Teaching / MSc / MBA Programmes

The RSIS masters programmes in International Relations, International Political Economy, Strategic Studies and Asian Studies provide a comprehensive selection of subjects with different focus areas to appeal to the diverse needs of our students. Each programme emphasises different subjects with a researchfocused approach. Students will find the courses useful for their fields in diplomacy and policy-making.

Teaching in the M.Sc. Programmes

The courses are taught via interactive seminars in a stimulating and lively intellectual environment. To ensure optimal interaction between faculty and students, the intake will be kept small. Candidates will also have to complete the “Professional Skills Enrichment” component. This involves participating in a number of seminars on research methods, as well as contemporary strategic and security issues. Students will also be exposed to eminent security and international relations scholars, discuss films and documentaries pertaining to security studies, and even learn media handling and conflict negotiation skills. Student performance will be assessed through a combination of examinations, assignments and seminar participation. Overall, the programmes will stress self development, encourage students to refine their analytical and policy-research skills, and provide a platform from which they can continue the process of self-education and career development.

Academic Links

Faculty teaching in the Master of Science (Strategic Studies), Master of Science (International Relations), Master of Science (International Political Economy), Master of Science (Asian Studies) programmes, as well as the Nanyang MBA (International Studies), are drawn from international and domestic specialists in the fields of international relations, strategic studies, foreign policy analysis and business management. Professor Stephen M. Walt, the Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and Faculty Chair of the International Security Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, is the School’s consultant. The External Examiners are Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor and Professor at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom and Professor Lee Lai To, Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore. Also collaborating in the teaching of the programmes are the Nanyang Business School and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The degrees of MSc (Strategic Studies), MSc (International Relations), MSc (International Political Economy), MSc (Asian Studies) and The Nanyang MBA (International Studies) programmes are conferred by the Nanyang Technological University and fulfill the university’s standards for teaching and coursework.