BA International Relations and Conflict Studies Queen's University Belfast

The programme in International Relations and Conflict Studies provides students with an in-depth, interdisciplinary understanding of contemporary politics, international affairs and conflict situations in their political, historical, cultural, economic and legal dimensions. Dedicated modules introduce students to core concepts and debates in International Relations and the study of conflict, as well as to the particular European experience of regional integration. Students will acquire familiarity with the experiences of differing national polities and societies, facilitating the development of culturally sensitive cross-national comparisons.

International Relations at Queen’s is about more than just armed conflict and insurgency. It also examines such trends as globalisation and considers the challenge from the rise of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the process of European integration, humanitarian issues (such as poverty, development and refugees), and the role of the media in conflict. The academic study of politics is concerned with the sources of conflict, co-operation, power and decision-making within and between societies, how differences are expressed through ideology and organisation, and how, if at all, disagreements and problems are resolved. We look at conflict, cooperation and its origins, dynamics and trajectories, at theories of society, at the value and ethical basis of political ideas and action, and at politics in different national and historical contexts.

International Relations And Conflict Studies Degree Highlights

Politics was ranked joint 1st in the UK for Research Intensity (Complete University Guide 2021)

Global Opportunities

• QUB students, uniquely in the UK, still have the opportunity to spend part of the course studying in other European universities, through our Erasmus programme. There are also opportunities to study at partner institutions in the USA and Canada.
  The School also has links with:
  • Queen’s University’s Global Research Centre,
  • The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.
• Many of the School’s staff are Fellows in the Mitchell Institute, where they work in collaboration with experts in peace and conflict studies from other disciplines such as law, sociology, and the creative arts.

Professional Accreditations

The study of politics is not directed towards anyone's professional pathway, but rather provides the generic skills for success in a number of professional fields including the civil service, media, the charity sector, education, etc.

Industry Links

• Placement: past students have gained work placements with organisations such as the following:
  • The Northern Ireland Service Service
  • Northern Ireland Local Government Association
  • Stratagem
  • Civil society organisations such as Women's Aid
• We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers, including NI government departments who provide sponsorship for our internships.
  In addition, the School offers a range of employment placements where students can gain real-world work experience which is invaluable in terms of employment after graduation. Given that Belfast is a regional capital with devolved powers, we can offer students placements in the high profile political and related institutions on our doorstep – for example in the departments in the Northern Ireland Executive, the Equality Commission, the NI Local Government Association.
• We also offer work experience placements with charities such as Women’s Aid and public affairs companies.

Career Development

• Graduates from this degree at Queen‘s are well regarded by local, national and international employers and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, including International Relations and Conflict Studies. Although the majority of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in the public and voluntary/community sectors, significant numbers develop careers in the private sector, working in industries from management consultancy to law and journalism.

Internationally Renowned Experts

• School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen‘s has over 86 academics, making it the largest institutional centre for the study of these subjects in Ireland and one of the largest in the UK.
  The School also boasts the following:
  • Centre for Gender in Politics
  • Democracy Unit
  • Centre for Public History
  • The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice
  • Institute of Cognition and Culture
  • Institute of Irish Studies
  • Two International Summer Schools (the Irish Studies Summer School; and the Conflict Transformation and Social Justice Summer School)
• With over 30 staff at the cutting edge of research and publication, the Politics and IR unit at Queen’s is the largest in Ireland and one of the largest in the UK and Ireland, with specialisms in Irish and British politics, political theory, sustainable development, the politics of film and literature, gender, democratic innovations, European Union politics, ethnic conflict, and international relations.
• Professor David Phinnemore is an expert on EU Treaty reform and EU enlargement, which led to his secondment as an advisor to the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
• Professor John Garry is an internationally recognised expert in the areas of citizens’ political attitudes and voting behaviour. His research has informed governments both in Belfast and Dublin on offering ordinary citizens the chance to have greater input on policymaking.

Student Experience

• Our vibrant Politics Society (Polysoc) provides a welcome and stimulating environment for new students. Diversity of Students: we have students from around the UK, Ireland, Europe and the wider world, ensuring a rich mix of students with different experiences and backgrounds.

Studying for an International Relations and Conflict Studies degree at Queen‘s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers and academic institutions.

Graduates from this degree at Queen‘s are well regarded by local, national and international employers and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, including International Relations and Conflict Studies. Although the majority of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in the public and voluntary/community sectors, significant numbers develop careers in the private sector, working in industries from management consultancy to law and journalism.

Employment after the Course

Recent career destinations of graduates have found employment:

• In government and civil service
• As researchers
• As mediators/negotiators
• In public affairs and/or public relations
• In media, journalism, and communications
• Conducting advocacy
• In marketing
• In teaching

Employment Links

We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers, including NI government departments and the North/South Ministerial Council, who provide sponsorship for our internships.

In addition, the School offers a range of employment placements where students can gain real-world work experience which is invaluable in terms of employment after graduation. Given that Belfast is a regional capital with devolved powers, we can offer students placements in the high profile political and related institutions on our doorstep - for example in The Executive Office and other Northern Irish departments, the Equality Commission, Stratagem (a public affairs consultancy), and civil society organisations.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's, you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Course Structure

Year 1

Students are introduced to the study of politics, political ideology, comparative politics, the state of world politics, international history and contemporary Europe.

Year 2

In their second year, students focus on the political, economic and social transformations of the 20th century and beyond, and will be able to advance their conceptual understanding of the field of international relations and conflict.

Year 3

In the final year, students can select more specific areas and specialist-based modules.

Dissertations: In their final year, students can write a dissertation based on a research topic of their choice and under one-to-one supervision by an academic with specialist knowledge in the chosen field.

Stage 1

Core modules

• World Politics
• Comparative Politics
• Contemporary Europe
• Issues in Contemporary Politics

Optional Courses

Two additional modules, which may include modules offered by other Schools in the Faculty.

HAPP options include:

• Perspectives on Politics
• What is to be done? Sustainability, climate change and just energy transitions in the Anthropocene.

Stage 2

In their second year, students focus on the political, economic and social transformations of the 20th century and beyond. To develop a broad understanding of international relations and conflict, students take a core module examining the major theoretical approaches to the study of International Relations and Conflict Studies. Students, and will be able to advance their conceptual understanding of the field of international relations and conflict by studying the applying these theories in the several optional modules available in year two.

Core module

• International Relations

Optional Courses

• The Politics of Deeply
• Divided Societies
• Security and Terrorism
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Identity Politics in Diverse Societies
• Studying Politics
• International Organisations
• Politics and Policies of the European Union
• Apocalypse! The End of the World
• Modern Political Thought
• The Northern Ireland Conflict and Paths to Peace
• British politics in crisis?
• Irish Politics
• American Politics

Stage 3

In the final year, students can select more specific areas and specialist-based modules on, for example, migration, the Far Right, political extremism, politics of the global economy, and modules on identity politics, international ethics, war and visual culture, conflict and conflict resolution.

In your final year, you can select more specific areas and specialist-based modules on, for example, migration, the Far Right, politics of the global economy, and modules on identity politics, international ethics, war and visual culture, conflict and conflict resolution.

In your final year, you can write a dissertation based on a research topic of your choice and under one-to-one supervision by an academic with specialist knowledge in the chosen field. This provides a unique opportunity to marshal all the research and writing skills you have learned through the course of your degree to produce an original piece of research that reflects the particular interests that you have acquired in your time studying at Queen’s.

You can also spend a semester abroad through one of our exchange programmes, or gain work experience through the placement or internship module.

Modules

• Dissertation (Politics and International Relations)
• Internship
• Earth, Energy, Ethics and Economy
• The Politics of the Global Economy
• Global Political Economy of Energy
• Arms Control
• The Far Right in Western Europe and North America
• Asylum and Migration in Global Politics
• Politics, Public Administration, and Policy-Making
• Contemporary Political Philosophy
• European Cultural Identities
• Radical Hope: Inspiring Present-day Sustainability Transformations
• National and Ethnic Minorities
• Northern Ireland: A Case Study
• Political Parties and Elections in Northern Ireland

Note: Modules at Stages 2 and 3 are subject to change based on availability.

Learning and Teaching

Examples of opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

• Dissertations
  In their final year, students can write a dissertation based on a research topic of their choice and under one-to-one supervision by an academic with specialist knowledge in the chosen field. This provides a unique opportunity for students to marshal all the research and writing skills they have learned through the course of their degree to produce an original piece of research that reflects the particular interests that they have acquired in their time studying at Queen’s.
• E-Learning technologies
  Information associated with lectures and assignments is normally communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. This means that each course has its own mini-website containing all of the relevant course information, essential readings, recordings, discussion boards, etc. E-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree programme through the use of, for example, interactive support materials, podcasts and web-based learning activities.
• Lectures
  These introduce foundation information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. As the module progresses this information becomes more complex. Lectures, which are normally delivered in large groups to all year-group peers, also provide opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification on key issues as well as gain feedback and advice on assessments.
• Self-directed study
  This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
• Seminars/tutorials
  A significant amount of teaching is carried out in small groups (typically 10-15 students). These sessions are designed to explore, in more depth, the information that has been presented in the lectures. This provides students with the opportunity to engage closely with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of their peers. During these classes, students will be expected to present their work to academic staff and their peers.

Assessment

Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

• A variety of assessment methods are used, depending on the learning objectives of each module, including coursework essays, written examinations, oral presentations, weekly assignments, learning logs, group projects, and dissertations.

Feedback

As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module coordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work.

Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Formal written comments and marks relating to work that students, as individuals or as part of a group, have submitted. The vast majority of our written feedback is provided electronically to your personal online account.
• General comments or question and answer opportunities during or at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Immediate, on-the-spot feedback from your teacher during language classes.
• Online or emailed comment.
• Individual consultations addressing specific queries with lecturers during designated consultation hours.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which students can review in their own time.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service
• Once students have reviewed their feedback, they are encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of their work.