Faculty of Arts Arts and Music Student Centre

The phasing out of the Master of International Politics, the Master of International Studies and the Master of Arts (Asian Societies) means that as of 2010 there will be no new intake into these programs. As of 2010 the Faculty will commence a process of phasing out of these programs. Students currently enrolled in these programs will still have access to a sufficient number of subjects to successfully complete their degree.

No, there are no disadvantages in remaining in your current program. There will still be a sufficient number of subjects offered as part of the program to allow students to successful complete their degree and the academic integrity of subjects will be maintained. In addition, students that remain in a program that is being phased out will have access to new subject offerings developed as part of the new Master of International Relations.

Students who choose to remain in the Master of International Politics, Master of International Studies and Master of Arts (Asian Societies) may advise Faculty of their intention from 20 May up to the closing date of 31 October 2009 via email to Craig Bird. Students remaining in a program that is being phased out will be invited to attend a one-on-one course advice appointment with a senior course advisor in the Arts and Music Student Centre. At this session, an individual course plan will be developed outlining subject options.

Students seeking to transfer may advise Faculty of their intention from 20 May up to the closing date of 31 October 2009 via email to Craig Bird. Transfer requests will be considered by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies. Once approval has been granted, credit eligibility will be determined and a study plan for completion will be developed in conjunction with a senior course advisor in the Arts and Music Student Centre. There is no minimum GPA required to transfer to the Master of International Relations unless you are currently enrolled in an Australian fee-paying place and wish to apply for a Commonwealth Supported Places in the Master of International Relations (see Frequently Asked Questions below).

Students currently enrolled in a 150-point Master of International Politics, Master of International Studies and Master of Arts (Asian Societies) program will be required to complete 150-points in the Master of International Relations including four compulsory subjects.

Yes, transferring students will need to complete the requisite number of compulsory subjects in the new Master of International Relations (6 in the 200-point program and 4 in the 100-point program). All students that graduate with the Master of International Relations must have completed the required number of compulsory subjects, listed below, or their close equivalents.

• 166-new International Relations Theory
• 166-new International Governance and Law
• 110-new Asia and the World
• 166-new International Political Economy
• 131-new International History
• 166-new International Security

In some cases, it will be possible to seek 'credit' towards compulsories for equivalent subjects completely previously in the Master of International Politics, Master of International Studies and Master of Arts (Asian Societies). Following is a guide to existing subjects that may be credit towards compulsory subjects in the Master of International Relations:

166-new International Relations Theory

• Students that have completed 166-401 International Politics (25 points) may claim credit towards Master of International Relations compulsory subject 166-new International Relations Theory plus 12.5 points credit towards Master of International Relations electives.
• or
• 25 points of credit towards Master of International Relations electives.
• Note: 166-401 International Politics is available in semester two 2009. Students hoping to transfer into the Master of International Relations in 2010 should consider enrolling in this subject in 2009.
• Students that have completed 166-502 International and Comparative Politics (25 points) may claim credit towards Master of International Relations compulsory subject 166-new International Relations Theory plus 12.5 points credit towards Master of International Relations electives.
• or
• 25 points credit towards Master of International Relations electives.

166-new International Governance and Law

• Students that have completed 166-551 Governance and International Institutions may claim credit towards Master of International Relations compulsory subject 166-new International Governance and Law
• or
• 12.5 points of credit towards Master of International Relations electives.
• Note: 166-551 Governance and International Institutions is available in as a winter intensive in July 2009. Students hoping to transfer into the Master of International Relations in 2010 should consider enrolling in this subject in 2009.

110-new Asia and the World

• Students that have completed 110-590 Critical Asian Perspectives may claim credit towards Master of International Relations compulsory subject 110-new Asia and the World
• or
• 12.5 points credit towards Master of International Relations electives.

166-new International Political Economy

• Students that have completed 166-548 International Political Economy may claim credit towards Master of International Relations compulsory subject 166-new International Political Economy
• or
• 12.5 points credit towards Master of International Relations electives.

131-new International History

• Students that have completed 131-553 International Relations from 1945 may claim credit towards Master of International Relations compulsory subject 131-new International History
• or
• 12.5 points of credit towards Master of International Relations electives.
• Note: 131-553 International Relations from 1945 is available in semester two 2009. Students hoping to transfer into the Master of International Relations in 2010 should consider enrolling in this subject in 2009.

166-new International Security

• The compulsory Master of International Relations subject 166-new International Security does not have an existing subject equivalent. Therefore, students transferring into the 200-point Master of International Relations program must enrol in this subject

Yes, students enrolled in a 37.5-point thesis in the Master of International Politics or Master of Arts (Asian Societies) may credit the thesis to the Master of International Relations. Students enrolled in a 25-point thesis in the Master of International Studies may also credit the thesis. However, the 25-point thesis does not provide a Research Higher Degree pathway. Students planning to follow a Research pathway should enrol in the International Relations Thesis (37.5 points).

The Master of International Relations has been designed to allow students who wish to follow a Research Higher Degree pathway to enrol in the International Relations Thesis (37.5 points) and for students who wish to gain workplace experience and develop professional networks to enrol in the International Relations Internship (25 points). It is not usually possible for students to enrol in the Thesis, the Internship and the compulsory subjects due to the structural constraints of the degree. However, with careful planning from the first year of enrolment in the Master of International Relations it is possible for students in the 200-point program to complete both the Thesis and Internship.

In most cases the estimated completion date for the Master of International Relations will be the same as your current degree. Faculty course advisers will be available from early June to provide you with information to help you decide whether you should complete your current degree or seek a transfer to the Master of International Relations.

In general, students that have made special arrangements in the Master of International Politics, Master of International Studies and Master of Arts (Asian Societies) degrees to undertake studies that are not part of those degrees cannot carry across those special arrangements to the Master of International Relations. Students in the situation should seek specific advice during their one-on-one course advice session.

The fees for 2010 have yet to be determined. As soon as this information is known students will be advised accordingly.

Yes, students who are on a Commonwealth Supported Place place in their current degree and have successfully applied to transfer into the new Master of International Relations program will be transferred to a Commonwealth Supported Place place.

Applications for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in the Master of International Relations in 2010 will be open for the main round of selection in September with a closing date of 31 October 2009. Commonwealth Supported Places will be allocated according to the applicant's Grade Point Average (GPA). The Grade Point Average required for a Commonwealth Supported Place varies from year to year depending on the number of applicants and the number of Commonwealth Supported Places available.

No, the new degree is not available for student enrolments until 2010. Thus, it won't be available to students that are due to complete their studies in the Master of International Politics, Master of International Studies and Master of Arts (Asian Societies) in 2009.

There are a number of reasons why should consider transferring to the new degree, including:

Academic Excellence

The Master of International Relations has been benchmarked against the best programs in Australia (at the ANU and University of Queensland) and those offered by other Universitas 21 universities. The coursework program will be subject to a continuous cycle of review through the Quality of Teaching surveys and through regular graduate surveys.

Knowledgeable Across Disciplines

The Master of International Relations will be taught by an interdisciplinary teaching team drawn from the School of Social and Political Sciences, the School of Historical Studies and the Asia Institute. The program capitalises on the variety of disciplinary research and teaching strengths on international relations within the Faculty of Arts, and will provide students with political, historical, legal, social, economic and cultural frameworks of understanding with which to approach key international problems and debates.

Leaders In Communities

The Master of International Relations is designed to develop excellence in interpersonal, cross-cultural and communication skills through subject content and assessment practices, and through the commitment of the degree program to a variety of different interactive teaching and learning environments (including intensive modes of delivery, internships, study abroad, and language study options). The inclusion of electives specifically designed to enhance communication skills will provide opportunities for students to enhance their public discourse skills.

Attuned To Cultural Diversity

The promotion of cross-cultural understanding is a key objective of the Master of International Relations program. All of the core subjects incorporate an emphasis on cultural diversity and the significance of different cultural frames in understanding international relations, and one of the core subjects – Asia and the World – provides a dedicated focus on cultural questions in international relations. The internships, study abroad options, and language electives, and rich array of other electives, will also ensure that graduates are attuned to cultural diversity.

Active Global Citizens

The subject content of this coursework degree program is specifically devoted to international and global issues and contemporary debates. Students will be equipped to be active global citizens by virtue of their academic knowledge and research skills, combined with the program's focus on inter-disciplinary knowledge, community leadership capabilities and cultural awareness. The internship and study abroad options, as well as the language communication electives, will reinforce the ability of students to be active global citizens.