MRes International Relations
Course Overview
This bespoke programme was designed for a specific group of government-sponsored students and is not available for general admission. However, we do have a similar version which is available for general admission. This University of Bolton's MRes International Relations degree combines rigorous training in advanced research skills with personalised research projects that build deep subject knowledge; this exciting postgraduate programme is designed to inspire your imagination, foster your creativity and support you in achieving your ambitions. This bespoke version is delivered in block mode.Highlights
- The MRes International Relations has been carefully designed to allow you to develop a systematic and critical knowledge and understanding of international relations and international organisations through the study and application of advanced research methods and skills using a scaffolded approach to learning.
- Anchor module at the start of the programme to support the development of essential academic skills and understanding of international relations as a whole.
- Professional project at the end of the programme which allows you to showcase your advanced knowledge and understanding of international relations.
- A range of academic and professional assessments which are carefully planned throughout the student journey
- Block delivery model
Key Features
- We will support you in developing a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights within International Relations.
- We'll guide you as you develop the ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate the conclusions of the research clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry can be practically applied to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline.
- You will evaluate and critically apply current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline, evaluate methodologies and develop critiques to develop creative solutions and/or hypotheses.
- Through a blended learning approach, you will develop the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility; and decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations.
- You will develop critical self-awareness and independent learning strategies in order to develop academically and professionally.
Entry Requirements
- You are normally expected to have successfully completed an honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (minimum classification 2.2 or equivalent).
- You should include in your personal statement an explanation of your research interests and how they align with your career aspirations. You may be required to attend an interview to discuss this further.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.5 with normally no less than 6.0 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
You will develop transferable skills of independent thought and critical analysis, analysing and evaluating complex issues and solving unfamiliar problems, presenting ideas clearly and with confidence, and working independently.
What can I do with this qualification?
Alternative career options
Graduates can use this qualification as a stepping-stone into many other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Possible areas include:
- Research Advisor/Manager
- Political Researcher
- Scientific Advisor/Manager
- Academic Research Assistant
- Research and Development Technician/Assistant
- Market Researcher
- Researcher
- Research Analyst
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Unfortunately, due to the limited number of places available for this course, we cannot accept direct applications from home students at this time. Please visit www.ucas.com to see details of the next available start date and learn how to apply for a place. We encourage you to apply as soon as applications open.
International Applicants
Thank you for your interest
In order to determine your suitability for this course as an international student and also to confirm you meet any initial eligibility criteria, we need you to answer a few short questions.
Teaching & Assessment
The bespoke programme will be delivered in block mode with online support. A range of learning and teaching methods will be employed, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, discussion groups, assessment work and preparation for sessions. The course is taught in blocks by a core team of specialist lecturers; online support is available before and after the block to ensure you have ongoing support. Assessment will be by a combination of coursework and practical exercises, such as the preparation of presentations and posters. A final research project will form part of the assessment. A significant amount of personal study time is expected to be undertaken by the student comprising, for example, background reading, and online activities. This programme adopts a blended style of learning and teaching, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate.
The assessment strategy for the programme is designed to ensure that students achieve the overall aims and learning outcomes of the programme, as well as the learning outcomes for individual modules. Assessment serves several functions. Assessment is used to evaluate your achievement; however, assessment also serves to help students organise and develop their learning. Feedback from assessment serves an important educational function and can help students develop their skills and understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. The types of assessment students will be required to complete fall into two general categories, formative and summative. Formative assessments are activities that do not contribute to students' overall module grade. They are, however, an integral part of the learning strategy for a module, and students are required to complete them. Students will receive feedback on their level of achievement; this may take a variety of forms. Summative assessments are those assessment activities for which the marks will contribute to the overall module grade. Students will also receive feedback on these assessments so that they will know what they have done well and where they can improve. Many different forms of assessment are employed in the programme. For both formative and summative purposes, the major forms are coursework; reports, case studies; oral presentations, research proposals and an extended project.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Academic Skills and Professional Development
- Critical Insights in International Relations
- Advanced Research Methodology
- Research Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 100% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 89% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 11% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
