International Relations Management | University of Bedfordshire

About the course

This course aims to increase your understanding of the multiple factors that affect international relations as well as the ethical and political issues around peacekeeping security and state-building. It prepares you to work internationally in the fields of politics economics or business.

You learn the key concepts of international relations theory and apply your knowledge to analyse the effect of dominating political ideologies such as those that led to the Cold War and Post-Cold War eras. Using a practice-based approach incorporating real business situations the course develops your understanding of areas like the growth in NGOs; the importance of the UN; the globalisation of industry; and the significance of multicultural communities made up of economic migrants and refugees.

In your final Master’s Capstone project you can choose one of three options - business dissertation business live project or professional practice – and specialise in an aspect of international relations that matches your interests or career aspirations.

Every taught unit on this course is delivered in a six-week block with six entry points through the year allowing you to start at a time that suits you.

Why choose this course?

Explore the interdisciplinary nature of international relations and how factors such as culture and language impact on their management
Gain real insight into peacekeeping and security though studying with experienced research-active academics and practitioners including a Clinical Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies with experience in peacekeeping as a military officer
Develop your capacity to think critically and independently in evaluating different interpretations of globalisation and its impact on global trends

Brand Communication And Reputation Management

The central aim of this Unit is to provide you with a thorough understanding of the role that Communications plays within the marketing strategy of any organisation and be able to critically analyse and reflect upon the relationship between buyer behaviour and the development of a Marketing Communications Strategy. The unit will enable you to understand the main functions of the marketing communications mix including key areas of integrated marketing communications systems: public relations, advertising, and digital media. In addition, the unit will seek to develop a critical appreciation of the role of Public Relations and Digital Marketing as a key tool for ‘reputation management’ and the mechanisms for developing successful digital campaigns.

Intercultural Business Competencies

Aims:

To appraise and develop writing and written communication skills appropriate to a manager

To evaluate team building and interpersonal skills and critically analyse and employ non-verbal and verbal communication and listening skills

To integrate cultural frameworks with theories from other disciplines in producing a justification for propositions or ventures

To investigate developments in international business, focusing on issues of polarity, dependence and interdependence in respect of socialization processes and interaction rules that foster a normative basis for interdependency

To critically evaluate personal models of effectiveness in management contexts

To identify, reflect upon and evidence key areas for your personal development

Relevance:

International business demands managing strategies in international markets, with considerations of interdependencies of intercultural competence in managing differences in interpersonal interactions, which is key for successful business operations.

In this unit you will evaluate the major dimensions of the international markets and the different strategies. You will explore the application of oral and written communication theories within the context of a technological and international business environment. Additionally, you will demonstrate expertise in formulating and evaluating business strategies for different business environments.

Emphasis is placed on developing your competences as an international manager. You will determine key aspects of the work environment and its implications for interactive work behaviour.

Excellent high performing international marketing managers exhibit self-awareness and engage in decision making with an understanding of their own and others’ capabilities. These abilities enable visionary approaches to problem solving and effective development of others. This unit gives you the opportunity to better understand your personal performance, get insight into working in international markets and across cultures, manage yourself effectively and become a more reflective learner.

This will help prepare you for the ever-changing and increasingly global working environment.

International Relations

To analyse and assess key concepts of International Relations theory and question theoretical arguments presented to them

To evaluate the significance of and application of political ideologies in the cold war and post-cold war eras

To demonstrate an ability to apply IR paradigms to current and historic events and issues in international politics, synthesize your learning in relation to the key themes and issues developed in this unit.

To investigate the power and benefits, as well as the drawbacks, of organs of world governance.

To investigate power and interdependence – power politics vs complex interdependence: focusing on issues of polarity, dependence and interdependence.

To introduce you to recent changes in international relations which have impacted upon the global spread of democracy and evaluate differing interpretations of globalisation and its impact upon global trends

To raise issues of ethical and political positions on questions of intervention and state building.

To evaluate ideas lying behind contemporary intervention and key policy debates

Relevance:

The growth of NGOs, in numbers and influence on the world stage; the internationalization of industry and all areas of business; the multi-cultural communities comprised of both economic migrants and refugees globally; makes knowledge of international relations an imperative for those working internationally or engaging in international issues at home. In this unit you will explore and critically evaluate the main theories associated with the study of international relations including realism and neo realism, liberal IR theory, constructivism and Marxian structural approaches.

These theories are primarily in order to assess why things happen in international relations. As well as addressing these analytical questions, the normative and political dimensions of IR theory will be discussed with the benefit of historical perspective beginning with the genesis of the discipline of International Relations after World War One.

You will critically evaluate complex sources of information and make informed decisions on whether globalization is eroding and re-defining our ‘three worlds’ categorization of societies, in light of the events of 9/11, on-going wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, change and conflict in Africa and the Middle East, and the growing economic and political importance of the BRICS countries. You are required to critically evaluate apply concepts and skills through experiential learning gained through class activities, case studies, and group interaction and presentations.

Peacekeeping And Security

To enable you to identify and critically examine key theoretical frameworks and empirical studies on the concept of peace operations.

To critique central issues that have been used to analyse various types and functions of peace operations and security challenges in the world.

To evaluate the usefulness of these theories by applying them to specific cases and develop your own perspectives in peace and security analysis.

To introduce you to the components of Gender in Peace and Security.

To identify and critically analyse measured and institutional structures developed for a gendered outlook in Peace Operations.

To reflect on reforms, rehabilitation and governance of societies and institutions as an important aspect of building Gender confidence in conflict and post conflict areas.

To expose you to the conceptual and operational issues that impact the integration of gender into multidimensional peace operations.

Relevance:

Through critical reflection you will be able to analyse central concepts, questions, relationships and assumptions that underlie each theoretical thought or model and apply your analysis to specific and selected cases on conflicts and insecurity and conflict management in specific situations and further issues internationally.
Focus is also given to the processes of how gender balance and equity can be achieved in peace operations, and some of the ethical issues related to such operations.

You will be introduced to how peace operations evolve and gain understanding of the security sector, its components and the demand for ‘reform’; gender and security sector reform; gender and peace operations; and the changing dynamics of peace operations.

Through the use of case studies you will develop the skills of comparative analysis as well as knowledge and understanding of the governance of the security sector; and the role of civil societies and the security sector.

Performance Achievement Planning

This short course is a professional development course that is designed to support all PG students in the University of Bedfordshire Business School to enhance their employability and develop a professional profile through their journey in the Masters. The specific aims are to:

Enhance students’ professional, personal development and communication skills.
To support students to evidence how their experience at masters level has contributed to the development of their professional profile as required after graduation.
To support students to develop the necessary academic skill required for successful completion of postgraduate research

Business Dissertation

Aims:

To bring theory and practice together to formulate a topic of your interest whether it is a research-oriented topic or a more clinical topic that is relevant to the context of business and conduct research on your choice of topic relevant to your field of study
To stimulate you to reflect on issues critically and to identify aspects that need further research
To provide you with the opportunity to explore a topic and appreciate the importance of literature review in the learning process
To critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of other people’s research to formulate your own study
To enhance skills in time-management, research management, project organisation and decision-making
To apply and reflect on the practicalities of research including access to sources and ethical considerations

Relevance

An important aim of a Master’s degree is to master and apply your knowledge and skills independently so that you can successfully carry out research. This dissertation provides you with the opportunity for sustained independent study that builds on your research proposal and represents the culmination of your Master’s level studies.

A number of different assessment methods will contribute to your development and will enhance your employability. We consider it essential that comprehensive feedback is provided in due time so it is integrated in your learning process. When group work is required the marks given will be individual following the University of Bedfordshire's regulatory scheme. In some cases different kinds of assessment may be used in combination making sure however that there are no hidden tasks.

The intensive character of this Course's delivery as it is outlined in its Teaching and Learning philosophy is consistent with the needs of todays world for graduates who accumulate knowledge fast and are able to express the outcome of this process in a way that is meaningful and comprehensive.

Welcome and induction activities will be followed immediately by a week of intensive direct contact time. Your own contribution through individual learning will take you to your first assessment point. At the end of your six-week block your final assessment will be due. This will be a demanding but very rewarding experience.

The different types of assessment on this course are included to help you demonstrate the knowledge and skills required at postgraduate level and valued by employers:

Individual Written Report or Essays: Your knowledge and skills are developed when you undertake the task of writing an individual report and the whole process contributes to your improvement when it comes to conducting postgraduate level research and developing your enterprise. The ability to perform literature informed research to review and evaluate the relevant sources and to use an appropriate methodology in order to analyze and evaluate the relevant concepts is being assessed.
Case Study Examination: You will apply your knowledge in the context of a specific case
Oral Presentation: A number of transferable skills will be developed including the ability to present your findings in a professional clear and concise manner.
Reflective Report: Evaluating your own contribution to a team is essential in the context of this course but in the workplace as well

Careers

On completing the course you will have the skills to pursue career opportunities in the following areas/industries: government; non-governmental organisations (NGOs); UN; international arbitration; social justice; marketing.

This course is an appropriate foundation for further academic study at either MPhil or PhD level.

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a related subject area

Fees for this course

UK

The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan