Diplomacy, Law and Global Change MA

at Coventry University

Why you should study this course

 

• You will have the opportunity to study the changing environment and challenges globalization presents, such as gender equality, climate change, modern slavery, terrorism and organised crime.
   

• The course attracts students from across the globe, offering a multicultural learning experience drawing on the experience of students from diverse cultures, which will prepare you to work in an increasingly globalised job market.
   

• The School of Humanities and Coventry Law School maintain an outstanding network of professional contacts spanning diplomats and diplomacy specialists in a range of prestigious external organisations, both private and public. Our network includes Chatham House, the International Slavery Museum, the Royal African Society. These links are reflected in regular talks and events. Past examples include workshops facilitated by the assistant district attorney of Sicily; a senior anti-trafficking prosecutor from Nigeria; the CEO of the NHS Counter-Fraud Authority; a senior manager from the UK’s National Crime Agency and a forensic accountant from the Italian national police (talks and events are subject to availability.
   

• The relevance of course content is reinforced by our staff’s (subject to change) current involvement in professional organisations, such as the British International Studies Association (BISA), the Political Studies Association (PSA), the University Association for Contemporary European Studies, the African Studies Association of the UK (ASAUK) and the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR).

What you'll study
 

The course focuses on two sets of inter-related issues which are central to understanding this changing environment. First, you will be encouraged to look at the role and nature of diplomacy as a key mode of communication between states and other actors on the international stage. Second, you will examine the development and adaptation of the norms and rules of international law, which have traditionally constituted the main sources of order in the international system.

Modules
 

• Critical Thinking - 15 credits
   

  This module is designed to enhance students' critical thinking and to highlight academic good practice. Issues considered are: evidence collection; methods of analysis; research ethics; academic writing; the nature of academic argument; and presentation strategies.
   

• Diplomacy and the International System - 15 credits
   

  This module introduces students to debates about the role of diplomacy, as both process and institutional mechanism. The module examines the development and nature of diplomacy and its changing role and modes of operation.
   

• International Organisations and Development Law - 15 credits
   

  International organisations play an increasingly important role in the development of the international legal order. They help to develop international legal and policy instruments, and continually impact on other public international law actors. International Organisations and Development Law (IODL) approach the main legal issues related to international organisations from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
   

• Trafficking in Human Beings - 15 credits
   

  Trafficking in Human Beings has been described as ‘modern day slavery’ and, according to the US State Department in 2020, Traffickers are denying nearly 25 million people their fundamental right to freedom and forcing them to toil for their exploiter’s profit. This module seeks to provide students with a critical understanding of the issues surrounding trafficking in human beings.
   

• Threats to Global Security - 15 credits
   

  This module seeks to provide students with an informed understanding of the key threats that are posed to Global Security. Since the end of the Cold War, there has been a growth in the number of threats affecting individual, group, state and international security. To this end, the threat of major armed conflict between states that was a dominant feature of much of the twentieth and nineteenth centuries has been replaced by a range of new threats that include crime, economic inequality, poverty, environmental pollution, diseases, natural disasters, state collapse, non-state actors, terrorism and the re-emergence of racial and religious tension.
   

• Law of Diplomatic Relations - 15 credits
   

  Diplomacy forms the common language that states use when interacting in the global arena. This makes it central to the understanding and functioning of public international law and politics. The module will explore the theory and practice of diplomacy by tracing its history and operation within the context of international relations.
   

• International Security Praxis - 15 credits
   

  This module invites students to interact with international security practitioners, seeking reflection upon how academic knowledge and ideas translate into ‘real world’ security practice. It also includes the possibility of attending UK and overseas field trips.
   

• Changing Character of War and Terrorism - 15 credits
   

  This module is designed to provide the foundations of the theory and the praxis of war. Students completing this module will be introduced to the key concepts of, and will be encouraged to critically assess, past, present and future issues of violent conflicts and the defence policies of great powers. They will relate these to the global political context of the 21st century.
   

• Global Professional Development – Leading Diverse Workforces - 10 credits
   

  This module aims to provide students with a framework of knowledge and understanding about how to effectively lead and develop people in a strategically diverse and inclusive way. Students will explore, for example: the influence and impact of leadership theories, culture, wellbeing and approaches to developing better equality, diversity and inclusion strategies and practices that can be used creatively within a leadership role in different types of organisational scenarios. This module is accredited1 by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Students who successfully complete the module and meet the CMI learning outcomes will gain a Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice.
   

• Dissertation in the Humanities and Social Science - 50 credits
   

  Students will complete a dissertation on a topic of their choice related to their studies.

UK

Applicants who can demonstrate considerable experience at an appropriate professional level but who do not have the formal academic entry qualifications may also be admitted, subject to an application and assessment.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5. 

UK

£10,600 per year

International Fees

£16,950 per year 

International Pathways 2022 Scholarship

You could enjoy a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees.

Our high-quality foundation, international year one and pre-masters courses are for international students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to their preferred Coventry University undergraduate or postgraduate course. We can support you to achieve the academic and/or English grades you need and help you gain the personal and professional skills required to study at university.

We want to encourage ambitious international students like you to study at Coventry University, so we’ve secured extra financial support for you worth £3,000, to help with the cost of tuition fees, living expenses and accommodation.

The scholarship application deadline is:

September 2022 intake: 31 July 2022

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: the nature of diplomacy, its evolution and role in international politics; the changing international environment and how this affects and influences the development of diplomacy and law; and the principles of consultancy and the theories and practices found in leadership.
   

• Apply knowledge of the dynamics of diplomacy and international law in a wide range of situations and organisations.
   

• Show awareness of, and sensitivity to, differing international environments and the impact these have on political, economic and social actors.
   

• Apply research skills, identify appropriate sources and methods, take personal responsibility and demonstrate initiative in dealing with complex and unpredictable environments.
   

• Demonstrate advanced analytical and evaluative skills to construct fair, coherent and convincing arguments.
   

• Exhibit advanced problem-solving skills, tackling complex issues both independently and as part of a team, identifying appropriate solutions in a systematic, creative and constructive manner.
   

Employers are looking for individuals with the ability to work across different cultures, and to possess problem-solving and critical analysis skills.
 

As well as giving you the opportunity to achieve two additional awards (Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management and a Level 7 Award in Professional Consulting), the CMI accredited Global Professional Development module may set you apart in a competitive job market. You will gain practical leadership skills to critically evaluate and develop solutions for complex, inter-related, multi-faceted issues that you could experience in your future organisations.