Photo by SaiKrishna Saketh Yellapragada

Mode of Study

Full-time by distance learning, Part-time by distance learning

Duration

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Start date

September 2023, January 2024, September 2024, January 2025

Overview

Explore the complexities of contemporary world affairs on this MA International Relations, which you can study full-time or part-time alongside work or military service via distance learning.

The University of Portsmouth is ranked the number 1 modern university for research quality in Area Studies

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Read more about our excellent research in Area Studies

You'll delve into the issues central to national and international security and conflict, including terrorism and political violence, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and the impact of social movements, political resistance, cyber activism and rebellion.

With access to the entire course online, you'll learn how to challenge conventional thinking, develop your own perspectives, and take part in key debates about international relations, civil society and global politics. You'll sharpen your ability to analyse and critically assess, both in person and in the writing of reports, essays and policy briefs.

After the course, you'll be ready to contribute positively towards matters at the heart of global conflict and international security and defence. You'll be well prepared to progress further within a current military career, or for roles in security, development, social policy, governance, advocacy and communications.

Prefer to study on campus?

If you'd rather attend university in person, you can study MA International Relations on campus.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

Course highlights

  • Study essential debates, such as how nuclear and other security threats have evolved, whether global civil society can promote security, development and rights, how terrorism and political violence shape domestic and political affairs, and the role the EU endeavours to play in global politics
  • Develop specialist knowledge in areas relating to security, defence and international conflict
  • Learn from expert academics who are contributing to the latest international relations research, and hear expert guest lecturers respond to current global events, such as the conflict in Ukraine
  • Be able to immerse yourself in an international relations topic of your choice through your dissertation

Benefits of distance learning

  • Work from anywhere, at your own pace, in your own time – with interactive online learning materials hosted on our virtual learning environment, Moodle, and available 24/7 on any device – find out how distance learning works
  • Access to over 600,000 ebooks, 55,000 online journals, digital newspapers and a postal loan service from our University Library – see all library support for distance learners
  • Invitations to online forums where you can discuss your studies with other students and your lecturers
  • Access to all student support services via email, phone, online chat or video call

What you'll study on this MA International Relations degree course

Full-time

Core

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Engage in critical debate about the changing meaning of security.

  • Critically assess the competences, capabilities and credibility of security providers.

  • Critically evaluate the major challenges to security providers.

  • Critically engage with discourses on contemporary security issues.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate defence challenges arising from responding to advances in military technology and new methods of warfare.

  • Critically engage with debates about the changing nature of warfare in the 21st Century.
  • Critically evaluate the theory and application of deterrence policy within a 21st Century context.
  • Communicate research findings in a clear and effective manner.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Plan, execute and present a substantial dissertation/project according to the specification provided.

  • Justify, deploy and critically evaluate advanced techniques of analysis and inquiry within an ethical framework.

  • Systematically interpret complex issues from literature, current research and other data, and communicate conclusions coherently and appropriately for either the academic or workplace community.

  • Review and identify the potential for new hypotheses and/or insights and ongoing study.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate the dominant theoretical perspectives of International Relations.

  • Critically analyse the role and significance of state and/or non-state actors in world politics.
  • Communicate research findings.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically and reflectively assess the strengths and weaknesses of differing systems of justice.
  • Critically analyse, compare and contrast the workings of inquisitorial and adversarial systems of justice.
  • Critically engage with contemporary global debates and the application of those to theoretical frameworks such as models of justice and philosophies of punishment.
  • Critically evaluate the development of international criminal law, including international courts and tribunals, and the operation of the UN, regional and national structures of international justice in response to those crimes.
  • Design a clearly specified proposal for a viable dissertation/project.

Explore this module

Optional

You can take 1 optional module.

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically discuss key debates relevant to studying regional power and security in global politics.

  • Distinguish between different analytical approaches for studying power and influence the international order.
  • Develop specialised knowledge about European international relations and foreign policy in the context of regionally focused study.
  • Apply relevant analytical approaches and specialised knowledge to contemporary policy debates.
  • Demonstrate self-directed research and originality in problem solving.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate the accountability of key civil society actors.
  • Critically evaluate the composition, competencies and influence of key civil society actors.
  • Critically engage with debates on the potential and challenges of civil society activism.
  • Critically evaluate the application of various theoretical approaches to the interpretation of civil society action.

Explore this module


Part-time

You can take 3 optional modules over the 2-year course.

Core

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate the dominant theoretical perspectives of International Relations.

  • Critically analyse the role and significance of state and/or non-state actors in world politics.
  • Communicate research findings.

Explore this module

Optional

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Engage in critical debate about the changing meaning of security.

  • Critically assess the competences, capabilities and credibility of security providers.

  • Critically evaluate the major challenges to security providers.

  • Critically engage with discourses on contemporary security issues.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate defence challenges arising from responding to advances in military technology and new methods of warfare.

  • Critically engage with debates about the changing nature of warfare in the 21st Century.
  • Critically evaluate the theory and application of deterrence policy within a 21st Century context.
  • Communicate research findings in a clear and effective manner.

Explore this module

You can take 3 optional modules over the 2-year course.

Core

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Plan, execute and present a substantial dissertation/project according to the specification provided.

  • Justify, deploy and critically evaluate advanced techniques of analysis and inquiry within an ethical framework.

  • Systematically interpret complex issues from literature, current research and other data, and communicate conclusions coherently and appropriately for either the academic or workplace community.

  • Review and identify the potential for new hypotheses and/or insights and ongoing study.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically and reflectively assess the strengths and weaknesses of differing systems of justice.
  • Critically analyse, compare and contrast the workings of inquisitorial and adversarial systems of justice.
  • Critically engage with contemporary global debates and the application of those to theoretical frameworks such as models of justice and philosophies of punishment.
  • Critically evaluate the development of international criminal law, including international courts and tribunals, and the operation of the UN, regional and national structures of international justice in response to those crimes.
  • Design a clearly specified proposal for a viable dissertation/project.

Explore this module

Optional

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Engage in critical debate about the changing meaning of security.

  • Critically assess the competences, capabilities and credibility of security providers.

  • Critically evaluate the major challenges to security providers.

  • Critically engage with discourses on contemporary security issues.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate defence challenges arising from responding to advances in military technology and new methods of warfare.

  • Critically engage with debates about the changing nature of warfare in the 21st Century.
  • Critically evaluate the theory and application of deterrence policy within a 21st Century context.
  • Communicate research findings in a clear and effective manner.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically discuss key debates relevant to studying regional power and security in global politics.

  • Distinguish between different analytical approaches for studying power and influence the international order.
  • Develop specialised knowledge about European international relations and foreign policy in the context of regionally focused study.
  • Apply relevant analytical approaches and specialised knowledge to contemporary policy debates.
  • Demonstrate self-directed research and originality in problem solving.

Explore this module

What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate the accountability of key civil society actors.
  • Critically evaluate the composition, competencies and influence of key civil society actors.
  • Critically engage with debates on the potential and challenges of civil society activism.
  • Critically evaluate the application of various theoretical approaches to the interpretation of civil society action.

Explore this module


Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, course content is revised and regularly reviewed.  This may result in changes being made in order to reflect developments in research, learning from practice and changes in policy at both national and local levels.

Why study a Master's in International Relations?

Meet current students and lecturers from the MA International Relations courses at the University of Portsmouth.

Ed Stoddard: The International Relations course is focused on a number of the really big issues that affect us as societies. Whether that's equality, whether that's poverty or whether that's security issues like terrorism and political violence. You know, we're looking at a series of really important contemporary issues that we read about every day in the newspaper. The reasons that students would want to study these courses is the flexibility. 

Amanda: The schedule that I was able to work around with the teaching classes and the lectures, I really was able to fit all of those things into my daily life. I have a lot of children and a busy schedule and going back to school almost 20 years later, I just needed a programme that really fit into my schedule. 

Samia: I had a great experience doing this distance learning. The lectures were all very available, very responsive. They helped in all aspects of learning, not just their specific modules. So I had a great experience. 

Max: I think Portsmouth is such a unique city. Being by the sea is lovely, but you've also got all of the amenities that you'd expect from a big city. 

Ed Stoddard: The university is literally at the heart of the city. I think also the university has a really strong focus on student support and a really strong focus on teaching quality. 

Amanda: I absolutely felt well supported, both by students and colleagues and by the professors. 

Amy: I did feel really supported. There's always a chance to kind of talk to your lecturers outside of class about what you were struggling with, talk about what you might not understand. There's a real space for students helping students. We have forums, we share Ed Stoddard: The International Relations course is focussed on a number of the really big issues that affect us as societies. Whether that's equality, whether that's poverty or whether that's security issues like terrorism and political violence. You know, we're looking at a series of really important contemporary issues that we read about every day in the newspaper. The reasons that students would want to study these courses is the flexibility. 

Amanda: The schedule that I was able to work around with the teaching classes and the lectures, I really was able to fit all of those things into my daily life. I have a lot of children and a busy schedule and going back to school almost 20 years later, I just needed a programme that really fit into my schedule. 

Samia: I had a great experience doing this distance learning. The lectures were all very available, very responsive. They helped in all aspects of learning, not just their specific modules. So I had a great experience. 

Max: I think Portsmouth is such a unique city. Being by the sea is lovely, but you've also got all of the amenities that you'd expect from a big city. 

Ed Stoddard: The university is literally at the heart of the city. I think also the university has a really strong focus on student support and a really strong focus on teaching quality. 

Amanda: I absolutely felt well supported, both by students and colleagues and by the professors. 

Amy: I did feel really supported. There's always a chance to kind of talk to your lecturers outside of class about what you were struggling with, talk about what you might not understand. There's a real space for students helping students. We have forums, we share WhatsApp numbers, there's always space to kind of help each other and see different perspectives. 

Samia: My favourite part of the course was the online seminars, which we did with fellow colleagues. We got together, heard from different people with different backgrounds. It was just very interesting and exciting. 

Amanda: I ended up learning so much through writing my dissertation and it was a scary assignment in the beginning, but working with the professors and the supervisors for the dissertation just made it a wonderful experience. 

Amy: I love how all the lecturers and all of the professors do their own research as well as teach, and that's what I really wanted to get involved in, and that's why I chose Portsmouth. 

Ed Stoddard: There are a lot of different career opportunities, opportunities in international organisations, international businesses, the Foreign Office, the Foreign Service and there's also a lot of opportunities and things like research and risk analysis. A lot of trajectories that lead towards really exciting careers. 

Amanda: The Master's of International Relations at Portsmouth definitely gave me what I needed for the next step in my career. Throughout the course, learning everything that I did and speaking with the professors, even the other students, it really did prepare me for what I wanted to do next. 

Max: I felt this course is really good, especially where I'm looking to go to, which was teaching afterwards, and it was a really good way of developing the skillset to be able to really understand and to attack a topic. So I felt there was always a good opportunity to develop. 

Samia: I feel very well equipped for the future right now because not only did I gain a lot of information and knowledge, but also I know how to go about getting information and knowledge. So I feel very prepared. I'm ready to go.

Careers and opportunities

Careers this Master’s prepares you for

There is high demand across a range of professions for those with a solid foundation in international relations and an unbiased global outlook. This International Relations Master's degree will give you invaluable insight into international organisations and the challenges they face, while enabling you to learn the skills to affect change, such as policy development, strategy and communication. 

Once you graduate, you'll have the knowledge and skill set to advance your career in the Armed Forces, security or national defence, or to pursue a new direction in a related field.

Graduates of this course have gone on to work for organisations such as the:

  • Armed Forces
  • Civil Service (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
  • Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
  • Ministry of Defence (MoD)

Graduates of this course have gone on to work in areas such as:

  • national, European and international state institutions
  • political parties
  • political lobbyists
  • NGOs
  • think tanks
  • international development
  • international human rights 
  • security and risk analysis
  • foreign affairs analysis
  • political communication and journalism
ONLY USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH AMANDA's COPY BLOCK

I founded and direct an NGO that works throughout Europe but I live in the United States. I found the modules to be challenging and rewarding, the professors to be authentic and kind, and the program to be flexible and thorough. This experience was one of a lifetime for me and I am thrilled with my choice of the University of Portsmouth and would recommend the DL program to everyone!

Amanda Chapman, MA International Relations (Distance Learning) graduate

Career planning

During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and from our Careers and Employability Centre, which you can access for 5 years after you graduate.

Female student standing at careers and employability help desk

You'll benefit from:

  • Networking events
  • 1-to-1 appointments  
  • CV and cover letter advice
  • Interview preparation and practice
  • Workshops to enhance your employability skills
  • Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
  • Support starting your own business

Learn more about your career support

How you'll spend your time

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.

We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to spend in online lectures and seminars and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change.

Course structure

This Master's degree will take:

  • 1 year (full-time study)
  • 2 years (part-time study)

You can expect:

  • 5-6 optional live online seminars for each module you study, held at times when as many students as possible can attend. All core material is available online at all times so you can create your own study schedule around work or other commitments.
  • 36 hours of independent study each week if you study full-time, or 18 hours each week if you study part-time.

In the last 3 months of the course you'll be focusing on your research project.

Teaching

Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.

You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree.

This Master's in International Relations is delivered by supported distance learning. You will receive high-quality course materials via Moodle, our online learning environment.

You'll get to chat with fellow students, discuss and present your work and keep in touch with tutors. You'll get plenty of support throughout your studies, including help on writing and structuring essays, and how to undertake research. You'll also have the opportunity to join live online events as part of our Academic Enrichment Program.

You'll need access to a computer and a web connection. You may be able to access some of the resources through a tablet or smartphone, with limited functionality. You don't need to be especially computer literate, although typing skills are useful.

Teaching expertise

The teaching staff on this Master's in International Relations are internationally recognised and actively researching in the areas they teach.

They're members of international professional associations for Politics and International Relations, such as the Political Studies Association, British International Studies Association, International Studies Association, European Consortium for Political Research and European Union Studies Association.

Assessment 

You’ll be assessed through:

  • academic essays
  • briefing papers and reports
  • blog posts
  • narrated presentations
  • dissertation

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. This includes group discussions, peer review activities, and virtual seminars.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Teaching staff

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:

Mark Simon Youngman Portrait

Dr Mark Youngman

Senior Lecturer

Mark.Youngman@port.ac.uk

School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics, and Literature

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

Read more
Wolfram Kaiser Portrait

Media ready expert

Professor Wolfram Kaiser

Professor of European Studies

Wolfram.Kaiser@port.ac.uk

School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics, and Literature

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

Read more

International Relations and Politics research at the University of Portsmouth

Ed Stoddard, Reader in International Security, explains how cutting-edge research like his (into the changing character of warfare) informs our courses and talks about some of the career opportunities this course can lead to.

Ed Stoddard: So the research I do here at the University is focused on the changing character of warfare.

Over the last few years I've been particularly focusing on questions to do with terrorism and violent extremism in the West African region, especially around the Lake Chad area.

And we use that research and distribute it at conferences and events with policymakers, both here in the UK, but also in West Africa as well. Armed conflicts are so destructive and, you know, I think it's incumbent on us as researchers who work in this area to try and think of ways they can be avoided, of course, in the first instance.

But if, when those armed conflicts do happen, try and think of measures that we can put in place to reduce their impact.

So the research connects with students here in a number of different ways. It supports the work they do in terms of their dissertations, but also directly into the modules that they study.

You know, our research, once we've done it and we've written the papers and we've publish the outputs, that gets then translated into the lectures that we deliver. So they will be directly learning and benefiting from that research that we've done out in the field in their studies and contributing to their degree.

There's a really broad range of different career opportunities that are available to students. The Foreign Office, the Civil Service and more broadly, the Ministry of Defence.

But also we have students who go to international organisations, NGOs, charities that work internationally in conflict zones, and we also have quite a lot of students who go into various research roles and risk analysis roles.

Portsmouth is a really exciting and vibrant city and the university is literally at the heart of the city. I think also the university has a really strong focus on student support and a really strong focus on teaching quality.

And I know that my colleagues spend very considerable amount of that time working to make sure that the experience for Portsmouth students is a really brilliant one. And I think those are some of the key reasons why students who are here really enjoy their degrees.

Term dates

September start

The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project / dissertation.

January start

Courses that start in January have the same amount of teaching as September-start courses, but they normally run over a longer time period.

January-start courses normally run between 14–18 months, beginning in January and ending in the spring / summer of the following year. There are breaks at Christmas, Easter and in the summer. In the last few months you’ll be writing your project / dissertation.

See key dates

Supporting your learning

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video and phone from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your Master's.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

You'll have help from a team of faculty learning development tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

  • Improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
  • Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • Understanding and using assignment feedback
  • Managing your time and workload
  • Revision and exam techniques

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • Academic writing
  • Note taking
  • Time management
  • Critical thinking
  • Presentation skills
  • Referencing
  • Working in groups
  • Revision, memory and exam techniques

If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

The Maths Café offers advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop or use our online resources.

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees (September 2023/ January 2024 start)

  • Full-time: £8,500 (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time: £4,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

  • Full time: £8,500 (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time: £4,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

These figures both include the Transition Scholarship for EU students.

  • Full-time: £8,500 (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time: £4,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

Tuition fees (September 2024/ January 2025 start)

  • Full-time: £8,900 (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time: £4,450 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

  • Full time: £8,900 (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time: £4,450 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

These figures both include the Transition Scholarship for EU students.

  • Full-time: £8,900 (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time: £4,450 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount

Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.

You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Funding your studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.

If you're a UK student who achieved a first in your undergraduate degree you may be eligible for a £3,000 University of Portsmouth scholarship.

If you are a member of the Armed Forces, you may also be eligible for the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS (Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service) funding.

Loans, scholarships and bursaries

Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.

A male postgraduate student smiling, standing in a workshop.
Explore funding

Funding for international students

Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.

international business students
Discover your options

Fees and funding for Master's courses

Discover how you can fund your Master's study at Portsmouth – including loans, scholarships and bursaries – and read our guidance on topics like how to budget, and how to get support if you're disabled or have dependents.

students-studying
Explore funding

Entry requirements

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

September 2023 / January 2024 start

Qualifications or experience

  • A minimum of a second-class honours degree in Politics, International Relations, Sociology or History, or an upper second-class honours degree in another relevant humanities or social sciences subject, such as Sociology, Criminology or Law.

Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as military service, previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification. 

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

  • you have a UK degree
  • you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
  • you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

September 2024 / January 2025 start

Qualifications or experience

  • A minimum of a second-class honours degree in Politics, International Relations, Peace Studies, Sociology or History, or a 2:1 honours degree in another relevant humanities or social sciences subject, or a first-class honours degree in any subject. Equivalent (directly relevant to course content and extensive) professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered.

Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered, such as military service, previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification. 

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

  • you have a UK degree
  • you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
  • you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

How to apply

Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.

There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start dates in September and January, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.

You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.

Extra information for international students

If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.

You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Ready to apply?

Standard applications

Start this course in September 2023

Apply now (Full-time)

Apply now (Part-time)

Start this course in January 2024

Apply now (Full-time)

Apply now (Part-time)

Standard applications

Start this course in September 2024

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Start this course in January 2025

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I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate

If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2022, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:

  • a shorter application form to complete
  • access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
  • a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses 

Learn more about fast track

After you apply

Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.

You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.

Learn more about how we assess your application.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.