Master of International Relations

2 years

96 units

In person

Why study this program?

Studying International Relations at ANU means that you will be studying the best program of its kind in Australia and graduating with one of the most respected IR degrees in the world. The Master of International Relations is the only IR program in Australia that combines the study of global politics with leading disciplinary innovations in theory and practice, and an engagement with the Asia-Pacific region. The program equips you with a keen understanding of the pressing issues of our time by providing you with access to globally recognised experts in these fields.

ANU is ranked #1 in Australia and #8 in the world for Politics*.
(*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)

The learning experience

Studying the Master of International Relations at ANU helps you to develop strong analytical skills for understanding how changes in global dynamics and foreign policy decisions drive political developments in the Asia-Pacific region, and around the world.

The program attracts a diverse student cohort from more than 30 countries and covers:

Foreign policy analysis
Global ethics
Global governance
Global security
International political economy
International relations of the Asia-Pacific
International Relations theories
The historical development of global order

Students also have the option to undertake a 24-unit thesis as part of the program. You can frame your own research topic and are matched with an academic supervisor with expertise in the relevant field.

Internships

A vibrant and exciting internship program is offered for successful students. Students have access to a range of internships with international and local NGOs, Australian government departments, the private sector, embassies and the broader ANU community. Internships are awarded for course credit on a competitive basis and are unpaid. Students may also arrange their own internships, subject to departmental approval, and all students have access to ANU ANIP program.

Career opportunities

With one of the most respected degrees in international relations in the world, our students go on to excel in politics, government ministries, international organisations, non-government organisations, media groups, private industry, and businesses throughout the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

You will have the necessary skills to advance your career in a wide range of fields such as:

Consultancies
Diplomatic and foreign service
Government and public service
Intergovernmental agencies
International trade and business
International development and aid

Journalism
Multinational corporations
Private not-for-profit organisations
University teaching and research
Think tanks, policy institutes, and research centres

Alternative entry pathways

Graduate Diploma of International Affairs

If you don't meet the standard entry requirements for the Master of International Relations, alternatively, you can choose to start with the Graduate Diploma of International Affairs (DIAFF) which is a flexible 1-year full-time (or part-time equivalent) postgraduate qualification designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required for understanding emerging issues in international affairs.

This is a stand-alone program that can be used as a pathway to the Master of International Relations.
Find out more about the DIAFF program

World-class academics are your teachers

The program is delivered by the Department of International Relations and brings together a diverse range of discipline-leading experts who deliver cutting edge research-led teaching.

Dr Kirsten Ainley

Kirsten focuses on the history and development of international criminal law, human rights, and humanitarian intervention.

Professor Bina D'Costa

Bina's research interests span migration, children and conflict, gender, human rights and justice.

Associate Professor Mathew Davies

Matt's current research examines the intersection of regional order building, human rights and governance in Southeast Asia, paying particular regard to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Dr David Envall

David's research examines Japanese foreign and security policymaking, focusing especially on the evolution of Japan's security policy doctrines and the role of political leadership in Japanese diplomacy.

Associate Professor Luke Glanville

Luke's research spans past and present thought and practice regarding international protection against atrocities, refugee protection, refugee exclusion, questions of rights, responsibilities, and prioritisation.

Associate Professor Cecilia Jacob

Cecilia's work focuses on civilian protection, mass atrocity prevention, and international human protection norms.

Professor George Lawson

George's work is oriented around the relationship between history and theory, with a particular interest in global historical sociology.

Dr Beverley Loke

Beverley's research interests include the politics of great power responsibility and hegemonic ordering, global knowledge production practices, China's foreign policy, and the international relations of the Indo-Pacific.

Dr Joseph Mackay

Joseph's research focuses on historical manifestations of international hierarchies, at both the micro and macro levels, as well as on a variety of IR-theoretic and qualitative methodological issues.

Dr Deepak Nair

Deepak's research focuses on the microsociological study of international relations. Everyday practices, face-to-face interactions, emotions, and embodied experiences are the small units of analysis that take centrestage in his research.

Professor Cian O'Driscoll

Cian's principal area of research is the intersection between normative international relations theory and the history of political thoughts, with a focus on the ethics of war.

Dr Maria Tanyag

Maria's work focus on global politics of sexual and reproductive health, global political economy and social reproduction in crisis settings, feminist critiques of post-conflict and post-disaster crisis response.

Professor Wesley Widmaier

Wesley's research addresses the interplay of wars, crises, and change – and the ways in which stability can cause instability, a concern that spans International Political Economy and International Security debates.