More Info
Objectives
Structure
Master thesis and requirements for graduation
Specialisations
Contact information
Objectives
The programme has the following objectives:
1. to enable students to acquire academic knowledge, understanding and skills, and train them in the use of scientific methods in the field of International Relations;
2. to enable students to develop the following academic and professional skills:
independent academic reasoning and conduct,
the ability to analyse complex problems,
academic writing;
- to prepare students for an academic career and further education;
- to prepare students for a career outside academia.
Structure
Students wishing to replace the additional (non-specialisation) elective (10 EC) with an external course or internship, please contact the Co-ordinator of Studies to discuss your options. Other courses can't be replaced.
If you wish to receive an exemption for one or more courses based on similar previously completed courses on Master level, please contact the Co-ordinator of Studies.
September 2021 semester for students who started in February 2021:
September 2021 semester for students starting in September 2021:
Core Course Culture and Politics (10 EC)
Ideas in World Politics (5 EC)
Thesis Seminar and Methods in IR Research (5 EC)
Elective (10 EC) - students must choose one core specialization elective and can choose one elective from the complete list of electives on offer for the specialization (core specialization electives and additional electives).
February 2022 semester for students starting in September 2021:
Regionalism in World Politics (5 EC)
Elective (10 EC) - students must choose one core specialization elective and can choose one elective from the complete list of electives on offer for the specialization (core specialization electives and additional electives).
Thesis (15 EC)
February 2022 semester for students starting in February 2022:
Core Course Culture and Politics (10 EC)
Ideas in World Politics (5 EC)
Thesis Seminar and Methods in IR Research (5 EC)
Elective (10 EC) - students must choose one core specialization elective and can choose one elective from the complete list of electives on offer for the specialization (core specialization electives and additional electives).
September 2022 semester for students starting in February 2022:
Regionalism in World Politics (5 EC)
Elective (10 EC) - students must choose one core specialization elective and can choose one elective from the complete list of electives on offer for the specialization (core specialization electives and additional electives).
Thesis (15 EC)
Master thesis and requirements for graduation
A thesis is an academic essay, written by the student in consultation with a supervisor. The thesis must show that the student is capable of analyzing existing literature in a critical manner, and of conducting independent research. Moreover, this process must be recorded in an academically sound report.
Generally speaking, students are encouraged to select the topic of their thesis themselves, based on a Master’s course that they followed. In most cases, the first supervisor of the thesis will be the lecturer responsible for the Master’s course which inspired the thesis. In case of doubt, students can always consult other supervisors within the Humanities Faculty.
During the first semester, students will complete the 5 EC course Thesis Seminar and Methods in International Relations Research in which they will choose a topic for their thesis, formulate a research question, and submit a research proposal and literature review. Students who have not fulfilled the requirements of this course or have not received the approval of the Examinations Committee will not have their MA thesis supervised.
The thesis for the MA International Relations is a maximum of 15.000 words including notes, bibliography and appendices. The thesis is supervised by a lecturer in the Humanities Faculty, who possesses expertise in the relevant field. The thesis is judged by two lecturers involved in the program.
In assessing the quality of the thesis, the following aspects play an important role:
Formulating and analyzing the research question;
Structure of the thesis;
Integration of primary and secondary literature into the argument;
Argumentation skills;
Style, use of language and lay-out;
Independent and original research
Graduates of the programme have attained the following learning outcomes, listed according to the Dublin descriptors:
1. Knowledge and understanding
a. Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of
the contemporary and historical dimension, the evolution and interdependency of bilateral and multilateral relations among states and non-state actors,
the importance of government institutions and frameworks for the development of these relations,
b. and the main areas and issues of current global and regional politics and international relations. knowledge of the main academic terminology, theories and paradigms pertaining to the past, present and future of current global issues and politics, with a special focus on ideas and approaches related to the humanities.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
a. the ability to locate, analyse and critically assess primary documents emanating from relevant sources and secondary (academic) sources, relating to areas and issues relevant to International Relations, including the process of European integration;
b. the ability to conduct independent multi-disciplinary research and to formulate and conduct substantial pieces of academic research (including a master’s thesis) in the field of International Relations, thereby showing the ability to comprehend and apply relevant theoretical insights and methodological approaches;
c. with regard to major regional and global areas and issues, the ability to successfully transfer and apply research to non-academic settings and environments;
d. the ability to initiate and conduct research into the relevant areas and issues of regional and global politics, economics and culture;
e. the ability to follow and understand the evolution of academic and non-academic discussions on the complex interdependency of national, regional and global politics;
f. the ability to apply and evaluate qualitative and, if applicable, quantitative methods to the relevant contexts.
3. Judgement
a. the ability to independently and critically evaluate evidence and sources relating to the variety and interdependency of areas and issues of regional and global economics, politics and culture;
b. the ability to evaluate the historical, political, economic and cultural factors that shape the interests and behaviour of major state and non-state actors in the contemporary world, including the European Union;
c. the ability to recognise, reflect upon and judge between different academic opinions and arguments on the complexity and interrelationship of contemporary politics, cultures and economics.
4. Communication
a. the ability to clearly and convincingly present academically-supported arguments and analyses with respect to the evolution of relations among states, international organisations and non-state actors before peer-group and professional audiences both orally and in writing;
b. the ability to present research in the relevant areas and issues.
5. Learning skills
a. the learning abilities required to be able to follow post-master’s professional training or a PhD training of a largely self-determined or autonomous nature.
In addition to the above programme-wide achievement levels, graduates will have obtained the following achievement levels per specialisation:
Specialisation in Culture and Politics
1. Knowledge and understanding
a. comprehensive knowledge and understanding of theories and methods in the humanities whereby culture is analysed;
b. knowledge of the paradigms through which mainstream IR scholarship has traditionally approached the study of culture, with a special focus on studies of “identity”;
c. knowledge of areas where governments attempt to make practical use of culture.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
a. the ability to analyse cultural works and practices (e.g. movies, literature, music, comics and cartoons, games, ceremonies) to show how meaning about cross-border phenomena is produced, circulated, and maintained through culture.
b. the ability to expound, problematize, and/or critique mainstream IR’s reliance on “thin” concepts of culture in the study of concepts such as “identity.”
c. the ability to provide informed commentary and critique on government policy that claims to use “culture,” particularly in spheres such as nation branding and public diplomacy.
3. Judgement
a. the ability to recognise and select cultural texts that are—broadly speaking—relevant to politics and international relations and to deploy methods of analysis that go beyond descriptive analysis.
b. the ability to evaluate “identity” as a force shaping the interests and behaviour of major state and non-state actors in the contemporary world;
c. the ability to recognise, reflect upon and judge between different academic opinions and arguments about government uses of “culture.”
Specialisations
Culture and Politics is one of the specialisations of the Master International Relations.
The Master International Relations has five specialisations:
Contact information
For more information, please contact the Co-ordinator of Studies.
Career Preparation
Career Preparation in the MA International Relations
The programme
How can you use the knowledge and the skills that you acquire during the MA International Relations? What skills do you already have, and what further skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses that you choose into something that you’d like to do after graduation?
These questions and more will be discussed at various times during your study programme. You may already have spoken about them with your study coordinator, the Humanities Career Service or other students, or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. Many different activities are organised to help you reflect on your own wishes and options, and give you the chance to explore the job market. All these activities are focused on the questions: ‘What can I do?’, ‘What do I want?’ and ‘How do I achieve my goals?’.
Activities
You will be notified via the Faculty website, your study programme website and email about further activities in the area of job market preparation. The following activities will help you to thoroughly explore your options, so we advise you to take careful note of them:
Transferable skills
Future employers are interested not only in the subject-related knowledge that you acquired during your study programme, but also in the ‘transferable skills’. These include cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, reasoning and argumentation and innovation; intrapersonal skills, such as flexibility, initiative, appreciating diversity and metacognition; and interpersonal skills, such as communication, accountability and conflict resolution. In short, they are skills that all professionals need in order to perform well.
It is therefore important that during your study programme you not only acquire as much knowledge as possible about your subject, but also are aware of the skills you have gained and the further skills you still want to learn. The course descriptions in the e-Prospectus of the MA International Relations include, in addition to the courses’ learning objectives, a list of the skills that they aim to develop.
The skills you may encounter in the various courses are:
Collaboration
Persuasion
Research
Self-directed learning
Creative thinking
Courses of the MA International Relations
Courses of the study programme obviously help to prepare you for the job market. As a study programme, we aim to cover this topic either directly or less directly in each semester.
Contact
If you have any questions about career choices, whether in your studies or on the job market, you are welcome to make an appointment with the career adviser of the the Humanities Career Service 071-5272235, or with your coordinator of studies, Janneke Walstra
