The Master of Laws (International Law and International Relations) is a 54-unit program, comprising a fully online asynchronous coursework and research program, which is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law in conjunction with the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved Bachelor degree in Law, or in another discipline related to the field of study, or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.

The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The course aims to meet the educational needs of graduates with an interest in law and International Relations.

In particular it seeks to:

  • critically examine, in an increasingly globalised 21st century world, the significance of International Law as a means of regulating matters affecting relations among nation states and, increasingly, within nation states
  • explore and analyse the significant connections between International Law, and the structure and operation of major institutions in society, with an emphasis on issues arising in a global context
  • provide advanced knowledge of and the skills to apply the legal rules that operate within selected specific fields that fall within the broad conception of International Law, especially as it concerns security, business, transnational threats, human rights, and protection of the global environment
  • provide knowledge of research principles and methods and the skills and knowledge to be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project in the field of International Law and its relationship to international relations.

Learning outcomes 

At the completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • investigate and analyse critically situations arising in a global and regional context where International Law can play a role in resolving problems, particularly at the policy level
  • demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the major fields of International Law and International Relations in global and regional contexts
  • articulate at theoretical and practical levels in terms understandable to specialist and non-specialist audiences, as appropriate, the ways in which relevant rules of International Law mutually interact with and influence the content of International Relations in the twenty-first century
  • apply the advanced knowledge and skills acquired to identify and evaluate complex
    problems at the intersection of international law and international relations and devise solutions relevant to the achievement of domestic and international objectives that arise within a global context
  • demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the intersection of the fields of International Law and International Relations
  • under limited but appropriate supervision, plan and execute a substantial research-based project in the field of International Law and its relationship to international relations and communicate its approaches and findings to relevant audiences.

Credit

Up to 18 units of credit may be granted for relevant work experience of at least two years duration in Law or a related field. Credit may also be granted for study completed at postgraduate level in International Law, International Relations or International Studies from Flinders University, or another recognised tertiary institution.

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Laws (International Law and International Relations), students must complete 54 units of coursework, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

 Core topics

18 units comprising:

INTR9069  Approaches to International Relations  (4.5 units)
LLIR9501  Principles of Public International Law  (4.5 units)
LLIR9509A  Research Paper International Law/International Relations  (9 units)

 Option topics

Select 36 units from:

DVST8042 The Politics of the Global South: From Bullets to Ballot Box and Back GE  (4.5 units)
DVST9013 Applied Development Studies  (4.5 units)
INTR9051 International Human Rights: Theory and Practice  (4.5 units)
INTR9078 The Political Economy of East Asia  (4.5 units)
LLIR9500 The Relationship between International Law and International Relations  (4.5 units)
LLIR9502  Issues in Human Security  (4.5 units)
LLIR9503  Causes and Conduct of Conflict  (4.5 units)
LLIR9504  Cultural Politics in International Law and International Relations  (4.5 units)
LLIR9505  Post-Conflict Mechanisms in International Law and International Relations  (4.5 units)
LLIR9507  Law and International Relations in the Asia/Pacific  (4.5 units)
LLIR9508  Issues in Energy and Environmental Security  (4.5 units)
LLIR9509B  Research Paper International Law/International Relations  (9 units)
LLIR9510  Current Issues in International Law and International Relations  (4.5 units)