General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.

Visit our PAIS web pages for department-specific advice on applying to ensure your application has the best chance for success.

Postgraduate FAQs (PAIS specific)

Postgraduate FAQs (General)

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

Concepts and Theories of International Security

This module provides students with an introduction to theories of security, the discipline of security studies, and the completing ways ‘security' can be understood. While most work on security in international relations begins from the traditional assumption that security means the preservation of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, this module introduces students to a range of different ways of conceptualising security in international relations and points to the importance of recognising that security is highly contested and contestable.

The first half of the module begins by outlining some of the key debates about security in international relations before exploring traditional theoretical approaches and conceptual frameworks. The second half of the module outlines critical theoretical approaches and conceptual frameworks of security and outlines several core ‘images’ of security in international relations.

Dissertation

The Dissertation is an opportunity to study a topic of your choosing, in autonomy and in-depth, under the guidance of an advisor selected among the many experts in the Department. The Dissertation topic should be related to your course. It is an original empirical and/or theoretical investigation, led over terms 2 and 3, that takes further the work done in regular seminars in terms 1 and 2. The Dissertation is the closest you will get to real research during your degree. It is a key experience if you have a PhD in view, or extra-academic research, or any future employment that will require the ability to lead investigations and write reports in autonomy.

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

• The CIA and Covert Action
• The Global Food System
• The Global Politics of Nuclear Weapons
• New Issues in International Security

The optional module listsLink opens in a new window are updated regularly.

You may select up to 40 CATS (normally two modules) from a list of specialist modules for this course, and a further 40-80 CATS from our extensive range of optional modules for a total of 120 CATS of taught modules.

Teaching

Modules are taught via one 2-hour seminar per week. Every seminar will be based on extensive guided reading you will do each week, but there is no strict pattern to how sessions are run. This may include mini-lectures followed by discussion, Q&A sessions, organised debates, peer presentations, policy briefs, small group work, and other projects.

You can also choose to study part-time with us. Find out more about part-time study on our PAIS web pages.

Class sizes

Normally a maximum of 18 per seminar group in PAIS delivered modules.

Typical contact hours

6 hours of Seminars per week for 9 weeks in Terms One and Two plus advice and feedback hours when requested and Dissertation supervision in Terms Two and Three.

Part-time students attend an average of 3 hours per week for 9 weeks in terms 1 and 2, plus advice and feedback hours. Dissertation supervision takes place in terms two and three of year 2. Teaching hours are spread over the two years as evenly as possible , and considering personal extra-academic constraints.

Assessment

Assessment methods include research essays and other (written) assignments throughout the year, culminating in a 10,000 word dissertation at the end.

Reading Lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform.

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules in a module pre-registration process about which you will receive information at the beginning of September.

Careers and employability

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including: Action Aid; World Bank; UN agencies; UK and other universities; Deloitte; Office for National Statistics; Japan Ministry of Defence; Nationwide Building Society; Reddit; European Social Survey; the European Central Bank; and the UK Cabinet Office. They have pursued roles such as: communications officer for major NGOs; business and financial project manager; economist; finance officer; policy advisor; compliance analyst; data analyst; advisor in human rights; local council officer; and union campaigner.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Your future awaits - the many things you can do after your degree in the PAIS Department
• Careers in Government and Politics
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• After your PAIS Master’s – What Next?
• Assessment Centres and Interviews: an overview of what to expect for PAIS students

We also invite alumni and other professionals to talk about their job search and job experience in various sectors of interest to our students. Recent talks have discussed the sectors of human rights and humanitarian work, PhD and academic research, recruitment in the digital industry, The National Graduate Development Programme for Local Government, the UK Civil Service Fast Stream, and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Politics and International Studies at Warwick

Join an innovative, creative and passionate department with a lively and interactive culture. Stretch and challenge yourself with the support of friendly staff and your peers.

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate courses

• International Development (MA)
• International Political Economy (MA)
• International Politics and East Asia (MA)
• International Relations (MA)
• International Security (MA)
• Politics and International Studies (PhD)
• Political and Legal Theory (MA)
• Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods (MA)
• Politics of Climate Change (MA)
• Public Policy (MA)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

How to apply

Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.

Applications will close on 2 August 2025 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course