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Objectives
The MA in Diplomacy is a vocationally orientated, interdisciplinary course offered jointly by the Schools of Politics and International Relations, Law and History. The course is ideally suited to those students wishing to pursue professional careers that are informed by diplomacy, mediation and negotiation within areas such as the civil service, commercial negotiation, defence liaison, international financial regulation and journalism, as just a few examples. Diplomacy provides the vital human framework for the development of international society in a globalising world. Increasingly complex patterns of law, culture, history, economics and politics – both within and between states – are mediated by the practice of diplomacy. The craft of diplomacy, although distinguished by a remarkable and time-honoured pedigree, is ever more essential to mediation and regulation in the contemporary world. You will be introduced to the advanced study of diplomacy and negotiation, including traditional approaches – which conceive of it as a specialist form of statecraft – and modern conceptions, which embrace areas such as media and cultural diplomacy.
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Entry requirements
Please note that relevant professional experience will be considered in assessing applications, although it is not a requirement of entry.
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Academic title
MA Diplomacy
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Course description
Key facts
-This interdisciplinary course is taught between the Schools of Politics and International Relations, History and Law.
-The programme is one of the most popular to be offered by the School of Politics and International Relations, attracting students from all over the world.
-Students are offered the opportunity to go on a field trip to visit organisations such as NATO, SHAPE and the European Commission to further enhance your learning experience.
-The School of Politics was rated 24/24 for its teaching by the Quality Assurance Agency and ranked in the top ten of UK departments in the most recent Guardian Education guide.
Course Content
The MA in Diplomacy requires you to study three core modules on the theory, practice and development of diplomacy:
-The Evolution of Diplomacy
-Principles of Public International Law
-The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy
You will then be able to choose from a number of elective modules covering topics such as:
-Terrorism and Counter Terrorism
-Ethnic Conflict and Conflict Resolution
-Understanding New Labour
-Negotiation and Bargaining
-Global Development
-Non-Governmental Oga
-Globalisation and It’s Discontents
-Neutrality and Non-Alignment
Please note that modules may change in order to.keep abreast of political and academic developments.
The course will also expose you to the latest research in areas such as the law of armed conflict, crisis management and contemporary international history.
Each year students on the MA in Diplomacy are offered the opportunity to participate in a field trip to Brussels and The Hague, where they visit key diplomatic institutions and organisations such as the European Commission, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and the European Parliament.
Brussels is an important historical city and the opportunity is also taken to visit some of the major cultural sites in this part of Europe.
Your studies will culminate in the research and writing of a 15,000-word dissertation. You will register your dissertation on a subject of your choice with one of the three participating schools and will be allocated with a Research Supervisor to oversee your progress.
Course Structure
The MA in Diplomacy can be studied on a full-time basis over 1 year or part-time over 2 years.
-Teaching is spread across two semesters: Autumn, which begins in September and ends in January, and Spring, which begins in January and ends in June. The summer months between June and September are spent writing a dissertation.
-The MA consists of 180 credits - 120 credits from modular taught study and 60 credits from the completion of a dissertation of around 15,000 words in length.
-Assessment is typically by a mixture of coursework and examination, both of which will usually be assessed in the Semester in which the module is taught. However, modules offered by the School of Law including the core module Principles of Public International Law are assessed at the end of the Spring Semester.
-Modules are offered usually as 20 or 15 credit versions.
