Subject overview

Specialist facilities

The University offers extensive computing facilities with a full range of data-processing and communications software. Office space is usually allocated to students taking research degrees. You will have full access to the University’s main Library and its online collection, and to the British Library of Development Studies, at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), which is located on the Sussex campus. 

Programmes

• PhD in International Relations
• MPhil in International Relations

We welcome enquiries from students wishing to undertake research in any areas of faculty interest. International relations faculty at Sussex also provide interdisciplinary doctoral supervision in subject areas such as contemporary European studies, development studies, and science and technology policy and management. 

All research students are required to complete an appropriate programme of research methods training. This may involve enrolling on the MSc in Social Research Methods – a stand-alone Masters degree – before proceeding to a PhD. This is known as a 1+3 degree. 

Students who have already completed a programme of research methods training can apply for the basic, three-year doctoral degree leading to a PhD. 

Coursework and supervision

Whether you start the three-year PhD or the 1+3 MSc/PhD degree, you will normally be required to complete some research methods training modules and possibly some specialist thematic modules drawn from the MA degrees. 

You will be allocated two academic supervisors with whom you work for the duration of your research degree. These are allocated according to their regional and thematic expertise, to provide a complementary ‘match’ with your research. 

Recent thesis titles

A new age of intervention: sovereignty under question 

Feminism, social movements and the globalisation of democracy 

Global responsibility and climate change: ethics, uncertainty and international relations 

Entry requirements

MPhil in International Relations

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in any relevant social science, but applicants from other backgrounds may be considered. Applicants should submit an outline (two to three pages) of their research interests.

Overseas entrance requirements

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

PhD in International Relations

UK entrance requirements

A Masters degree in international relations or a related discipline, but applicants from other backgrounds may be considered. Applications should be accompanied by a 2,000-word research outline indicating the nature, ambition and primary questions of the research project.

Overseas entrance requirements

If you are an international student and wish to find out if you have the necessary qualifications for this degree, please refer to Overseas qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

Related subjects

• Contemporary European studies
• Politics

Fees and funding

Fees

MPhil in International Relations

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £13,000³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

PhD in International Relations

Home UK/EU students: £3,900¹
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,900²
Overseas students: £13,000³

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
³ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

Faculty interests

The Department houses the Centre for Global Political Economy, the Centre for Conflict and Security Research, and the Centre for Advanced International Theory. It also hosts the New Security Challenges lecture series. A number of faculty and students are members of the Justice and Violence Research Centre. Research interests are briefly described below. For more information, visit the Department of International Relations.

Dr Andreas Antoniades Globalisation, European debt crisis, hegemony.

Dr Shane Brighton International relations theory, terrorism and counterterrorism. 

Professor Steve Burman US foreign policy. 

Professor Stefan Elbe International security. Author of Security and Global Health (2010). 

Dr Matthew Ford Military innovation, socio-technical change. 

Dr Earl Gammon Psychoanalysis and neoliberalism, market civilisation, financial violence. 

Dr Kevin Gray Labour and globalisation, China, East Asia. 

Professor Beate Jahn Classical and contemporary political and international theory. 

Dr Paul Kirby Critical war studies, gender, violence, Africa. 

Dr Samuel Knafo Global finance, international political economy, historical sociology. 

Dr Kamran Matin Politics of Iran, political Islam, international politics of revolution. 

Francis McGowan Policy making in the European Union.

Dr Lara Montesinos Coleman Political sociology of development, gender. 

Professor Peter Newell Global environmental governance. 

Dr Louiza Odysseos Global ethics. Author of The Subject of Coexistence (2007). 

Dr Stefanie Ortmann International relations theory, state and identity, Russia, Central Asia. 

Dr Patricia Owens History and theory of warfare. Author of Between War and Politics (2007). 

Dr Fabio Petito Religion and international relations. 

Professor Justin Rosenberg International relations and international political economy.

Dr Jan Selby Peace processes, resource politics. Author of The Global Politics of Oil (forthcoming). 

Dr Ben Selwyn Globalisation and development, economic development in Brazil. 

Dr Anna Stavrianakis NGOs and global civil society. Author of Taking Aim at the Arms Trade (2010). 

Dr Benno Teschke Marxism, historical sociology, critical theory and dialectics, international theory. 

Dr Adrian Treacher International relations of the EU, European security, French foreign policy. 

Professor Cynthia Weber Media and culture. Author of International Relations Theory: A Critical Introduction (2009). 

Careers and perspectives

Many of our graduates find employment in fields such as human rights, international development and security, within which we have very strong networks. 

School and contacts