Course details : UWA Handbook 2020 : The University of Western Australia

Master of International Relations (coursework or coursework and dissertation)

This 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. Strongly performing students have the option of writing a dissertation which may lead to higher degree research programs, including PhD pathways.

Course overview

Course title: Master of International Relations (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
Award abbreviation: MIntRelns
Course code: 11580
Course type: master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
Status: current / 2020
Administered by: Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education
CRICOS code: 069311D

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: 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration: 1.5 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the Faculty
Maximum course duration: 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
Time limit: 5 years
Delivery mode: multi-mode
Locations offered: UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type: Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
Course Coordinator(s): Dr David Mickler
Fees: Visit the fees calculator.

Enquiries and course advice

Course advice: Arts Student Office
: 6488 2091 / 6488 2853
: postgrad-arts@uwa.edu.au

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; SS = summer teaching period; N/A = not available in 2020; NS = non-standard teaching period

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2021 or 2022.

Students who have not completed a bachelor's degree with a relevant major as recognized by the Faculty must complete relevant conversion unit(s) up to the value of 24 points, as advised by the Faculty.

Take all units (30 points):

Availability	Unitcode	Unitname	Unit requirements	Contact hours
NS	POLS5641	International Security	Incompatibility: POLS8604 Problems of International Security; POLS5642 Contemporary Issues in International Security
NS	POLS5651	Global Political Economy	Incompatibility: POLS8605 States and International Political Economy; POLS5652 International Political Economy: Dynamics of Crises	seminars: 20 hours
NS	POLS5661	Foundations of International Relations	Incompatibility: POLS8606 Theory and Method in International Relations; POLS5661 Theory in International Relations A: Contending Approaches; POLS5662 Theory in International Relations B: Explanation and Understanding	seminars: 18 hours
NS	POLS5681	Governance in the International System		seminars: 18 hours
NS	POLS5688	The Evolution of International Society	Incompatibility: POLS5621 Evolution and Structure of the International Political System	seminars: 18 hours

Students in the Master of International Relations by coursework only take units up to the value of 42 points from Group A and B (maximum value of 12 points from Group B).

Students in the Master of International Relations by coursework and dissertation take units up to the value of 18 points from Group A and B (maximum value of 12 points from Group B). Take all units from Group C (24 points).

Note: Coursework students must select either capstone unit, POLS5682 Responding to International Crisis or SOCS5105 International Collaborative Study Experience.

Group A

Availability	Unitcode	Unitname	Unit requirements	Contact hours
SS	POLS5301	Democracy in Divided Societies		This unit is delivered intensively.
NS	POLS5611	Religion, Global Identities and World Politics	Incompatibility: POLS8601 Identities in Global Politics: Nationalism, Ethnicity and Religion	18 hours
N/A	POLS5612	World Politics: Muslims in the West	Incompatibility: POLS8601 Identities in Global Politics: Nationalism, Ethnicity and Religion	seminars: 18 hours
NS	POLS5631	International Relations of the Asia–Pacific	Incompatibility: POLS8603 International Relations in the Asia–Pacific Region; POLS5631 International Relations of the Asia–Pacific: the Role of Major Powers; POLS5632 Major Issues and Regional Organisations in the Asia–Pacific
NS	POLS5671	Peace and Security in Africa		seminars: 18 hours
NS	POLS5672	Global Development Debates		seminars: 18 hours
NS	POLS5682	Responding to International Crises	Prerequisites: completion of 48 points in the Master of International Relations, including POLS5661 Foundations of International Relations.	seminars: 18 hours per semester
N/A	POLS5683	US Foreign Policy		seminars: 18 hours
NS	POLS5684	China and the World		seminars:18 hours
NS	POLS5686	International Norms, Ethics and Human Rights		seminars: 18 hours (over the course of a semester)
S2	SOCS5001	Engaging Cultural Difference		lectures and workshops: up to 3 hours per week; or intensively (12 x 3-hour sessions over 2 weeks)
NS	SOCS5003	Research Design	Prerequisites: for Social Research Methods students and Science Communication students : none; for other postgraduate course (International Relations, Strategic Communications, Asian Studies, International Development, Public Policy) students: completion of 24 points of their coursework, three core units and one option unit, and have achieved a 70 per cent WAM in those units.	up to 30 hours
NS	SOCS5010	NGOs, Governance and Development		seminars: 18 hours
NS	SOCS5105	International Collaborative Study Experience	Prerequisites: Enrolment in: 11580 Master of International Relations, 21540 Master of International Relations and Master of International Law, 11380 Graduate Diploma in International Relations, or 12580 Master of Asian Studies.	20 hours delivered intensively across 1 to 2 weeks
SS	SOCS5200	Digital Advocacy		1 week (30 hours) intensive split between lectures (15 hours) and practical training (15 hours); project workshops: 4 x 1 hour; final workshop: 8 hours. Summer: delivered intensively.
NS, S1, S2	WILG5001	Professional Development Practicum A	Prerequisites: Completion of 24 points of post graduate units and approval from the unit coordinator.	150 hours for pre-placement, placement and post-placement activities

Group B

Availability	Unitcode	Unitname	Unit requirements	Contact hours
N/A	CHIN5001	Chinese for Professionals 1	Incompatibility: CHIN1401 Chinese 1	language seminars: 2 hours per week over 6 weeks; online learning; Saturday block seminars (refer to the unit outline for further details)
N/A	CHIN5002	Chinese for Professionals 2	Prerequisites: CHIN5001 Chinese for Professionals 1 or equivalent as determined by the unit coordinator Incompatibility: CHIN1402 Chinese 2	language seminars: 2 hours per week over 6 weeks; online learning; Saturday block seminars (refer to the unit outline for further details)
N/A	INDO5001	Indonesian for Professionals 1	Incompatibility: INDO1401 Indonesian 1	language seminars: 2 hours per week over 6 weeks; self-directed learning; Saturday teaching blocks (refer to the unit outline for further details)
N/A	INDO5002	Indonesian for Professionals 2	Prerequisites: INDO5001 Indonesian for Professionals 1 or equivalent as determined by the unit coordinator Incompatibility: INDO1402 Indonesian 2	language seminars: 2 hours per week over 6 weeks; self-directed learning; some Saturday block seminars (refer to the unit outline for further details)
N/A	JAPN5001	Japanese for Professionals 1	Incompatibility: JAPN1401 Japanese 1	language seminars: 2 hours per week over 6 weeks; self-directed learning; Saturday block seminars (refer to the unit outline for further details)
N/A	JAPN5002	Japanese for Professionals 2	Co-requisites: JAPN5001 Japanese for Professionals 1 or equivalent as determined by the unit coordinator Incompatibility: JAPN1402 Japanese 2	language seminars: 2 hours per week over 6 weeks; self-directed learning; Saturday block seminars (refer to the unit outline for further details)
N/A	KORE5001	Korean for Professionals 1	Incompatibility: KORE1401 Korean 1	language seminars: 4 hours per week over 6 weeks; online learning; Saturday block seminar (refer to the unit outline for further details)
N/A	KORE5002	Korean for Professionals 2	Co-requisites: KORE5001 Korean for Professionals 1 Incompatibility: KORE1402 Korean 2	language seminars: 4 hours per week over 6 weeks; online learning; Saturday block seminar (refer to the unit outline for further details)

Note: Students must achieve 70 per cent or above in SOCS5003 Research Design to be eligible to enrol in the Master's dissertation units.

Group C

Availability	Unitcode	Unitname	Unit requirements	Contact hours
NS	SOCS5003	Research Design	Prerequisites: for Social Research Methods students and Science Communication students : none; for other postgraduate course (International Relations, Strategic Communications, Asian Studies, International Development, Public Policy) students: completion of 24 points of their coursework, three core units and one option unit, and have achieved a 70 per cent WAM in those units.	up to 30 hours
S1, S2	SOCS5551	Master's Dissertation 1	Prerequisites: Students must have achieved 70 per cent or above in SOCS5003 Research Design and have approval of the course coordinator to undertake this unit.	contact varies but up to 1 hour a week in a one-to-one meeting with a supervisor or in a small teaching and discussion group
S1, S2	SOCS5552	Master's Dissertation 2	Prerequisites: Students must have achieved 70 per cent or above in SOCS5003 Research Design and have approval of the course coordinator to undertake this unit.	contact varies but up to 1 hour a week in a one-to-one meeting with a supervisor or in a small teaching and discussion group
S1, S2	SOCS5553	Master's Dissertation 3	Prerequisites: Students must have achieved 70 per cent or above in SOCS5003 Research Design and have approval of the course coordinator to undertake this unit.	contact varies but up to 1 hour a week in a one-to-one meeting with a supervisor or in a small teaching and discussion group

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The http://handbooks.uwa.edu.au/postgraduate/student-procedures'>student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials module

2.(1) Except as stated in (2), 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).

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE module is not required to repeat the module.

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. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) (i) a relevant bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and

(ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in the Level 3 units of a relevant major;

(b) (i) a Graduate Certificate in International Relations or Graduate Diploma in International Relations, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and

(ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent.

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 Master of 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 96 points (maximum value) which include conversion units to a value of 24 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

(3) Students who have completed a bachelor's degree with a relevant major as recognised by the Faculty are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress in a calendar year a student must pass units to a value of at least 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 ACE 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) Students who fail to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 after being enrolled at the University for one or two semesters only are assigned a progress status of 'On Probation' by the Faculty.

(2) Unless the Faculty determines otherwise in exceptional circumstances, students who fail to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 and who have been enrolled at the University for more than two semesters are assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' by the Faculty.

(3) Unless the Faculty determines otherwise in exceptional circumstances, students who have previously been allocated a progress status of 'Suspended' and fail again to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 are assigned a progress status of 'Excluded' by the Faculty.

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. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Additional rules

Credit

13. The Faculty may grant credit towards the course for units up to a total value of 24 points in the case of students who have completed a relevant honours degree as recognised by the Faculty.

Master of International Law

14. Graduates enrolled in the Master of International Law may be granted credit of 12 to 24 points towards the Master of International Relations for successful completion of relevant units, as advised and approved by the Faculty.