Course overview
- Description
This course is intended for those who already hold a degree but who wish to undertake further study so that they can proceed to a master's degree, or who wish to obtain advanced qualifications in the field of international relations. The course is designed both for those purely interested in acquiring a better understanding of global governance and politics and for those seeking a qualification to enhance their career prospects. Expertise in international relations complements qualifications in a range of professional and other areas and has application to a variety of employment options.
- Course title
- Graduate Diploma in International Relations
- Award abbreviation
- GradDipIntRelns
- Course code
- 11380
- Course type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- Social Sciences
- CRICOS code
- 069310E
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Credit points required
- 48
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 1 year
- Time limit
- 4 years
- Delivery mode
- Multi-mode
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Ky Gentry
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Enquiries and course advice
- Course advice
- Arts Student Office
- 6488 2091 / 6488 2853
- [email protected]
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Students without a bachelor's degree incorporating a relevant major take 6 points from Group A, all 24 points from Group B, and a remaining 18 points from Group C
Students with a bachelor's degree incorporating a relevant major take 0 points from Group A, all 24 points from Group B and a remaining 24 points from Group C
Students without a bachelor's degree incorporating a relevant major take 6 points from Group A, all 24 points from Group B, and a remaining 18 points from Group C
Students with a bachelor's degree incorporating a relevant major take 0 points from Group A, all 24 points from Group B and a remaining 24 points from Group C:
Group A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | POLS5661 | Approaches to International Relations |
|
Students without a bachelor's degree incorporating a relevant major take 6 points from Group A, all 24 points from Group B, and a remaining 18 points from Group C
Students with a bachelor's degree incorporating a relevant major take 0 points from Group A, all 24 points from Group B and a remaining 24 points from Group C:
Group B
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | POLS5631 | International Relations of the Asia–Pacific |
| |
| NS | POLS5641 | International Security |
| |
| NS | POLS5651 | Global Political Economy |
| seminars: 18 hours |
| NS | POLS5681 | Governance in the International System | None | seminars: 18 hours |
Students without a bachelor's degree incorporating a relevant major take 6 points from Group A, all 24 points from Group B, and a remaining 18 points from Group C
Students with a bachelor's degree incorporating a relevant major take 0 points from Group A, all 24 points from Group B and a remaining 24 points from Group C:
Group C
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ASIA5001 | Key Debates in the Asian Region | None | seminars at least 20 hours over 12 weeks |
| S2 | COMM5104 | Public Communication |
| |
| S2 | GEOG5411 | Regional Development in the Global Context |
| 40 (teaching blocks: 12 x 2 hours 45 minutes; field trip: 1 x 7 hours) |
| NS | POLS5010 | NGOs, Governance and Development | None | seminars: 18 hours |
| N/A | POLS5105 | International Relations in the Indian Ocean Region |
| 9 sessions, 3 hours each session |
| NS | POLS5501 | The Politics of Public Policy |
| 18 hours per semester. |
| NS | POLS5503 | Public Administration | None | 6 x 3 hour format to align with intensive teaching period |
| NS | POLS5506 | Gender and International Relations |
| 3 hours per day x 6 days |
| NS | POLS5507 | Geopolitical Flashpoints |
| 3 hours per day x 6 days |
| NS | POLS5611 | Religion, Global Identities and World Politics |
| 18 hours |
| N/A | POLS5612 | World Politics: Muslims in the West |
| seminars: 18 hours |
| N/A | POLS5684 | China and the World | None | seminars:18 hours |
| NS | POLS5686 | International Norms, Ethics and Human Rights | None | seminars: 18 hours (over the course of a semester) |
| NS | POLS5691 | Global Climate Politics | None | seminars: 18 hours |
| NS, S1, S2 | WILG5001 | Work Integrated Learning Internship Program |
| Industry experience: 100 hours Online sessions with Unit Coordinator: 1-2 hours |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;
and
(c) successfully completed prior study in a field relevant to International Relations; or
(2) completed a Graduate Certificate in International Relations at UWA.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:
- 11380 Graduate Diploma in International Relations (48 points)
- 11580 Master of International Relations (96 points)
- 12280 Graduate Certificate in International Relations (24 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Graduate Diploma in International Relations course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 48 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—
(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';
(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';
(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. This rule is not applicable to this course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).