Master of International Relations

Summary

Enhance your ability to analyse complex geopolitical issues. Study a one-year specialist International Relations programme and take your career global.

Fast-track your career with a 12-month Master of International Relations. This gives you Master’s-level expertise without needing an Honours degree. You can also do the shorter, coursework-only Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations.

As well as giving graduates a path into a career with a global scope, the programme gives professionals from around the world an opportunity to enhance their analytical skills and knowledge of international relations.

Globally ranked

This subject area at Victoria University of Wellington is ranked in the top 150 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.

International connections

Learn from staff known worldwide for their research and expertise. The programme has close connections with internationally focused government agencies in Wellington, and major institutions around the world. These contacts give you the opportunity to learn from visiting researchers, politicians, and policy makers and to build your own networks.

The programme attracts working professionals and graduates from around the world, giving you the chance to network with and learn from peers who bring a range of international perspectives.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

What you’ll study

Build your theoretical foundations with the core course, Approaches to International Relations.

Hone your ability to think critically and creatively about pressing geopolitical issues, including war and its aftermath, international migration, China and the world, identity in world politics, global political economy, and the challenges to international order.

You can complement your International Relations courses with approved Political Science and Strategic Studies courses. These include the China Field Study and the Japan Field Study, which run every second year.

Master of International Relations

The MIR is made up of two parts—a taught component and a research component.

Part 1

The taught component starts with the core course and a range of approved courses.

Part 2

For the research component you can choose between a 60-point dissertation and a combination of a 30-point research project and a taught course.

With the permission of the MIR coordinator, you may be allowed to do a 90-point thesis in place of the Part 2 research component and some Part 1 courses.

Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations

You can choose to study the taught courses only and get a PGDipIR. If you then decide to continue your studies and complete the research courses, the courses you completed in the PGDipIR will count towards the full Master of International Relations.

Workload

If you are studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40–45 hours a week for much of the year. Part-time students doing one course per trimester will need to do around 20 to 23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working full time.

You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of [points] you'll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours work.

Duration

The MIR will usually take 12 months for full-time students and 24 months for part-time students.

The PGDipIR generally takes two trimesters full time and four trimesters part time.

Duration and workload

The MIR will usually take 12 months of full-time study to complete, while the PGDipIR generally takes two trimesters full time.

Studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.

You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of [points] you'll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours of work.

Research topics

If you're thinking of doing a research project you can check suggested thesis topics and staff research areas for the Political Science and International Relations programme.