International Relations

Haizhou
China
International Relations MA
I chose King's College London as the institution for my graduate studies in MA International Relations based on two considerations:

Firstly, studying in London is exciting. It offers opportunities to meet people from any corner of the world, and to make connections with a number of well-known academic institutions and famous companies. King's enables you to touch the whole of society through its location and study connections!
Secondly, the academic reputation of the Department of War Studies is also attractive. As a student who aims to pursue an academic career after this graduate programme, my experience in the department has given me a unique and valuable academic record for my future. Empirically, studying in this world-class department has brought me top level academic training, from lectures and seminars to individual tuition with a series of well-known experts. Doing this programme at King's is a good preparation for my prospective academic career and it will bridge the gap between my current student life and my future.

Joy
UK
International Relations MA
The War Studies department has an excellent relationship with the world of international relations. This means that there are many opportunities to hear influential speakers on a whole variety of issues, whatever the area of focus there's always something applicable. There is also information about important conferences and talks taking place in London. These links to other organisations gave me the opportunity to complete valuable work experience.

May
Singaporean
International Relations MA

What sets a university apart from others, aside from its top-notch facilities, are students and professors of outstanding calibre and King’s College London certainly has that. The academic staff at King’s have shown professionalism and knowledge of their fields and, as a student, they have certainly inspired and enlightened me.

 

The professors, especially at the War Studies Department, have encouraged students to be critical thinkers as they challenge our views and offer different perspectives on issues. I could not have chosen a better university because the Master ‘s in International Relations programme is of a world-class standard and is internationally renowned. The various options within the course have not only equipped me with new knowledge but have given me the chance to explore subjects outside of my field. The international mix of students also helps spur lively and intellectual debates. King’s College London has truly given me an enriching and memorable experience.

 

One of the key attractions of King’s College London is undoubtedly its location. Being in central London allows you to soak up the energy and excitement that surrounds you. Its convenient location, at the Strand Campus, offers you easy access to museums, galleries, theatres and historical iconic landmarks such as Trafalgar Square. London’s central location is also ideal for one to explore other parts of UK via a short flight or train ride. If you’re planning to kick start a career or explore new employment options, London is renowned for its business environment and is home to many international and reputable corporations. Overall, my experience in London has been most enjoyable, fulfilling and unforgettable.

Mervyn Frost
International Relations MA
I am Professor of International Relations and Head of the Department of War Studies. I convene one of the core modules on the MA in International Relations. This master's programme provides students with tools for understanding the dramatic changes taking place in the contemporary world. These include globalisation and the changing nature of warfare in the wake of 9/11, Madrid and 7/7 in London. We also tackle the problem of resurgent nationalist and ethnic conflict. There are difficult problems to do with massive refugee flows and international criminal syndicates. In order to grapple with these problems we make use of an array of sophisticated theoretical tools which include the theories of traditional international relations together with those of critical theory, poststructuralist theory, constitutive theory, and post-modern approaches.
What is of most interest to me is how the ethical issues that are prevalent in contemporary world politics relate to human rights in the global domain, constructing democratic forms of international governance, asking hard questions about the appropriate means to be used against 'global terror' and facing the ongoing problem of determining what would constitute a just world order. Much of my teaching revolves around issues which have arisen in my books Ethics in International Relations (Cambridge University Press, 1996) and Constituting Human Rights (Routledge, 2003).
What makes this department such a vibrant academic environment is that we have a critical mass of people working on issues to do with ethics in international relations. We have ongoing research focusing on new forms of citizenship, war crimes, human rights, development issues, the changing nature of security, and reconstruction and development.
On graduating our students generally find challenging jobs in diplomatic services (including the intelligence services), the governance of the EU, working in the field for non-governmental organisations, for other international organisations such as the United Nations, or as journalists. Others have found their niches working as consultants.