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Taught Courses

Postgraduates from the School of Government and International Affairs pursue successful careers in a wide range of fields including local and national government, newspaper and broadcast journalism, the charity sector, academia, and the armed forces. Find out more about each of our research-led and world-leading programmes below to begin your learning journey.

Our Postgraduate Taught Courses

MSc Public Policy

New for 2025: This course provides you with a global understanding of policy-making processes and skills in data analysis for evidence-based policy making.
Image of a laptop screen over someone's shoulder.

MA International Relations

This course provides you with the systematic knowledge and intellectual tools to critically review developments in the theory and practice of international relations.
Virtual globe with flags and background map

MA Politics and International Relations (Political Theory)

This course enables you to evaluate, in a sophisticated and critical fashion, theories and paradigms within the broad field of politics and international relations.
Houses of Parliament and the reflection in the River Thames

MSc Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding

This course provides you with skills in negotiations, conflict mediation, conflict-sensitive programme design and management, and urban peacebuilding.
World ,map with virtual connections

MSc Defence, Development and Diplomacy

This course explores conflict, conflict intervention and post-conflict reconstruction through the lenses of defence, development and diplomacy.
Digital globe with virtual connections

MA Politics and International Relations of the Middle East

This programme provides you with the knowledge to critically review developments in the theory and practice of politics and international relations in the Middle East.

MA International Relations (East Asia)

This course provides you with a comparative and historical perspective, taking account of East Asian political and economic factors.
A table map of the world surrounded by empty chairs

MA International Relations (European)

This course provides you with a comparative and historical perspective, taking account of European political and economic factors.
European Union flag against European Parliament

MA Research Methods (Politics, International Relations, Security)

This course provides all-round training in research methods allied to further specialisation in the fields of politics, international relations and security.
Digital illustration of a global network

MSc Arab World Studies

This course provides you with knowledge of the range of existing disciplinary, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research on the Arab world.
City skyline of Amman, Jordan

  

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New for 2025: MSc Public Policy

Are you looking for a career in public policy or do you want to take your policy career to the next level? This course provides you with a global understanding of policy-making processes and skills in data analysis for evidence-based policy making, combined with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience to enhance your employability.

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Postgraduate Online Open Days

Join us on 21 & 22 October to find out more about funding, how a PG qualification will benefit your future career and how to apply.

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University student
Pursuing a Master’s degree at SGIA not only provided me with a solid foundation for continued growth and success in my career, but also served as a catalyst, creating a strong sense of momentum and motivation to pursue new opportunities with enthusiasm.

Rachael Rhoades
MA International Relations

  

University student
The diversity of the staff and students in the MSc made the experience at SGIA extremely rich. Not only are you surrounded by people from around the world, but also by diverse academic and professional experiences.

Germán Otálora-Gallego
MSc Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding

  

Student updates

Check out our student blogs to read more about life at Durham from our students. Don't forget to follow us on social media!

Highlights

Serbia field trip

Read about Lizzie's field trip experience to Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina as part of her DGSi programme.
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Day in the life of a PG politics student at Durham

Wondering what it's like to be a PG student in the School of Government and International Affairs?
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