Master of International Relations

International Relations (IR) is one of the multidisciplinary fields that examines the role of the nature of international society, behavior of its main actors and their impact on political, socio-economic and cultural development in the global and regional contexts. The discipline of International relations draws upon expertise from diverse fields of social sciences, including Geography, History, Sociology, Political Science, Security Studies, Economics, and International Law. In a broader context, it helps students to understand how they connect with a wide range of contemporary international issues such as sovereignty, power balance, global security, environmentalism, development and human rights. With the development of cross boarder relations in the domestic and global job markets, there is a huge demand for IR graduates in all of fields. These include the diplomatic services, the armed forces, intelligence and risk analysis, relief and humanitarian work, the international and regional organizations and international business.

The aim of the Master of International Relations (MIR) degree programme is to impart required knowledge and training for students in order to prepare them for a career or career development in the fields related to international relations, and empower them with academic insights, practical skills, and research abilities to help devise viable responses and solutions to the issues that the country encounters in the international arena.

Target Group and Career Prospects

The Master of International Relations degree is expected to be particularly useful for candidates aspiring for careers in the diplomatic service, entry level and midcareer professionals in the foreign ministry, international organizations, and other connected institutions, analysts of foreign affairs and global issues, policymakers and planners in international relations, academics and researchers dealing with international economic and political issues.

 Eligibility Criteria

A candidate who possesses one of the following qualifications is eligible to apply for the Master of International Relations degree programme:

• A Bachelor’s degree in the field of Social Sciences obtained from a recognized University, OR
• A Bachelor’s degree in any other field obtained from a recognized University with one year work experience in international affairs or related fields, OR
• Professional qualification/s and / or a diploma in international relations or a related field and three years work experience in international relations or related fields as acceptable to the relevant Board of Study.

Courses offered:

Special Stream	Course Code	Course Title	Credits	C/O
Common Courses	IRE 601	Approaches to the Study of International Relations	03	C
	IRE 602	Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Practices	03	C
	IRE 603	Sri Lanka in World Affairs	03	C
	IRE 604	Research Methodology	03	C
	IRE 605	International Relations under Globalization	03	C
	IRE 606	International Law	03	C
	IRE 607	Seminar on International Relations	02	C
Power Politics in the Indian Ocean Region	IRE 608	Indian Ocean: During and After the Cold War	03	C
	IRE 609	Indian Ocean and the Colonial Powers	03	O
	IRE 610	War and Peace in Asia	03	O
	IRE 611	South Asian Regionalism	03	O
	IRE 612	State and Identity Politics in South and Southeast Asia	03	O
	IRE 613	Politics of Trade and Investment in the Indian Ocean	03	O
	IRE 614	Modern China in the Indian Ocean	03	O
	IRE 615	Contemporary East Asia: Issues and Prospects	03	O
International Development	IRE 616	Development Discourses and Global Development Paradigms	03	C
	IRE 617	International Financial Order and Development	03	O
	IRE 618	International Regimes	03	O
	IRE 619	Global and Regional Mechanisms	03	O
	IRE 620	Politics of Global Development Strategies	03	O
	IRE 621	Human Security: Theory and Approaches	03	O
	IRE 622	International Politics: Theories and Concepts	03	O
Independent Study Report	IRE 696	Independent Study	05	C

 

Students have the opportunity to complete the degree programme in any one of the following specialization areas:

• Power politics in the Indian Ocean Region, and
• International Development

 Programme Completion Requirements

A student will be awarded the Master of International Relations upon successful completion of 40 credits from courses and an independent study.

Exit Point:

A student who is admitted to follow the Master of International Relations and wishes to leave the programme may obtain the Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations upon successful completion of 26 credits