ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants should present a TOEFL certificate with a score of 80 or above, or an IELTS certificate with a score of 6.0 or above, or other certificate of English proficiency from an accredited test. Native English speakers and applicants who have taken courses in English during their bachelor’s degree studies are exempt from this requirement but a medium-of-instruction certificate should be furnished. Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree when applying for the master’s program. Applicants should hold a master's degree when applying for the doctoral program. A background in International Relations or Political Science is an asset.

Teaching Language & Length of Study: 

(1)     Teaching language: English

(2) Length of Study: Masters 2 years; PhD 4 years (Full time)

Academic Calendar:

1^st Semester: from mid-September to mid-January

2^nd Semester: from mid-February to mid-June

3^rd Semester: from mid-June to end of July

Program Objectives:  This program aims to train high level international professionals by giving them a solid foundation in International Relations theory and a thorough understanding of international affairs, especially Asia-Pacific international affairs. It is expected that graduates of this program will have the capability to successfully apply for positions in diplomatic organizations, multi-national companies, government departments, teaching and research institutes with an interest in international affairs.

Degree Awarded

Core Courses Descriptions

Master’s Program

Theories of International Relations:

This course seeks to provide a sense of key literature in the discipline to equip students with a repertoire of concepts and theories to understand and analyze international politics in a relatively sophisticated manner. This course is designed to develop students’ written, oral, and research skills.

Contemporary Security Studies: Regional Security Issues in the Asia-Pacific:

This course is an analysis of the international relations of the Asia-Pacific region with a focus in security issues. It deals with major actors affecting peace and stability. In this regard, the roles of the major powers, regional organizations, processes, and selected regional security issues would be discussed in the seminars.

History of International Relations in the Asia-Pacific:

This course introduces a history of international relations in the Asia Pacific region during the modern era. It surveys the development and changes of international relations in the region from the collapse of the Chinese tributary system in the latter half of the nineteenth century to the post-Cold War era. This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the main events and the development of international relations in the Asia Pacific. It further guides them to understand and analyze the elements of the region’s historical legacy which continues to influence its contemporary international relations.

Studies of Non-Traditional Security Issues:

This course will not only introduce the dynamics of non-traditional security studies but also explore the non-traditional security issues facing China and other countries. Some of these issues are well–known such as food security, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and maritime piracy while others are emerging issues such as child soldiers in the military and the privatization of security. Extracurricular activities, videos, and group presentations will supplement the readings and classroom discussion.

Doctoral Program: International Relations

Advanced Research in International Relations:

This course has been designed for students pursuing a Ph.D degree at the School of International Relations. The primary purpose of this course is to ensure that students are equipped with in-depth knowledge in relevant fields and help students to prepare for their dissertations.

Power and Norms in International Relations

This module examines contemporary studies and debates in the literature of International Relations concerning the “normative turn” (or state morality/normativity) stimulated by changes in the agent, structure, and social context of international relations. It also explores the impact of norms on statehood and vice versa through the discussions of specific issue areas such as just war, humanitarian intervention, state responsibility, distributive justice, etc.

Doctoral Program: World Economics

Economy and Finance in Asia-Pacific

This course examines issues including Indonesia’s Economy, Vietnam’s Economic Reforms, Thai Economy, the Philippines’ Economy, and China’s Economy

Economic Globalization and East Asian Economies:

This course addresses the impacts of economic globalization on East Asian economic growth and development. The main contents includes issues related to economic globalization, economic growth and the development of East Asian economies, the Transformation of East Asian economic systems under globalization and East Asian Regional Economic Cooperation in the context of globalization.

Doctoral Program: World History  

Readings in Masterpieces for History of Sino-Foreign Relations

This course will choose the most significant symbolic readings to study and discuss so students can grasp the developing process and the methodology of this research field and to improve their theoretical knowledge and research capacity in this subject.

China and Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia

This course focuses on Chinese migration history, the formation of Chinese migrant communities, and the evolution of China’s relations with Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia. This course helps students understand the complex relations between China and Southeast Asia through the perspective of the Chinese diaspora and the dynamics of China’s modernization at both a regional and global level.