Employability units are built into the degree
Specialisations in international law, diplomacy
Choose from 600+ employers for internships
Why choose arts / international relations at Deakin
Study Deakin’s Bachelor of Arts/Master of International relations and gain a deep understanding of the political forces that shape the world. You will graduate with two versatile degrees that set you up for a global career.
You will major in international relations as part of your arts degree and shape your career by choosing a complementary major and electives from more than 30 study areas – from history and media studies to philosophy and sport journalism. In the masters component, you will explore global governance and the United Nations, international relations theory, contemporary international politics, and security and strategy.
Boost your employability and broaden your horizons through international experience opportunities. Working alongside leaders from diverse cultures will allow you to see international relations from a unique perspective – an important skill for both your career and your life.
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Industry-connected learning
Work on real industry projects, access 600+ internship partners and gain experience with NGOs, agencies and global organisations before you graduate.
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Develop specialist expertise
Tailor your masters with a specialisation and research project, positioning you as a subject-matter expert in areas such as security, diplomacy or human rights.
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Gain international experience
Take advantage of overseas opportunities and study abroad to build industry connections and apply theory in global contexts.
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Strong career outcomes
Graduate with versatile skills that open doors to careers valued across government, NGOs, business and diplomacy.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Build expertise in global politics, policy, research and communication for opportunities across government, consulting, international organisations, NGOs, media and research.
Policy analyst
Research political, social and economic issues, evaluate existing policies and develop evidence-based options. You may prepare reports and advice for government, NGOs or other organisations.
- $110k
Typical salary in Australia
- 1,893
Jobs advertised
Management consultant
Research complex organisational challenges, analyse information and recommend practical strategies. You may work with clients across government, business and not-for-profit sectors.
- $105k
Typical salary in Australia
- 3,853
Jobs advertised
Organisations you may work for
- Consulting agencies
- Defence forces
- Foreign affairs departments
- Multicultural associations
- NGOs
- Private sector corporations
FAQs
Deakin's campuses in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool are set in vibrant, multicultural communities where it is easy to connect and feel at home. As the #1 university in Australia for international student happiness and student satisfaction, you will be supported at every step of your journey. You can join clubs and societies through the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA), attend social events, go on trips and live on campus to meet people from around the world. Each campus has fitness centres, cafes and 24-hour security, as well as prayer rooms and multifaith chaplains.
Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.
As an international student at Deakin, you can work part time according to the conditions of your visa. On a Student Visa (Subclass 500), you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during trimesters. When you are on a trimester break you can work as much as you want. Compulsory work experience that forms part of your degree does not count toward this limit. Find part-time roles and internships through DeakinTALENT and learn more about working in Australia.
Most students studying full time at Deakin need a Student Visa (Subclass 500). You can apply for this visa after you accept your offer and receive your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). To apply, you will need a valid passport, your CoE, proof of Overseas Student Health Cover and any other documents required by the Department of Home Affairs. Apply as early as possible, but do not book travel until your visa has been granted. Find out more about student visas.
Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.
Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.
To enrol in an undergraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.
Deakin is the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. Our degrees are developed with industry insight, so you will gain career-ready skills from the beginning. Each Deakin student can access work-integrated learning through opportunities including placements, internships and projects with well-known industry partners. Our dedicated international student career support program helps you learn about the Australian workforce, make connections and build your network through placements. You will get support with your resume, help looking for an internship or a job after graduation and even advice about your career options overseas.
There is more than one way to study at Deakin. If you do not meet the academic requirements, Deakin College offers a guaranteed pathway to Deakin with small, supportive classes on campus. If you meet the academic requirements but not the English requirements, you can enrol in a Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) English pathway program and progress to your chosen Deakin degree upon successful completion. Deakin also has formal pathway agreements with partner institutions in countries like China, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and the United States, so you can start your studies locally before transferring to Australia to complete your degree.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Bachelor of Arts/Master of International Relations?
Look forward to building breadth and insight through 30+ arts study areas, then strengthen your expertise in international relations at an advanced level.
Core foundation
Set your academic toolkit
Learn how to read, write and argue at university level, with support to settle into study expectations early.
Start global thinking early
Begin exploring how power, conflict and cooperation shape the world, and learn to analyse events beyond the headlines.
Choose with confidence
Use electives to deepen your interests and shape your direction, without locking everything in from day one.
Build depth and direction
Strengthen your analysis
Work with evidence, ideas and competing perspectives, building arguments that hold up under pressure.
Develop discipline focus
Progress through international relations studies while using choice in arts electives to support your goals and broaden your viewpoint.
Grow professional skills
Practise communicating complex issues clearly – a required skill for policy, advocacy, media and teamwork.
Connect learning to real challenges
Tackle bigger questions
Engage with contemporary global challenges and learn to assess consequences across cultures, regions and institutions.
Use choice strategically
Select a complementary major/minor or electives to round out capabilities like languages, society, policy or communication.
Build employability options
Take up learning experiences that can include work-integrated or industry-informed opportunities where available.
Step into masters-level international relations
Learn the big frameworks
Explore how global governance works in practice, including the roles of major international organisations and systems.
Advance your thinking
Develop deeper theoretical and strategic perspectives to interpret international behaviour, security issues and diplomacy.
Prepare for your pathway
Start shaping whether you will finish with a research-focused project, professional experience or a combination of both.
Specialise and complete your capstone pathway
Shape your expertise
Choose a specialisation area and electives that allow you to explore a theme you care about.
Deliver a major project
Complete an applied or research-led capstone that demonstrates advanced analysis, independence and professional-level writing.
Strengthen your employability
Graduate with practical experience, industry networks and career-ready skills.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Arts/Master of International Relations, you must pass 36 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Note:
Students must have completed 24 credit points of study successfully and achieved a WAM of 60 to continue through to the Master of International Relations. Students not having fulfilled this requirement are eligible to graduate with the Bachelor of Arts as an alternative exit.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
Plus 2 credit points of research units:
Plus 5 credit points chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
Plus 7 credit points chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^
Plus 6 credit points chosen from the specialisations and/or course electives
^ The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.
Students who complete a specialisation will have the specialisation indicated on their academic transcript.
Specialisations are available in the following areas:
Human Rights and International Law**
*Trimester 3 study is required
** Available as a part-time study option for Research Option 2 in Trimester 1 & 2 only
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
Units
Transition to University Study
The Faculty offers a unit AIX160 Introduction to University Study, that is specifically designed to ease the transition into university study. New students are encouraged to enrol in this unit in their first year.
International Relations major
Core units:
Plus 3 units selected from:
AIS203 Immersion Program: Japanese Politics, Society and Culture [No longer available for enrolment, AWL203 replaces this unit]
Note: A study tour program is available as part of this major sequence. Please contact the Course Director for further information.
Choose a minor or second major from the Bachelor of Arts
Electives may also be chosen from the above Bachelor of Arts.
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
- Animation - minor study only
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Criminology
- Design thinking - minor studies
- Education
- English - Children's literature
- English - Creative writing
- English - Literature
- Film and television studies
- Global challenges - minor study only
- Gender and sexuality studies
- History
- Indigenous studies
- Indonesian
- International relations
- Media and communication
- Media studies
- Middle east studies
- Performing arts
- Philosophy
- Politics and policy studies
- Public relations studies
- Religious studies
- Social media
- Sociology
- Sport and society - minor study only
- Sport journalism
- Spanish
- Strategic advertising
- UX Design - minor study only
- Visual arts and photography
- Visual communication design
- Web design - minor study only
What to expect while studying
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Students will complete a research pathway in 1 of the 3 following options:
- Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
- Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
- Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Arts (A300) | Course Learning Outcomes Master of International Relations (A703) |
|---|---|
| Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the Arts disciplines, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines or areas of practice. | Review and analyse major theoretical, conceptual and policy debates and disputes in International Relations pertaining to foreign policy, conflict and security, international and regional politics, globalisation, and international law with reference to empirical cases. |
| Demonstrate highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to communicate research outcomes, and produce scholarly papers. | Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of International Relations theories, concepts and their application to real-world contexts, in a selection of written, oral and digital formats, to a range of audiences. |
| Research, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information using a range of appropriate technologies and resources in a rapidly-changing global environment. | Employ a range of digital communication technologies and platforms appropriately to conduct research, engage in debate, communicate findings, and deliver reports and presentations to a diverse range of audiences. |
| Use critical and analytical thinking and judgment in selecting and applying appropriate theories and methodologies to evaluate information and knowledge about society, culture and the arts. | Analyse, critically evaluate and synthesise theoretical conceptualisations of international politics and policy responses by a range of actors in the context of the changing international political system. |
| Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Creative Arts, including cross-disciplinary approaches. | Employ initiative and creativity in conjunction with appropriate Social Science methods of research and analysis to investigate complex real-world problems in a systematic manner and generate and evaluate potential responses to issues in the areas of conflict and security, globalization, international crises and risks, foreign policy and international law. |
| Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability for personal actions and a continued commitment to learning in personal, professional, and scholarly contexts. | Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a continued commitment to learning and skill development personally, academically and professionally in the field of International Relations. |
| Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community. | Work and learn collaboratively with others in the field of International Relations and from other backgrounds while still maintaining responsibility for their own learning. |
| Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues, cultural diversity, and social responsibility when engaging in scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community. | Analyse and respond to issues in global politics in domestic, regional and international contexts as a reflective scholar and practitioner, taking into account cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and adherence to professional and academic ethical standards. |
Approved by Faculty Board July 2019
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Arts / Master of International Relations
- Year
2027 course information
- VTAC code
- 1400510413 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place
- Deakin code
- D305
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 0101372 Burwood (Melbourne)
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7/9
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$40,800
for 1 yr full-time AUD
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning.
Scholarships
Deakin scholarships recognise your hard work and achievements. Our support can ease the financial pressure of studying in Australia so you stay focused on your success. Numbers are limited, so apply early for the best chance.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Apply through VTAC
If you are an international student completing an Australian Year 12 in Australia or overseas, you must submit an application through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). In addition, you may also apply directly to Deakin through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's international student application service.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Alternate exits
- Associate Degree of Arts (A250)
- Bachelor of Arts (A310)
- Diploma of Arts (A215)