or technological factors in the business environment which have emerged as having an important impact on contemporary organisations. These may vary, over time, as new business issues emerge and become important.
Currently the course will focus on two contemporary issues: (1) environmental sustainability and climate change, and (2) the impact of new information and communication technologies such as mobile technologies (smartphones, computers etc) and artificial intelligence (algorithms, AI) technologies on work.View detailed information about the Contemporary Issues in Business course
Understanding Data (QC1509) This statistics course teaches students how to summarise data effectively and how to correctly interpret it. Among the topics covered are sampling strategies, probability theory, confidence intervals and hypothesis tests. There are also weekly computer practicals using the statistics software RStudio. The mathematical context is emphasised but students are not expected to have a high level of maths.
View detailed information about the Understanding Data course
Human Resource Management (MS2512) This course provides an introduction to key theories and concepts in Human Resource Management (HRM). Key themes to be covered include core HRM topics such as the link between strategy and HRM, reward and performance management, training and development, equality and diversity management.
View detailed information about the Human Resource Management course
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How You'll Study
Teaching at levels 1 and 2 is by a combination of formal lectures and small group tutorials. Honours teaching varies in style, although many courses are based on seminars. Assessment is generally by traditional exams and assessed essays, although, in some courses group work, projects, quizzes and other techniques are used.
Students are expected to write a dissertation in their final year.
Learning Methods
Assessment Methods
Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:
- Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
- Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course.
- Written examinations at the end of each course.
The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.
Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.
Why Study Politics and International Relations
- A core curriculum with topical themes of conflict and security, representation and democracy, comparative politics and policy.
- Special focus on the Middle-East, Latin America, North and South Asia, the Nordic Countries, Central and Eastern Europe - as well as Scotland, the UK and the EU.
- Teaching staff with specialist expertise in political parties and elections, democracy and democratisation, energy politics, European politics, integration and regionalism, human rights, interest groups, modernity and religion, international political economy, nationalism, conflict resolution, regional international relations and security studies.
- A vibrant Politics & International Relations Society that hosts exciting debates throughout the academic year as well as international trips.
- All the history and legacy of being part of a university developed over 500 years of national and international political turbulence, social change and emerging democracy.
- Analyse global issues, systems and trends from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
- Gain knowledge and research skills In the areas of politics, international affairs, and international institutions which will widen your appeal to employers in all sectors.
Interested in this programme?
Academic Requirements
- Qatar Public Schools: 70% or above in the Thanawiyah.
- British Schools: 5 passes at C or above in IGCSE and 2 passes at C or above in AS.
- American Schools: Minimum cumulative 2.3 High School GPA.
- International Baccalaureate – IB: Complete International Baccalaureate with a minimum of 26 points, including 3 subjects at 4,3,3 at HL.
- Diplomas and International transfer: There will be advance standing opportunities for suitably qualified applicants. We would expect such applicants to have successfully completed either a minimum of two years of an equivalent degree, or hold a relevant diploma from international institutions and in Qatar.
English Language Requirements
If the most recent academic qualification was not taught in English, we will ask applicants to supply us with evidence of English proficiency by providing a minimum overall IELTS Academic score of 5.5 with a minimum of 5.0 in each section or equivalent.
Documents Required
- High School Certificate
- High School Transcript
- Attestation letter from the Equivalency Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education – Qatar
- NOC from Military Service (Male Qataris only)
- Diploma certificate (Transfer applicants only)
- Diploma transcript (Transfer applicants only)
- CV (Transfer applicants only)
- Copy of QID
English Language Requirements
To study for a Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
- IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
- TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
- PTE Academic: OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 51; Reading - 51; Speaking - 51; Writing - 54
- Cambridge English Advanced & Proficiency: OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Fees
- The tuition fee for entry in September is 89,000 QR per year.
- Tuition fees are fixed at the point of entry so there is no annual increase for returning students.
- Flexible payment methods are available.