International Relations MA (Hons) Level: Undergraduate Subject: Politics and International Relations Year of entry: 2026 Key facts UCAS Code L250 Award MA (Hons) Duration of study 4 years Delivery Full-time Study location Central Area Start date September 2026 School School of Social and Political Science College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study abroad Available Placement No Open days and events Overview About the degree programme International Relations studies:actions and challenges that transcend national boundariesthe resulting conflicts or attempts at cooperationHow do states cope with our highly complex and interconnected world? How can we tackle problems like climate change, global economic inequality, and interstate war? Do our very ideas about state power, sovereignty, democracy, justice, legitimacy, and order have to change when we think about the international level?Guided by leading academics and researchers in the field, you will explore:the origins and evolution of the state systemthe emergence of global non-state actorsthe power of international institutionsthe driving forces behind international cooperation and conflict How long it takes to complete this degree programme This programme is studied over 4 years.A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.How long it takes to complete our degree programmes Programme rankings Ranked in the UK's top 10 universities for politics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Programme benefits Many honours courses feature innovative learning methods such as simulations or practical exercises.Study under leading academics and researchers in the field.Home to the Scottish Parliament, the city of Edinburgh offers the perfect location in which to study politics. Entry requirements Find your entry requirementsUse the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.Select the qualification you are studying or studied. Where you are studying or where you studied United KingdomAfghanistanAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBhutanBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanYemenZambiaZimbabweMy country is not listed Qualification - Select a qualification -SQA Highers: standard requirementsSQA Highers: widening access requirementsA levels: standard requirementsA levels: widening access requirementsIB: standard requirementsIB: widening access requirementsOther UK qualificationsMature applicants (including adult returners)International qualifications by country United Kingdom, Fees and funding Tuition fees for MA (Hons) International Relations View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) International Relations. Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.This estimate covers the costs of:accommodationfoodutility billstravel within Edinburghhealth and wellbeing costsSee a breakdown of living costs Scholarships and funding Funding information You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section. Funding Programme details What you will study Year 1 You will take three compulsory courses:Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and DebatesPolitics and International Relations 1B: The Global DimensionPolitical Thinkers, an introductory political theory courseYou will take three option courses of your choice. Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 2 You will take two compulsory courses:Theories of International RelationsIntroduction to Political Data AnalysisYou will take four option courses of your choice. Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 3 You will take Research Design in Politics and International Relations, in preparation for your honours dissertation in Year 4.You will also take a further five courses from the wide range of honours options available, in subjects such as:international political economyglobal securityUS foreign policyhuman rightsgenderAfrican politicsthe Middle EastMany more options are available. Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 4 You will choose four honours courses from a wide range of politics and international relations topics.You will also complete an honours dissertation on a topic of your choice. Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Study abroad You will have the opportunity to study abroad in Year 3 of this degree at one of our partner universities.If international travel restrictions allow, you may be able to choose where you study from our selection of international partners.A study abroad experience will allow you to immerse yourself in a different culture, enrich your learning and enhance your future job opportunities.Your study abroad options Teaching and assessment Teaching Most courses will be taught mainly through a combination of:lecturestutorialsseminarsMany honours courses feature innovative learning methods such as simulations or practical exercises.Most pre-honours courses feature a teaching team of subject experts, while honours courses are normally convened by one staff member whose expertise directly corresponds to the course theme. Assessment You will be assessed through a variety of methods, such as:essaysexamspolicy briefsgroup presentationstutorial participation exercises Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.Support for your studies Our academic staff Our people are the most important thing about our subject area. It takes a team of academics, professional services colleagues and PhD students working together to deliver our teaching, carry out our research and keep the department running. Together, they form a supportive community covering a range of professional expertise.You can search for academic staff by name or role on our school website.Search academic staff by name or role Where you will study Study location The majority of teaching takes place at facilities located within the University's Central Area. Academic facilities You will also have access to the University's library and computer facilities. Career paths and further study Career paths In recent years, graduates have entered careers in areas such as:the civil serviceforeign affairspolitical and parliamentary researchThis programme will also equip you with transferable skills required for employment in areas such as:finance and consultancythe voluntary sectorjournalismteachingSome graduates choose to go on to further training in accountancy or law, or take postgraduate programmes with a view to pursuing an academic career.Our alumni include:government ministersMembers of Parliamentpolicy analystsbroadcastersbusiness leadersteacherssocial entrepreneurs Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.With the Careers Service, you can:access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisionsVisit the Careers Service website Further study After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:a masters degreea postgraduate diploma or certificatea PhDa second undergraduate degreeFind out about options for further study Applying How to apply You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.Guidance on applying through UCAS What you need to apply As part of your application, you will need:your academic qualificationsa personal statementevidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)a reference How we select If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.How we select applicants When to apply 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.Search degrees that are open on the UCAS websiteKey application dates and deadlines After you apply After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:How to submit your qualificationsAttend an offer holder eventReceiving our decisionAccepting your offerAfter you’ve accepted your offerIf you have a disability and need more support at university Applying as an international student As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS. Find out more about applying through UCAS Visas and immigration If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme. Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. Applying for a visa Agents An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact. Find contact details for an education agent Life at Edinburgh What our students say Student testimonialsHear about what it is like to study with us, and about life in Edinburgh from those who know it best: our students and graduates.Testimonials from our students and graduatesCheck out our student blogOur team of School of Political Sciences (SPS) student writers share their experiences and thoughts on the things that matter to them on our student blog, for example:writing your first assignmentwhat to do in Edinburgh on the weekendwhat to expect in Welcome Weekliving away from homehybrid learningliving sustainablyOur SPS student blog Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.University accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSports clubsAdditionally, most of the departments in the School of Social and Political Science (SPS) have associated student societies, which are designed to offer you the best chance to develop your interests, network and meet like-minded people.Edinburgh Political UnionFacebook - Edinburgh Political UnionX - Edinburgh Political UnionEmail the Edinburgh Political Union at edinburghpolitics@gmail.comSustainable Development AssociationFacebook - Sustainable Development AssociationX - Sustainable Development AssociationEUSA website - Sustainable Development AssociationEmail the Sustainable Development Association at eduni.sda@gmail.comSociology SocietyFacebook - Sociology SocietyInstagram - Sociology SocietyEmail the Sociology Society at edisociologysociety@gmail.comSocial Anthropology SocietyFacebook - Social Anthropology SocietyEmail the Social Anthropology Society at soc.anth.soc@gmail.comSocial Policy SocietyFacebook - Social Policy SocietyX - Social Policy SocietyEmail the Social Policy Society at ediunisocpolsoc@gmail.comQ-Step SocietyFacebook – Q-Step SocietyEmail the Q-Step Society at edqsoc@gmail.com The city of Edinburgh Home to the Scottish Parliament, the city of Edinburgh offers the perfect location in which to study politics. We offer you a dynamic environment regularly hosting leading international academics, politicians and diplomats.Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities to daily life, including: sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include:a student counselling servicea health centre (doctor's surgery)support if you're living in University accommodationdedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentHealth and wellbeing support services Contact and events
