Pursuant to consolidation Act 778 of August 7, 2019 on Universities (the University Act), the following is established.
The programme also follows the Examination Policies and Procedures for Aalborg University.
The Master’s programme is organised in accordance with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s Order no. 20 of January 9, 2020 on Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes at Universities (the Ministerial Order of the Study Programmes) and Ministerial Order no. 22 of January 9, 2020 on University Examinations (the Examination Order). Further reference is made to Ministerial Order no. 153 of February 26, 2020 (the Admission Order) and Ministerial Order no. 114 of February 3, 2015 (the Grading Scale Order).
The programme is offered in Aalborg and Copenhagen.
The Master’s programme falls under The Faculty of Social Sciences, Aalborg University.
The Master’s programme falls under Study Board of International Affairs.
The Master’s programme is associated with the external examiners corps on Censorkorpset for Forvaltning og Global Studies.
Applicants without legal right of admission
The admission requirement for the master's degree program in Development and International Relations is a completed relevant bachelor's degree. The following bachelor's degrees are considered relevant:
In addition, a bachelor's degree is considered relevant if it includes a minimum of 30 ECTS credits within one or more of the following subject areas: International relations, development studies, European studies, international political economy, area studies (e.g. China Studies or Latin American Studies), migration studies, refugee studies, cultural studies, globalization studies, integration studies, international law or other central subjects of the DIR/ES programmes.
The Master’s programme entitles the graduate to the Danish designation:
The English designation is:
The Master’s programme is a 2-year, research-based, full-time study programme. The programme is set to 120 ECTS credits.
The Study Board can approve that passed programme elements from other educational programmes at the same level replaces programme elements within this programme (credit transfer).
Furthermore, the Study Board can, upon application, approve that parts of this programme is completed at another university or a further education institution in Denmark or abroad (pre-approval of credit transfer).
The Study Board’s decisions regarding credit transfer are based on an academic assessment.
The Study Board’s possibilities to grant exemption, including exemption to further examination attempts and special examination conditions, are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures published at this website: https://www.studyservice.aau.dk/rules
The rules for examinations are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures published at this website: https://www.studyservice.aau.dk/rules
In the assessment of all written work, regardless of the language it is written in, weight is also given to the student's formulation and spelling ability, in addition to the academic content. Orthographic and grammatical correctness as well as stylistic proficiency are taken as a basis for the evaluation of language performance. Language performance must always be included as an independent dimension of the total evaluation. However, no examination can be assessed as ‘Pass’ on the basis of good language performance alone; similarly, an examination normally cannot be assessed as ‘Fail’ on the basis of poor language performance alone.
The Study Board can grant exemption from this in special cases (e.g., dyslexia or a native language other than Danish).
The Master’s Thesis must include an English summary. If the project is written in English, the summary can be in Danish. The summary is included in the evaluation of the project as a whole.
The language of instruction in the Master’s Programme in Development Studies and International Relations is English, all set texts will be in English, and all examinations will be conducted in English. Therefore, sufficient English language proficiency is a requirement.
The following competence profile will appear on the diploma:
A Candidatus graduate has the following competency profile:
A Candidatus graduate has competencies that have been acquired via a course of study that has taken place in a research environment.
A Candidatus graduate is qualified for employment on the labour market based on his or her academic discipline as well as for further research (PhD programmes). A Candidatus graduate has, compared to a Bachelor, developed his or her academic knowledge and independence so as to be able to apply scientific theory and method on an independent basis within both an academic and a professional context.
The academic profile of the programme
Programme objectives
The objectives of the Master’s Programme in Development Studies and International Relations are that students will:
Options for specialisation
The Master’s programme offers options for specialisation within Chinese Area Studies (Aalborg), Latin American Studies (Aalborg), Global Gender Studies (Aalborg) or Global Refugee Studies (Copenhagen), and a double degree in China and International Relations (Aalborg/Beijing).
A graduate of the Master’s programme in Development Studies and International Relations will acquire the following competence profile:
Knowledge
Skills
Competencies
The Master’s Programme in Development Studies and International Relations also provides each student the opportunity to create an individual competence profile through the choices of specialisation and elective courses, cf. section 7, subsections 3-6.
Problem Based Learning (PBL)
The study program is committed to Aalborg University’s fundamental pedagogical principle of problem-based learning. The basic competencies achieved through PBL in the study programme are:
While the three competencies are trained during all four semesters, there is shift in emphasis across the four semesters:
Semester | PBL focus |
First semester | Problem oriented competencies |
Second semester | Collaborative and organizational competencies |
Third semester | Reflexive competencies |
Fourth semester | Independent training of all the PBL competencies. |
The master’s programme in Development and International Relations (DIR) is a two-year research-based full-time study programme. The study programme comprises 120 ECTS credits. The programme is divided into individual modules and organised as a problem based study programme. A module is a subject element or a group of subject elements whose purpose is to provide the student with academic and professional qualifications within a stipulated period, and which is completed by one or a number of examinations according to an examination schedule defined in this curriculum. 60 ECTS credits correspond to one year of full-time study.
The Master’s programme offers options for specialisation within Global Refugee Studies (Copenhagen), Chinese Area Studies (Aalborg), Latin American Studies (Aalborg), Global Gender Studies (Aalborg) or China and International Relations (Aalborg/Beijing). The specialisation in China and International Relations (CIR) is a double degree program offered in collaboration with the University of International Relations in Beijing.
The Master’s programme consists of constituent and elective modules. The Study Board may decide not to offer a certain elective module in case of too limited enrolment. In case an elective is not offered, the students will be provided with other alternatives.
The modules will be offered over four semesters (semesters 1 to 4). The first and second semester include courses, exams and project work at Aalborg University. The third semester module consists of a stay at an international organisation, company or institution with activities related to development and international relations or a study stay abroad in the fields of development and international relations or similar programmes. Students specialising in Global Refugee Studies also have an option of studying Mobilities, Social Change and Development at Aalborg University, Copenhagen campus, during the third semester. The fourth semester module will be dedicated to thesis writing. In the CIR programme, the students spend the first and second semester at Aalborg University (Aalborg) and the third and fourth semester at the University of International Relations in Beijing.
The programme is based on a combination of academic, problem oriented and interdisciplinary approaches and is structured as a mixture of the following study and evaluation forms combining skills and academic reflection:
Development Studies and International Relations without specialisation
Offered as:
1-professional | ||||||
Specialisation:
Development Studies | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation method | Assessment method | Language |
1 Semester
| ||||||
Methodology and Methods
(SNIF001) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Theories of International Relations
(DIRES002) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
International Development
(DIR004) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
1 Semester Electives
Choose 5 ECTS
| Course | 5 | ||||
Project Module I
(SNIF009) | Project | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
2 Semester
| ||||||
Topical Seminars within Development and International Relations
(DIR010) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Project Management and International Organisations
(DIR012) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
2 Semester Electives
Choose 5 ECTS
| Course | 5 | ||||
Project Module II
(SNIF018) | Project | 15 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
3 Semester
Option A
| ||||||
Project Oriented Course
(DIRGRS019) | Project | 25 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Thesis Preparation
(DIRGRS020) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
3 Semester
Option B: Mobility
| ||||||
Mobility Module
(GRS2027) | Course | 15 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Project Work within Mobilities, Sustainable Development and Social Change
(GRS024) | Project | 10 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
Thesis Preparation
(DIRGRS020) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
4 Semester
| ||||||
Master’s Thesis
(DIRGRS025) | Project | 30 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Master's thesis/final project | English |
1 Semester Electives Choose 5 ECTS | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation Method | Assessment method | Language |
Regional Integration and Regionalisation
(DIRES003) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Chinese Area Studies I: Traditions and Transformations
(DIRES005) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Contemporary Latin American Studies
(DIRES006) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Global Gender Studies
(DIRES007) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Cultures, Societies and Histories of the Peoples of the Arctic
(KACCG202011) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
2 Semester Electives Choose 5 ECTS | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation Method | Assessment method | Language |
Rising Powers and Emerging Markets
(DIRES011) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Chinese Area Studies II: Global China
(DIRES014) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Social Movements and Civil Society in Modern Latin America
(DIRES015) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Global Gender Studies II: Gendering Global Governance
(DIRES016) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
The Arctic in the Age of Globalization
(KACCG201612) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Development Studies and International Relations with specialisation in Global Gender Studies
Offered as:
1-professional | ||||||
Specialisation:
Development Studies, Global Gender Studies | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation method | Assessment method | Language |
1 Semester
| ||||||
Methodology and Methods
(SNIF001) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Theories of International Relations
(DIRES002) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
International Development
(DIR004) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Global Gender Studies
(DIRES007) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Project Module I
(SNIF009) | Project | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
2 Semester
| ||||||
Topical Seminars within Development and International Relations
(DIR010) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Project Management and International Organisations
(DIR012) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Global Gender Studies II: Gendering Global Governance
(DIRES016) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Project Module II
(SNIF018) | Project | 15 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
3 Semester
| ||||||
Project Oriented Course
(DIRGRS019) | Project | 25 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Thesis Preparation
(DIRGRS020) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
4 Semester
| ||||||
Master’s Thesis
(DIRGRS025) | Project | 30 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Master's thesis/final project | English |
Development Studies and International Relations with specialisation in Chinese Area Studies
Offered as:
1-professional | ||||||
Specialisation:
Development Studies, Chinese Area Studies | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation method | Assessment method | Language |
1 Semester
| ||||||
Methodology and Methods
(SNIF001) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Theories of International Relations
(DIRES002) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
International Development
(DIR004) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Chinese Area Studies I: Traditions and Transformations
(DIRES005) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Project Module I
(SNIF009) | Project | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
2 Semester
| ||||||
Topical Seminars within Development and International Relations
(DIR010) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Project Management and International Organisations
(DIR012) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Chinese Area Studies II: Global China
(DIRES014) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Project Module II
(SNIF018) | Project | 15 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
3 Semester
| ||||||
Project Oriented Course
(DIRGRS019) | Project | 25 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Thesis Preparation
(DIRGRS020) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
4 Semester
| ||||||
Master’s Thesis
(DIRGRS025) | Project | 30 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Master's thesis/final project | English |
Development Studies and International Relations with specialisation in China and International Relations
Offered as:
1-professional | ||||||
Specialisation:
Development Studies, China and International Relations | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation method | Assessment method | Language |
1 Semester
| ||||||
Methodology and Methods
(SNIF001) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Theories of International Relations
(DIRES002) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
International Development
(DIR004) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Chinese Area Studies I: Traditions and Transformations
(DIRES005) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Project Module I
(SNIF009) | Project | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
2 Semester
| ||||||
Topical Seminars within Development and International Relations
(DIR010) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Project Management and International Organisations
(DIR012) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Chinese Area Studies II: Global China
(DIRES014) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Project Module II
(SNIF018) | Project | 15 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
3 Semester
Option A: Semester at University of International Relations (UIR), Beijing
| ||||||
4 Semester
| ||||||
Master's Thesis
(CIR025) | Project | 30 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Master's thesis/final project | English |
Development Studies and International Relations with specialisation in Latin American Studies
Offered as:
1-professional | ||||||
Specialisation:
Development Studies, Latin American Studies | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation method | Assessment method | Language |
1 Semester
| ||||||
Methodology and Methods
(SNIF001) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Theories of International Relations
(DIRES002) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
International Development
(DIR004) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Contemporary Latin American Studies
(DIRES006) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Project Module I
(SNIF009) | Project | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
2 Semester
| ||||||
Topical Seminars within Development and International Relations
(DIR010) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Project Management and International Organisations
(DIR012) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
Social Movements and Civil Society in Modern Latin America
(DIRES015) | Course | 5 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Project Module II
(SNIF018) | Project | 15 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
3 Semester
| ||||||
Project Oriented Course
(DIRGRS019) | Project | 25 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Thesis Preparation
(DIRGRS020) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
4 Semester
| ||||||
Master’s Thesis
(DIRGRS025) | Project | 30 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Master's thesis/final project | English |
Development Studies and International Relations with specialisation in Global Refugee Studies
Offered as:
1-professional | ||||||
Specialisation:
Development Studies, Global Refugee Studies | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation method | Assessment method | Language |
1 Semester
| ||||||
Methodology and Methods
(SNIF001) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
International Relations and International Law in a Refugee Context
(GRS2025) | Course | 15 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Project Module I
(SNIF009) | Project | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
2 Semester
| ||||||
Topics within Mobility and Displacement, Culture, Identity and Politics
(GRS2026) | Course | 15 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Project Module II
(SNIF018) | Project | 15 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
3 Semester
| ||||||
Project Oriented Course
(GRS019) | Project | 25 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Thesis Preparation
(DIRGRS020) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
4 Semester
| ||||||
Master’s Thesis
(DIRGRS025) | Project | 30 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Master's thesis/final project | English |
Development Studies and International Relations with specialisation in Global Refugee Studies – Mobility stay.
Offered as:
1-professional | ||||||
Specialisation:
Development Studies, Global Refugee Studies | ||||||
Module name | Course type | ECTS | Applied grading scale | Evaluation method | Assessment method | Language |
1 Semester
| ||||||
Methodology and Methods
(SNIF001) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Active participation/continuous evaluation | English |
International Relations and International Law in a Refugee Context
(GRS2025) | Course | 15 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Project Module I
(SNIF009) | Project | 10 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
2 Semester
| ||||||
Topics within Mobility and Displacement, Culture, Identity and Politics
(GRS2026) | Course | 15 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
Project Module II
(SNIF018) | Project | 15 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
3 Semester
| ||||||
Mobility Module
(GRS2027) | Course | 15 | 7-point grading scale | Internal examination | Oral exam | English |
Project Work within Mobilities, Sustainable Development and Social Change
(GRS024) | Project | 10 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Oral exam based on a project | English |
Thesis Preparation
(ES0020) | Course | 5 | Passed/Not Passed | Internal examination | Written exam | English |
4 Semester
| ||||||
Master’s Thesis
(DIRGRS025) | Project | 30 | 7-point grading scale | External examination | Master's thesis/final project | English |
Standard Page
The maximum length of an assignment or a project is defined in standard pages. A standard page is equivalent to 2,400 keystrokes (including spaces).
The stipulated number of pages for written assignments and projects includes notes, but does not include reference lists/bibliography, title page, table of contents, and summary. Appendices may be included in projects. Typically, an appendix is not the examinee’s own written work, but a presentation/reproduction of source material, and it will therefore not be included in the total number of pages; however, the volume of the appendix must be proportionate to the volume of the project.
Group Sizes
No more than 6 students may participate in the preparation of written group projects. No more than 3 students may participate in the preparation of the Master’s thesis.
Oral Group Examination
At oral group examinations, the examination must be conducted in such a way that individual assessment of each individual student’s performance is ensured.
The curriculum is approved by the dean and enters into force as of September 2020.
The Study Board does not offer teaching after the previous curriculum from 2017 after the summer examination 2021.
The Study Board will offer examinations after the previous curriculum, if there are students who have used examination attempts in a module without passing. The number of examination attempts follows the rules in the Examination Order.
The Vice-dean has on November 9, 2020, approved the following changes valid as of autumn 2021:
The Vice-dean has on November 27, 2020, approved a revision of the following modules valid as of spring 2021:
The Vice-dean has on March 22, 2021, approved to offer the students the possibility to choose the mobility semester from Global Refugee Studies on 3rd Semester. The approval only applies in autumn 2021.