Welcome to the Master of Arts (International Relations) at Flinders University

This page allows students enrolled in the Master of Arts (International Relations) at Flinders University access to a range of electronic reading materials and library resources.

Staff

Teaching staff in the Master of Arts (International Relations) Click on a name for details about areas of academic expertise

Curtis Andressen, Senior Lecturer, BA, BEd (Alta) MA (UBC) PhD (Flinders)
Yvonne Corcoran-Nantes, Senior Lecturer, BA, MA, PhD (Liverpool)
John Fitzpatrick, Senior Lecturer, BA, DipEd (Queensland), PhD (ANU)
Martin Griffiths, Senior Lecturer, BSc(Econ) (London), MA (Keele), PhD (UBC)
Anthony Langlois, Lecturer, BA (Tas) PhD (ANU)
Richard Leaver,Senior Lecturer, BA (Adelaide), MPhil (Murdoch)
Haydon Manning, Senior Lecturer, BA PhD (Flinders)
Constance Lever-Tracy, Senior Lecturer, BA (LSE), MA (London), PhD (Flinders)
Andrew O'Neil, BA MA PhD (Flinders)
Michael Sullivan, Lecturer, BA (Flinders), PhD (Flinders)
Noel Tracy, Senior Lecturer, BA (Flinders), BA (LaTrobe)
 

What is the MA(IR)?

• A specialised postgraduate program for honours graduates in the social sciences
• Appropriate professional education for current or prospective employees working in foreign affairs, defence, international trade, intelligence and related areas
• Advanced grounding in the academic debates and research literature in International Relations and cognate topics for students who intend to pursue doctoral studies and an academic career.

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Where is the MA(IR) offered?

The course is offered at the Bedford Park campus at Flinders University in southern metropolitan Adelaide. It is also offered offshore, on a part-time basis through intensive modules of study, in Singapore and in China (Beijing, Jinan, Kunming and Tianjin) in association with Nankai University. Apart from some restrictions on elective study, each of these programs is identical in standard, prestige and structure.

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Who teaches the degree?

You can view details about the staff teaching the M. A. (International Relations) by clicking on the 'Staff' option above. The degree is taught within the School of Political and International Studies. The School is one of Australia's leading centres for the study of public affairs, with an outstanding reputation nationally and internationally for excellence in teaching, research, academic publications and scholarship. Teaching and research in international relations is one of the School's acknowledged strengths. School staff are prominent within the profession as researchers, authors and media commentators.

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What comprises the degree?

A student's program of study must be approved by the Program Approver.
Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

• no topic may be attempted more than twice;
• A student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken;
• the program must be completed within eight consecutive semesters.

To qualify for the Master of Arts (International Relations), a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

• the 36 units required for the Graduate Diploma in International Relations (progressive entry students receive 18 units of credit, and advanced entry students receive 36 units of credit);
• a further 36 units of core and elective topics as set out below in either the coursework stream or the research stream.

Students must complete 36 units comprising:

• INTR9010 International Relations and World Politics taken as either a 6 unit or 12 unit topic;
• independent, supervised study leading to an 18 unit dissertation (INTR9000) or a 12 unit research project (INTR9100); and
• elective topics as required (see below).

Research stream

Students must complete 36 units comprising:

• INTR9010 International Relations and World Politics taken as either a 6 unit or 12 unit topic;
• independent, supervised study leading to a 24 unit dissertation (INTR9000) of about 30,000 words; and
• an elective topic if required (see below).

Elective topics

Approved elective topics include:

INTR 9003	Justice and World Order: Theories and Debate	6
INTR 9006	The Asian Financial Crisis: Causes and Consequences	6
INTR 9007	Contemporary Issues in Gender and Development	6
INTR 9009	Advanced Studies in International Relations	6
INTR 9011	Political Economy of Economic Reform in China	6
INTR 9013	China and the World Economy Since 1979	6
INTR 9026	States, Nations and International Theory	6
INTR 9027	GlobalSecurity in the Information Age: Issues and Debates	6
INTR 9029	The Asian Values Debate and the Theorisation of Human Rights	6
INTR 9030	International Human Rights: Theory and Practice	6
INTR 9031	Japan in a Globalised World	6
INTR 9041	African Politics: Global issues	6

SINGAPORE PROGRAM

The coursework stream and the research stream can be taken in Singapore. Only advanced level entry is available. All candidates must submit for approval by the Director of Studies a proposal which outlines their specific interests in the broad field of international relations and the particular subject they would like to pursue for their independent, supervised study.

Coursework stream

Students must complete 36 units comprising:

• eight of the following topics:

  INTR9016 International Relations Theory 3
  INTR9017 The International Financial and Trade System 3
  INTR9018 The East Asian Economy 3
  INTR9019 Globalisation and Regionalisation 3
  INTR9021 International Financial Crises 3
  INTR9022 Territorial States and Mobile Capital 3
  INTR9023 Regionalism in East Asia: ASEAN, APEC and Beyond 3
  INTR9028 Economy, Environment and Society 3
  INTR9035 International Security 3
  INTR9036 East Asia: Crisis and After 3
  INTR9037 Regionalism and Regionalisation in Southeast Asia 3
  INTR9038 Southeast Asia: Crisis and After 3
  INTR9039 Japan and the World 3
  INTR9040 Ethics and International Relations 3

• independent supervised study leading to a 12 unit dissertation (INTR9000).

Student must complete 36 units comprising:

• the 3 unit topic INTR9016 International Relations Theory
• the 3 unit topic INTR9017 The International Financial and Trade System
• the 3 unit topic INTR9035 International Security
• one other 3 unit topic chosen from those available in the coursework stream
• independent supervised study leading to a 24 unit dissertation (INTR9000) of about 30,000 words.

NANKAI PROGRAM (available in China in association with Nankai University)

A coursework program known as the Master of Arts (International Relations in Economy and Trade) is offered in association with Nankai University, China. Students must complete 72 units comprising:

• an examination administered by Nankai University, for which Flinders University awards 18 units;
• the 3 unit topic INTR9016 International Relations Theory;
• the 3 unit topic INTR9017 The International Financial and Trade System;
• 18 units of approved elective topics offered by Flinders University;
• 18 units of approved topics offered by Nankai University, for which Flinders University credit is awarded; and
• independent, supervised study leading to a 12 unit dissertation (INTR9000) or to a 12 unit research paper (INTR9100).

INTR9018 The East Asian Economy 3
INTR9019 Globalisation and Regionalisation 3
INTR9021 The International Financial Crisis 3
INTR9022 Territorial States and Mobile Capital 3
INTR9023 Regionalism in East Asia: ASEAN, APEC and Beyond 3
INTR9024 Economic Reform in China 3
INTR9025 China and the World Economy 3
INTR9028 Economy, Environment and Society 3
INTR9032 Japan, Globalisation and Crisis 3
INTR9033 International Commercial Law: Origins and Problems 3

Approved topics offered by Nankai University include:
International Economics: [credit] 3
International Finance: [credit] 3
International Management: [credit] 3
International Marketing: [credit] 3
Macro-economics and Micro-economics: [credit] 3
Professional English: [credit] 3
 

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What are the admission requirements?

Basic level entry, requiring the completion of 72 units of work, normally is available to applicants who hold an approved degree or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness of candidature, and may take into account relevant work experience. Credit may be granted, on application, for comparable prior studies.

Progressive level entry, requiring the completion of 54 units of work, is available to applicants who have completed the Graduate Certificate in International Relations, or an approved equivalent. The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness of candidature, and may take into account relevant work experience. Credit may be granted, on application, for comparable prior studies.

Advanced level entry, requiring the completion of 36 units of work, is available to applicants who have completed the Graduate Diploma in International Relations, or an approved equivalent, at an acceptable average grade. Approved equivalents for the coursework stream include an honours degree from an Australian University with a grade of 2B or better, or a four year bachelor degree from an approved North American university with an average grade of B- or better, in an appropriate field of study. Approved equivalents for the research stream include an honours degree from an Australian university with a grade of 2A or better, or a four year bachelor degree from an approved North American university with an average grade of B+ or better, in an appropriate field of study. The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness of candidature, and may take into account relevant work experience. Credit may be granted, on application, for comparable prior studies.
 

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Who should I contact?

Application materials, including information about fees, accommodation and financial assistance are available as follows:

Domestic students: Ms Vanessa Gicasvili Faculty of Social Sciences Flinders University GPO Box 2100 ADELAIDE, SA, 5001 AUSTRALIA Telephone: + 61 8 8201 2160 Fax:  + 61 8 8201 5034 Email:  Vanessa.Gicasvili@flinders.edu.au

International students: International Office Flinders University GPO Box 2100 ADELAIDE, SA, 5001 AUSTRALIA Telephone: + 61 8 8201 2727 Telephone: + 61 8 8201 2776 Fax:  + 61 8 8201 3177 Fax:  + 61 8 8201 3261 Email: Intl.Office@flinders.edu.au

Or contact

What can you tell me about Flinders University?

Flinders University is a fully-accredited teaching and research institution, producing about 2200 graduates per year. flinders has more than 700 academic staff. They teach 12,000 students, many of whom are studying part-time. Flinders also teaches  a significant number of overseas students, particularly from Asia. Flinders has a panoramic setting. Its campus is nestled into the foothills in southern metropolitan Adelaide in South Australia with views of the CBD and the nearby coast. It is the only single-campus university in South Australia and the only one with on-site student accommodation in the Adelaide metropolitan area. The University takes its name from navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in 1802.

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