International Relations as a discipline began at the University of Malta in the early 1990s. In 2001 the Department of International Relations was born within the Faculty of Arts. The Department offers a number of programmes including a B.A. Honours track, and a B.A. General track, an M.A. preparatory programme, and M.A.s and Ph.D.s by research.

The B.A. International Relations course is multidisciplinary. Its main components are Theory of International Relations, International History, International Politics, Political Economy, Foreign Policy and Diplomacy, War, Conflict and Security Studies, New Issues in International Relations including Media, Culture and Environment, and International Law. Though there is a special focus on the Mediterranean, Europe, and the EU in the context of the island’s regional needs and politics of neighbourhood, the course also offers credits within the global context. These include courses on: the USA, China, Japan, Pakistan and India.

The Department offers over 50 taught credits with the majority of them on offer on alternate years. Research in different areas of international interest and concern also forms an integral part of students’ preparation, with several study-units entailing individual or group-based research. All Honours students also write a substantial dissertation based on original research under one-to-one guided supervision. A course in research methodology offered every year is also used as a conduit to incorporate students within the Departmental research projects ensuring that students are schooled in a hands-on approach towards the discipline. In this regard the Department also offers a module on public dialogue which includes student participation in a departmental radio programme “It’s Debatable” aired on Campus FM. The department has students from over 15 countries, and has a large number of Erasmus exchange agreements which facilitates student exchange across International Relation departments Europe wide. The department also hosts a number of lectures every year from visiting international experts in the field.

International Relations, in our present global climate, is an essential discipline in order to understand the world around us. The course therefore focuses on preparing students for a world in constant flux and change embracing innovation, and schooled to participate and further the knowledge economy. It provides students with the intellectual, analytical, critical and organisational skills to come to grips with the complex patchwork that constitutes today’s global circuit. It is therefore a vital ingredient for so many who endeavour to break into the labour market locally and internationally. These include those who wish to pursue careers in government, industry, media, civil society and international organisations.