MPhil in International Relations

The MPhil in International Relations combines intellectually rigorous training in theoretical and conceptual approaches to international relations with the study of the recent history of world politics, as well as providing methodological training and personalised guidance for the production of high-quality original research.

The MPhil International Relations will equip you with the knowledge and skills you require to pursue further research and study at an advanced level and also to undertake many forms of professional work in the field. This MPhil is a very popular course, attracting students from the world’s leading institutions. Entry is very competitive and students come from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities.

The course provides an excellent foundation for doctoral work in terms of substantive knowledge of the field, methods training, and the experience of conducting original research and thesis-writing. Those continuing on to the DPhil in Oxford can incorporate their MPhil thesis into the doctorate and progress as full doctoral students. Progression to the DPhil depends on meeting defined criteria. In most years a good percentage of the class moves on to the doctoral degree.

The Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) works with a range of research centres and programmes, such as the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC), the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict (CRIC), and the Changing Character of War Centre (CCW).

Research centres actively seek to develop collaborative research activity via conferences, workshops and other academic events. They provide opportunities for you to present your own work in research seminar series. The research centres have an established and popular visitors’ programme which has allowed many scholars of international repute to participate in the DPIR’s research activities.

The objective of the course is to give you, in your first-year, a thorough mastery of the major facts, methodologies and perspectives in the field, as well as to develop research skills. This is supplemented in the second year by specialised course work on two optional subjects and a thesis.

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class undergraduate degree with honours.

The qualification above should be achieved in one of the following subject areas or disciplines:

• political science
• international relations
• economics
• history
• philosophy
• sociology
• law.

However, each application will be assessed upon its own merits, therefore candidates with a degree in an unrelated discipline are welcome to demonstrate the relevance of their academic background to their proposed subject or topic of study.

Entrance is very competitive. For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.8 out of 4.0.