International Studies
Coursework
The Master of International Studies is offered within the Department of Government and International Relations.
The Masters in International Studies is a broad based multidisciplinary degree that allows students a high degree of flexibility in terms of unit choice and subjects. While the Masters of International Relations is firmly embedded within the discipline of International Relations, International Studies is more closely aligned with Comparative Politics and Area Studies. The Master of International Studies is designed to equip students with analytical and critical skills for understanding contemporary international affairs, and will prepare you for entry into a wide range of professions. Students undertaking a Masters in International Studies can effectively design their own degree through unique combinations of units based on the specific interests of the students. Many students taking the Masters of International Studies have an interest in Comparative Politics or Area studies rather than a desire to understand the operation of the international political system itself. In this respect, International Studies can be considered to be much broader in focus than International Relations.
After choosing from a menu of International Studies core units to receive a grounding in the discipline that is tailored to their interests, students also have the opportunity to focus on area studies and comparative politics, with units on Australian politics and policy, development, democracies and authoritarianism, and the politics of Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Asia Pacific Region as a whole.
There are currently no research degrees offered in International Studies, but potential applicants are referred to the Government and International Relations section of the Postgraduate Handbook
Awards and requirements
Please refer to the course rules in this Handbook for information on the specific admission requirements for different coursework award courses.
Master of International Studies
Candidates for the Master of International Studies are required to complete 96 credit points including:
- a minimum of 12 credit points of core units of study
- a maximum of 78 credit points from elective units of study, which can include an optional specialisation as listed in the unit of study table
- a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone units of study
Graduate Diploma in International Studies
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma of International Studies are required to complete 48 credit points including:
- a minimum of 12 credit points of core units of study
- a maximum of 36 credit points from elective units of study
Graduate Certificate in International Studies
Candidates for the Graduate Certificate of International Studies are required to complete 24 credit points including:
- 6 credit points of core units of study
- 18 credit points from elective units of study
Candidates who have completed previous study in a relevant discipline may be eligible for a reduction in the requirements in accordance with the table below.
| Level of prior learning | Full-time duration | Credit points to complete | Requirements for completion of degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQF Level 7 eg. a bachelor's degree in the Humanities, Social Sciences or Law | 1.5 years | 72 |
- a minimum of 12 credit points of core units - a maximum of 54 credit points of elective units - a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone units A specialisation may be included as per the unit of study table |
| Relevant professional experience | N/A | N/A |
Reduction in requirements may be granted on a case by case basis by Departmental approval up to a maximum of 24 credit points. |
| AQF Level 8 eg. Honours in the Humanities, Social Sciences or Law | 1 year | 48 |
- a minimum of 12 credit points of core units - a maximum of 30 credit points of elective units - a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone units A specialisation may be included as per the unit of study table |
All candidates for the Master of International Studies are required to complete a capstone designed to build independent research capacity. Students complete one of the following two capstone options:
- a semester-long research project by enrolling in GOVT6127 Research Project; OR
- a year-long dissertation project, including GOVT6139 Research Design, followed by GOVT6340 Dissertation Part I and GOVT6341 Dissertation Part II. Completing this dissertation would prepare students to enrol in a PhD in Government and International Relations. This path is generally suitable only for students completing 72 or 96 credit points. Note that GOVT6139 is preparation for the Dissertation. It is not itself a Dissertation unit, and can be taken by any student enrolled in Government and International Relations postgraduate coursework degrees.