Theory and History of International Relations

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Students interested in combining a theoretical and empirical approach to contemporary international relations have a unique opportunity to do so in this programme. Students take core courses in both the International Relations and the International History Departments, take a third course from the wide range of options offered by the two departments, and complete the programme with a dissertation on a relevant historical topic.

The programme provides an excellent preparation for careers in business or consulting, government or international agencies, the media, politics and law, or for advanced academic research.

This programme is based in the Department of International History and offers the following benefits:

* Study in a department whose teaching and research have been rated as excellent in national assessment exercises and press league tables.
* Study in a department focused on the history of international relations and the treatment of national histories in an international context, and where over half the graduate students come from elsewhere in Europe or further afield.
* The tight coherence of course choices enables students from related disciplines such as political science, modern languages, economics, law or journalism to make the transition to the study of international relations.
* Through required and optional courses in international relations and international history, the combination of theoretical issues with sound empiricism in different proportions depending on your interests.
* The opportunity to specialise in a wide range of geographical regions or other aspects of international relations including world wars, East-West conflict, European integration, the role of political doctrines and ideologies, revolutions and national liberation struggles.
* Engaging at an advanced level with the latest academic research and undertaking your own research based term work and dissertation.
* Superb library and IT facilities, and easy access to a world class range of nearby libraries and archives.

Course 1

Choose one from:

* Crisis Decision-Making in War and Peace, 1914-1991
* Presidents, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy: from Roosevelt to Reagan 1933-1989
* Anglo-American Relations from World War to Cold War, 1939-1991
* Political Islam: From Ibn Taymiyya to Osama Bin Laden
* Race, Violence and Colonial Rule in Africa

Course 2

Choose one full unit from:

* Foreign Policy Analysis
* International Institutions
* Strategic Aspects of International Relations
* The EU in the World
* International Politics: Asia and the Pacific
* International Relations of the Middle East
* Conflict and Peace Studies
* Economic Diplomacy
* European Union Policy-Making in a Global Context*
* Introduction to International Political Theory*
* The International Political Theory of Humanitarian Intervention*
* The Politics of International Law*
* Europe, the US and Arab-Israeli Relations*
* Russia and Eurasia: Foreign and Security Policies

Course 3

Choose one full unit from:

* European Integration in the Twentieth Century
* The Origins of the Cold War, 1917-1962
* Crises and Détente in the Cold War, 1962-1979
* From Cold Warriors to Peacemakers: the End of the Cold War Era, 1979-1997
* The European Enlightenment, c1680-1830
* The Rise and Fall of Communism in Europe, 1917-1990
* Western Intellectuals and the Challenge of Totalitarianism
* War Cultures, 1890-1945
* The Emergence of Modern Iran: State, Society and Diplomacy
* East Asia in the Age of Imperialism, 1839-1945
* Cultural Encounters from the Renaissance to the Modern World
* Persecution in Europe: From Witch-Hunts to Ethnic Cleansing
* Nationalism
* The West: Identity and Interests*
* The International History of the Balkans Since 1939: State Projects, Wars and Social Conflict
* An international relations course from Course 2 (not already taken but subject to space and by agreement with the course convenor)
* A further course from the Course 1 selection list (subject to approval by the programme director)

Course 4

* Dissertation on a relevant historical topic

Minimum entry requirement: * 2:1 in any disciplineEnglish requirement: * TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 627 in the paper test or 107 in the internet based test * IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum score of 7.0 English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A) TOEFL paper-based test score : 627 TOEFL iBT® test: 107 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Fee reductions and rewards
LSE undergraduates starting taught postgraduate study at the School are eligible for a fee reduction in the region of ten per cent of the fee. These reductions are available for UK, EU and non-EU students. The School offers a range of rewards for early payment of fees for all self-financed students.

Scholarships for study at LSE

LSE makes available over £12 million annually in financial support for its students via a range of scholarships, bursaries and award schemes, details of which can be found on these pages. LSE's world class programmes attract a consistently high calibre of applicants, many of whom seek financial support from the School, so there is always much competition for our awards. Securing the necessary funds to attend LSE can be a difficult and time consuming process so you should start to think about it as early as possible. Please be aware that the School will be unable to offer you any financial assistance if you knowingly register under funded. The relevant link on the left will take you to the awards available for your chosen level of study.

The School would like to thank the many donors who have contributed to the New Futures Fund, which provides funds for a number of discretionary scholarships.

Diploma, LLM, MA, MSc and MSc (Research) programmes

There are a range of awards available for study at this level. Approximately 19% of taught masters offer holders are successful in obtaining some form of financial support from the School. The value of support ranges in value from 10% of the tuition fee to a full fees and maintenance award.

Graduate Support Scheme

LSE's major financial support scheme for study at taught masters level is the Graduate Support Scheme (GSS). This scheme is open to all applicants, with the exception of those undertaking specific modular or executive programmes such as the MSc in Finance (Part time) or the MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management. Around £2 million is available annually in the form of awards from the Graduate Support Scheme. The Scheme is designed to help students who do not have sufficient funds to meet all their costs of study. GSS awards range in value from £3,000 to a maximum of £10,000, and have an average value of £6,000. Application to the Graduate Support Scheme is via the LSE Graduate Financial Support Application form. This form will be made available to you once you have submitted an application for admission to the School. The form will then be available until 27 April 2011.

Awards

If you complete the LSE Graduate Financial Support Application form, and are made an offer of admission by 27 April 2011, you will also be automatically considered for any other awards being offered by LSE, for which you are eligible, with the exception of Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding where there are separate, department led processes in place. AHRC and ESRC funding is relevant to Home UK and Home EU applicants only, and there are also subject restrictions in place. We offer a range of awards based on different criteria such as a specific programme of study, nationality, or country of permanent domicile. In addition, a number of external organisations offer funding to support postgraduate study. We recommend that applicants follow up as many avenues as possible to find funding. Please be aware that if you accept funding from an external source, it is your responsibility to check the terms of the award. Some awards are accompanied by specific terms and conditions which you should be sure you able to meet before accepting the award. Information about other Awards offered by LSE or external organisations. Please take some time to look at all the other awards available to support your study at LSE. The details of these awards are updated each October, but new LSE awards may become available during the course of the admissions cycle. We will only write to successful applicants for these awards. Selection for these awards will take place between May and July 2011 and all successful applicants will be notified by 31 July 2011.