THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: International Relations (MA Hons) (UTINTRE)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 1 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
Students may wish to consider taking SSPS08012 Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World as one of their 20 credit optional courses.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates

Must be passed

PLIT08017 20 credits
Politics and International Relations 1B: The Global Dimension

Must be passed

PLIT08018 20 credits
Political Thinkers

Must be passed

PLIT08011 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 60 credits in this group.

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 40 and 60 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits

Year 2 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students who are planning on spending their Junior Year Abroad must successfully progress to honours before they can proceed on their JYA.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Theories of International Relations

Must be passed

PLIT08021 20 credits
Introduction to Political Data Analysis

Must be passed

PLIT08009 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 80 credits in this group.

International Relations Year 2 Optional Courses

Select between 0 and 60 credits of the following courses
Comparative Politics in a Globalized World
PLIT08008 20 credits
Introduction to British Politics
PLIT08016 20 credits
International Political Economy
PLIT08020 20 credits
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 80 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits

Year 3 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students who are planning on spending their Junior Year Abroad must successfully progress to honours before they can proceed on their JYA.

Year 3 students on a Junior Year Abroad must take PLIT10106 Research Design in Politics and International Relations on their return in Year 4.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Research Design in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10106 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 100 credits in this group.

Politics and International Relations Years 3 and 4 Honours Electives

Select between 80 and 100 credits of the following courses
Advanced Issues in the Making of Contemporary Africa
AFRI10003 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Development
AFRI10004 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Gendering the Middle East
IMES10100 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Unfolding Afghanistan in a Globalised Context
IMES10110 20 credits
Africa in World Politics
PLIT10003 20 credits
Politics of the Middle East
PLIT10036 20 credits
Contemporary Russian Politics
PLIT10048 20 credits
Global Justice and Citizenship
PLIT10054 20 credits
Europe and International Migration
PLIT10068 20 credits
Comparing Scottish Devolution
PLIT10080 20 credits
Understanding Indian Politics
PLIT10088 20 credits
Parliamentary Studies
PLIT10091 20 credits
Political Work
PLIT10093 20 credits
International Politics of Money
PLIT10095 20 credits
Democracy and its Discontents
PLIT10096 20 credits
Public participation in democracy and governance
PLIT10098 20 credits
Public Policy: Agenda-Setting
PLIT10100 20 credits
Neuropolitics
PLIT10101 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in Political Science
PLIT10104 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Relations
PLIT10105 20 credits
Research Design in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10106 20 credits
International Relations of the Asia Pacific
PLIT10109 20 credits
Gender, Power and Representation
PLIT10113 20 credits
Populism: Pathology or Panacea?
PLIT10114 20 credits
Climate Justice
PLIT10118 20 credits
The Politics of the UK Constitution
PLIT10119 20 credits
Strategic Studies and its Critics
PLIT10120 20 credits
Law, Violence, and Humanity
PLIT10125 20 credits
Social Movements and Collective Action in the Middle East
PLIT10128 20 credits
Gender, Peace and Security
PLIT10130 20 credits
Technology, Politics and Government
PLIT10133 20 credits
Russia's Foreign and Security Policy
PLIT10135 20 credits
Environmental Politics
PLIT10136 20 credits
Democracy and contemporary capitalism
PLIT10139 20 credits
Chinese Politics
PLIT10140 20 credits
The Persian Gulf in International Relations
PLIT10142 20 credits
Media and Protest
PLIT10143 20 credits
Europe in the World
PLIT10146 20 credits
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
PLIT10147 20 credits
Advanced Topics in Global Security
PLIT10151 20 credits
Foundations in Global Security
PLIT10154 20 credits
Model United Nations
PLIT10155 20 credits
Eastminster: Decolonisation and State-Building in Asia
PLIT10157 20 credits
Education and Social Justice
PLIT10158 20 credits
Global and Transnational Feminisms
PLIT10159 20 credits
Political Emotions
PLIT10160 20 credits
Utopia
PLIT10161 20 credits
Freedom and Slavery in Political Thought
PLIT10162 20 credits
Geopolitics
PLIT10163 20 credits
Anticolonial Political Thought
PLIT10164 20 credits
Conservatism and the Right
PLIT10165 20 credits
Corporate Lobbying and Policymaking in the Global Economy
PLIT10166 20 credits
Elite and Mass Political Behaviour
PLIT10167 20 credits
Majoritarian Nationalism, Populism and Ethnic Conflict in South Asia
PLIT10170 20 credits
Sport and Politics
PLIT10171 20 credits
The Far Right
PLIT10172 20 credits
Digital Media and Democracy
PLIT10173 20 credits
Politics and communication of environmental risks
PLIT10175 20 credits
Latin American Foreign Policies
PLIT10176 20 credits
Propaganda and Censorship in Democracies
PLIT10177 20 credits
Stability, Instability and Renewal in Democratic Systems
PLIT10178 20 credits
The Politics of Economic Expertise
PLIT10179 20 credits
The Political Psychology of Global Affairs
PLIT10180 20 credits
The Political Economy of Digital Capitalism
PLIT10183 20 credits
Migration, Borders, and Resistance
PLIT10184 20 credits
Kant and International Relations
PLIT10185 20 credits
Economic Nationalism and Business Power
PLIT10187 20 credits
Designing and Doing Social Research
SCIL10062 20 credits
Globalization
SCIL10067 20 credits
Health Systems: Strengthening and Reform
SCPL10030 20 credits
Race, Power, and Social Policy
SCPL10043 20 credits
Statistical Modelling
SSPS10027 20 credits
The Internet and Society
STIS10001 20 credits
Energy Policy and Sustainability
STIS10008 20 credits
Controversies in Medicine, Technology and the Environment
STIS10009 20 credits
Knowledge, Expertise and Policy
STIS10010 20 credits
AND

Level 10 courses in Schedules A to J and W

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 10 courses in Schedules A to J and W

Year 4 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students who were on a Junior Year Abroad in Year 3 must take PLIT10106 Research Design in Politics and International Relations on their return in Year 4.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Dissertation in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10182 40 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 80 credits in this group.

Politics and International Relations Years 3 and 4 Honours Electives

Select between 60 and 80 credits of the following courses
Advanced Issues in the Making of Contemporary Africa
AFRI10003 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Development
AFRI10004 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Gendering the Middle East
IMES10100 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Unfolding Afghanistan in a Globalised Context
IMES10110 20 credits
Africa in World Politics
PLIT10003 20 credits
Politics of the Middle East
PLIT10036 20 credits
Contemporary Russian Politics
PLIT10048 20 credits
Global Justice and Citizenship
PLIT10054 20 credits
Europe and International Migration
PLIT10068 20 credits
Comparing Scottish Devolution
PLIT10080 20 credits
Understanding Indian Politics
PLIT10088 20 credits
Parliamentary Studies
PLIT10091 20 credits
Political Work
PLIT10093 20 credits
International Politics of Money
PLIT10095 20 credits
Democracy and its Discontents
PLIT10096 20 credits
Public participation in democracy and governance
PLIT10098 20 credits
Public Policy: Agenda-Setting
PLIT10100 20 credits
Neuropolitics
PLIT10101 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in Political Science
PLIT10104 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Relations
PLIT10105 20 credits
Research Design in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10106 20 credits
International Relations of the Asia Pacific
PLIT10109 20 credits
Gender, Power and Representation
PLIT10113 20 credits
Populism: Pathology or Panacea?
PLIT10114 20 credits
Climate Justice
PLIT10118 20 credits
The Politics of the UK Constitution
PLIT10119 20 credits
Strategic Studies and its Critics
PLIT10120 20 credits
Law, Violence, and Humanity
PLIT10125 20 credits
Social Movements and Collective Action in the Middle East
PLIT10128 20 credits
Gender, Peace and Security
PLIT10130 20 credits
Technology, Politics and Government
PLIT10133 20 credits
Russia's Foreign and Security Policy
PLIT10135 20 credits
Environmental Politics
PLIT10136 20 credits
Democracy and contemporary capitalism
PLIT10139 20 credits
Chinese Politics
PLIT10140 20 credits
The Persian Gulf in International Relations
PLIT10142 20 credits
Media and Protest
PLIT10143 20 credits
Europe in the World
PLIT10146 20 credits
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
PLIT10147 20 credits
Advanced Topics in Global Security
PLIT10151 20 credits
Foundations in Global Security
PLIT10154 20 credits
Model United Nations
PLIT10155 20 credits
Eastminster: Decolonisation and State-Building in Asia
PLIT10157 20 credits
Education and Social Justice
PLIT10158 20 credits
Global and Transnational Feminisms
PLIT10159 20 credits
Political Emotions
PLIT10160 20 credits
Utopia
PLIT10161 20 credits
Freedom and Slavery in Political Thought
PLIT10162 20 credits
Geopolitics
PLIT10163 20 credits
Anticolonial Political Thought
PLIT10164 20 credits
Conservatism and the Right
PLIT10165 20 credits
Corporate Lobbying and Policymaking in the Global Economy
PLIT10166 20 credits
Elite and Mass Political Behaviour
PLIT10167 20 credits
Majoritarian Nationalism, Populism and Ethnic Conflict in South Asia
PLIT10170 20 credits
Sport and Politics
PLIT10171 20 credits
The Far Right
PLIT10172 20 credits
Digital Media and Democracy
PLIT10173 20 credits
Politics and communication of environmental risks
PLIT10175 20 credits
Latin American Foreign Policies
PLIT10176 20 credits
Propaganda and Censorship in Democracies
PLIT10177 20 credits
Stability, Instability and Renewal in Democratic Systems
PLIT10178 20 credits
The Politics of Economic Expertise
PLIT10179 20 credits
The Political Psychology of Global Affairs
PLIT10180 20 credits
The Political Economy of Digital Capitalism
PLIT10183 20 credits
Migration, Borders, and Resistance
PLIT10184 20 credits
Kant and International Relations
PLIT10185 20 credits
Economic Nationalism and Business Power
PLIT10187 20 credits
Designing and Doing Social Research
SCIL10062 20 credits
Globalization
SCIL10067 20 credits
Health Systems: Strengthening and Reform
SCPL10030 20 credits
Race, Power, and Social Policy
SCPL10043 20 credits
Statistical Modelling
SSPS10027 20 credits
The Internet and Society
STIS10001 20 credits
Energy Policy and Sustainability
STIS10008 20 credits
Controversies in Medicine, Technology and the Environment
STIS10009 20 credits
Knowledge, Expertise and Policy
STIS10010 20 credits
AND

Level 10 courses in Schedules A to J and W

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 10 courses in Schedules A to J and W
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