International RelationsSubject regulations

Step into the world of international politics and diplomacy. Understand how countries and organisations interact on the global stage, preparing you for a career in foreign affairs and beyond. This major explores the global challenges facing states and citizens in the 21st century. Do you wonder how the world works? Or why it often doesn’t work? And do you wonder if, and how, we can find collective responses to urgent issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and the threat of nuclear weapons? If so, then the International Relations major is the degree for you. As an International Relations student, you will learn how to look behind news headlines and understand the forces that shape today’s world. You will examine the complex relationships between states, the role of non-state actors, and how global politics affect our daily lives. The major will empower you to assess some of the most pressing challenges of our time and equip you with the skills to pursue a career in which you can help make a difference in addressing these challenges.

International Relations is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Global Studies (BGS). International Relations may also be included as a second major or minor in undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete International Relations as a single major for the BGS, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for International Relations, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete 30 points at 100 level from any INTRL coded paper, 30 points at 200 level from any INTRL coded paper, 15 points at 200 level from any POLSC coded paper, 30 points at 300 level from any INTRL coded papers, and 30 points at 300 level from any POLSC coded papers.

To complete International Relations as part of a double major for the BGS or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for International Relations, including 90 points above 100 level, and a further 45 points above 200 level. Students must complete 30 points at 100 level from any INTRL coded paper, 30 points at 200 level from any INTRL coded paper, 15 points at 200 level from any POLSC coded paper, 30 points at 300 level from any INTRL coded paper, and 15 points at 300 level from any POLSC coded paper. For students studying towards a double major in International Relations and Political Science, 15 points of the required 90 points above 100 level may come from any paper listed for the International Relations major.

To complete a minor in International Relations, students must complete 60 points from INTRL coded papers, including at least 30 points above 100 level. Students must include at least one 100 level INTRL coded paper and one 200 level INTRL coded paper.

Other qualifications

Prescriptions for:

A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included International Relations at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.
To complete the Postgraduate Certificate in International Relations, students must complete at least 60 points, including one of INTRL502, INTRL506 or POLSC537.
To complete the Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations students must complete at least 120 points from the following papers, including at least two of INTRL502, INTRL506 or POLSC537.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA in International Relations, a student must have completed either:
a) a BA or BSocSc with a major in Political Science (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B average in the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
b) a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Political Science (or equivalent) with at least second class honours
(second division), or a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B average, and
c) have satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
Completion requirements for the MA in International Relations vary according to admission criteria:
All students must take at least two of INTRL502, INTRL506 or POLSC537 (unless these have already been taken as part of an earlier qualification).
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including ALPSS500 and at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA.

International Relations papers

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
INTRL100International Relations of the Indo-Pacific The paper introduces international relations theories and concepts related to the Indo-Pacific region. It guides students through the region's...	15	25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Online)
INTRL103Introduction to International Relations This paper provides an introduction to the study of international relations in an era of globalisation. It covers the historical background, key...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
POLSC102New Zealand Politics and Policy This paper provides a foundation for the study of political science and public policy, with a particular focus on the study of government, politics...	15	25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Tauranga)
POLSC103Introduction to Political Psychology Politics affects every aspect of our lives. This paper is an introduction to understanding political behaviour, helping you become more critically...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
ANTHY201Patriots, Racists, and Foreigners: Ethnicity and Identity in Global Perspective This paper focuses on ethnicity and related categories of division such as "race" and nation. It explores how these concepts link to identity in...	15	25A (Hamilton)
ANTHY208Protest Movements in the Asia-Pacific This paper is about how people across the Asia-Pacific region act collectively to challenge the status quo of powerful political, social, economic...	15	25B (Hamilton)
INTRL200New Zealand Foreign Policy and Great Power Competition This course delivers a comprehensive historical overview of New Zealand foreign policy from the beginning of the 20th century, and considers the role...	15	25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Online)
INTRL206International Relations: The Security Agenda This paper introduces students to International Relations' dynamic and evolving security agenda and covers some of the most urgent contemporary...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
POLSC200Politics and the Media This course provides an introduction to the complex relationships between mass media, politics, and democratic society. It examines the power of the...	15	25B (Online) & 25B (Tauranga)
POLSC201Modern Political Thinkers This course examines the ideas of a number of modern political thinkers such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, and Marx.	15	25B (Online)
POLSC211Political Systems around the World The paper introduces the comparative study of political institutions, the study of the politics of a number of countries, their similarities and...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
POLSC212Public Policy Analysis This paper introduces students to public policy analysis. Students focus on the role of politics, public participation and policy in addressing...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
ANTHY300Culture and Power in the Pacific This paper examines the cultural logics of different systems of political action, leadership and ideology in Pacific Island societies.	15	25B (Hamilton)
GNSEX303Intersectionalities: Identities and Inequalities This paper provides a comprehensive review of the historical context for understanding contemporary issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social...	15	25A (Hamilton)
INTRL301Geopolitics in the New World Disorder This paper teaches and utilises major international relations theories to consider pressing global issues. This includes the causes of war and peace...	15	25A (Hamilton)
INTRL315Diplomacy and Politics in Asia It provides an introduction to, and analysis of, critical issues in Asia. Issues may include some, or all, of the Kashmir dispute; the situation on...	15	25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Online)
POLSC305Memory Politics: Uses and Abuses of the Past Students learn about the ways in which collective memories of the historical past matter in the present and explore how political actors seek to...	15	25B (Hamilton)
POLSC307US Politics Students in this course explore the foundational elements of the United States, its governing institutions, the extent of public influence within the...	15	25A (Online) & 25A (Tauranga)
POLSC318Global Environmental Politics and Policy This paper explores contemporary debates on environmental politics, sustainability, justice, and environmental governance. It examines the political...	15	25A (Hamilton)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
ALPSS590Directed Study This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their...	30	25X (Hamilton)
ALPSS591Research Project A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 12,500 words maximum).	30	25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
ALPSS592Dissertation A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 25,000 words maximum).	60	25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
INTRL500Diplomacy and Politics in Asia: Advanced Study This paper provides a theoretical and empirical research foundation for analysing Asian politics and diplomatic practices.	30	25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Online)
INTRL506Geopolitics in the New World Disorder: Advanced Study This paper teaches and utilises major international relations theories to consider pressing global issues. This includes the causes of war and peace...	30	25A (Hamilton)
POLSC501Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice This paper introduces students to the fundamentals of policy analysis, and develops skills for higher-level research in public policy. A key focus is...	30	25A (Hamilton)
POLSC505Memory Politics: Advanced Study Students learn about the ways in which collective memories of the historical past matter in the present and explore how political actors seek to...	30	25B (Hamilton)
POLSC507US Politics Students will gain from a more detailed understanding of the US political system, and the advanced political science literature dedicated to...	30	25A (Online) & 25A (Tauranga)
POLSC537Environmental Politics and Public Policy This paper introduces students to the complexities and challenges of environmental policy processes, and develops skills in scholarly research on...	30	25A (Hamilton)
POLSC593Political Science Thesis An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.	90	25X (Hamilton)

2025 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 8 May 2025 01:00am

International RelationsSubject regulations

Other qualifications

GradCert(IntRel) and GradDip(IntRel)

PGCert(IR), PGDip(IR) and MA

International Relations papers