The University of Essex MRes International Relations is a two-year course, designed to give students additional training in research design and research methods compared to an MSc or MA. Students study modules on international relations and research methods across the two years, while developing a 35,000-word dissertation. Students are familiarized with the theories and conceptual tools used to analyze world politics, and explore how different theories and conceptual tools speak to contemporary debates and events. Students also take modules on topics including: forecasting global trends, international security, the analysis of conflict and peace, research methods, research design, and political theory.

Essex's MRes International Relations offers excellent preparation for PhD research in this field, covering all aspects of international relations with additional training in research design and research methods. Students learn how to develop theories, conduct research, and explore the empirical implications of theoretical models using the most appropriate empirical methods.

Essex's Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We are rated top in the UK for research, and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began.

An MRes puts students in a particularly strong position to succeed in a research degree. Essex offers supervision for PhD and MPhil in the following fields: government; ideology and discourse analysis; international relations; political behaviour; and politics.

Their academic reputation is illustrated by the fact that many of the graduates have gone on to academic and research focused careers as post doctorates and staff in Universities around the UK and EU. Other recent graduates have gone on to work for the following high-profile organizations: the Civil Service, local government, the World Bank, the United Nations, NATO, YouGov and YouGov America.