International Law, Ethics and Politics MA

Core modules

You will study a core module in theory and methods, choosing from:

This module provides an introduction to the methods of contemporary philosophy. Topics addressed typically include: critical thinking in philosophy, reading in philosophy, research skills, dissertation planning, and presenting philosophical arguments in written work. You will also participate in online sessions focused on generic research skills.
Assessment: Written assignment

Or -

This module introduces key law and society concepts and theories. The module will introduce students to the jurisprudential underpinnings of socio-legal research, including the classical sociological thinkers that influenced the development of socio-legal research, sociological jurisprudence, American realism, structuralism and systems theory, critical perspectives, feminist legal theory and queer theory, the interpretive tradition, postmodernism and legal pluralism. Students will also be introduced to a range of key law and society texts, projects and writers, and encouraged to critically analyse socio-legal work.
Assessment: Written assignment

You will also choose a total of five optional modules. This includes at least one module from each of the Law, Politics and Philosophy departments, and a further two modules from any of the three departments. The range of modules available typically includes:

• EU Constitutional Law
• European Human Rights Law
• Global Crime Problems
• International Human Rights Law
• International Trade Law and Policy - Foundations
• International Trade Law and Policy - Advanced Issues
• Law of International Organisations
• Public International Law

• Bioethics
• Ethics and Global Ethics
• God, Freedom and the Meaning of Life
• Philosophy of Health and Happiness

• Ethical Dimensions of Terrorism, Political Violence and War
• Gender and Global Governance
• Globalisation and Governance
• Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and International Order
• Radical Social Theory: Modernism to Postmodernism
• Security Studies
• Sex, Death, Gender and (In) Security
• Terrorism and Political Violence
• Totalitarianism And The State
• US Foreign and Defence Policy

You will complete the programme with a research project.

If you choose to complete a written dissertation, this will be a substantial and sustained investigation of a topic related to one or more of the disciplines being studied, culminating in a 15,000-word dissertation.

The practice-based dissertation is ideal for those who have begun careers and are returning to study after time in employment, or those who are aiming to enhance their employability by obtaining (further) experience within related professional contexts. It offers a more applied, contextualised approach to independent research than the more traditional dissertation route. In addition to completing 160 hours on placement, you are asked to produce a practical output/project for the organisation hosting your placement. This can take various forms, such as a report for internal use, a piece of research, a contribution to a report or policy document, a video, a feature article for a newspaper or another form or media output. You complete the placement with a 10-12,000-word report encompassing aspects including the rationale for the placement, a reflection on the tasks performed, and a theoretical discussion of an issue related to the placement.

Please note that the optional module information listed on the website for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.