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M.Res in International Relations

Please note: Due to forthcoming changes to the ESRC's Postgraduate Training Framework, applications are no longer being accepted for the M.Res in International Relations. Prospective applicants are encouraged to apply for one of the other postgraduate programmes offered by the School of International Relations.

The M.Res in International Relations is based on a new initiative in the Social Sciences to provide interdisciplinary training in the social sciences plus advanced research training in International Relations.

It is intended to provide the research and professional skills that are required to perform doctoral research successfully. This allows students to pursue a subsequent 3-year Ph.D. after obtaining the M.Res (this is described as a "1+3" programme).

For students who have ESRC-funded studentships for four years, successful completion of the M.Res. allows automatic entry into our Ph.D. programme. For other students, a good grade in the M.Res. may allow progress to the Ph.D. programme if an appropriate supervisor and research project has been agreed. In most cases, Ph.D. research will continue under the guidance of the M.Res. supervisor and the project will be a natural extension of the M.Res. research. However, this is not required.

The MRes programme, comprising 180 credits overall, is sub-divided into three major components or blocks of equal credit rating (60 credits), each covering a distinct significant aspect of research training:

  1. A generic block of four modules on general research training in the Social Sciences, including general aspects and features of being a Social Scientist (SS5101), the Philosophy of Social Science (SS5102), Qualitative research methods (SS5103), and Quantitative research methods (SS5104), each comprising of 15 credits; information about these research training modules can be found on the SS5000 Program Homepage.
  2. A subject-specific block of three modules focusing on Research Methods in International Relations (IR5601), Historical, Theoretical and Philosophical Debates in IR (IR5602) and a choice of one of three IR domains of expertise (IR5603, 04 or 05); and,
  3. A dissertation applying an individually selected range of research methods in the discussion of a subject-specific issue or problem which counts for 60 credits -- . Supervision by an individually assigned supervisor throughout the academic year will assist students to prepare their dissertation projects with regard to topic and method.

Details of how to apply for M.Res.

More detailed information about postgraduate study in St Andrews can be found in the Postgraduate Research Student Handbook (PDF, 168 KB), and in the  Higher Degrees section on the University Website.