Professional Masters in International Relations (PMIR)
Department of International Relations

PROFESSIONAL MASTERS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (PMIR) PROGRAM OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

The Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka has over 75-year history of developing and promoting the study of International Relations (IR) as South Asia’s first-ever academic department founded in 1947. Since then, the Department has been one of the pioneers in promoting IR teaching and research in Bangladesh and beyond.

The curriculum of the Department combines a blend of courses in the diverse areas of International Relations. These include, inter alia, security studies, diplomacy, foreign policy, international law, international political economy, globalisation, regional and international institutions, development and governance, international migration, human rights, global environmental politics, and an array of area and country studies, concentrating on South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. Course contents are continually updated in congruent with the latest developments in global affairs and shifting theoretical paradigms.

The Department’s degree-awarding programmes include Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours), Master of Social Sciences (MSS), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). For the last two decades, the Department has been offering Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations (PGDIR) for graduates from different academic and professional backgrounds who seek to earn additional graduate credentials. This has been a part of the Department’s endeavour to stretch beyond the regular degree programmes in order to meet the growing demands of IR knowledge.

In 2016, the Department launched the Professional Masters in International Relations (PMIR) programme. In its effort to promote industry-academia linkages, since 2019, the Department has been partnering with the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to run a Certificate Course in International Refugee Law. In 2022, the Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Foreign Service Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to co-run a Professional Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy (PMIRD) programme. Thus far, the PMIRD programme has trained more than 50 young and career diplomats of Bangladesh and other friendly countries.

ABOUT THE PMIR PROGRAMME

The world has been witnessing rapid and drastic changes in recent decades. The end of World War II and the resultant global developments including the Cold War, détente, post-Cold War transformations, post-9/11 realities, great power rivalry and growing regional tensions, and scientific and technological advancements have reinforced the study of International Relations more than ever before. Moreover, the advent of globalisation with its accompanying forces and influences has left a widespread and significant impact on global peace, stability, and security.

Such dynamics in international relations are increasingly seen as important for professionals. Professional fields in an intensely interconnected and interdependent world cannot be isolated from the external environment. This has resulted in a rising and strong demand for IR learning among professionals in the country. Against this backdrop, the Department offers a vibrant and supportive academic environment through engaging and rigorous teaching practices enabling students to grasp a multi-faceted understanding of IR. The programme curriculum is designed to train professionals with specialized skills, and critical thinking and analytical abilities so that they can apply acquired knowledge to professional development.

The PMIR programme will benefit working professionals and those who wish to build a career in various fields - civil service, armed forces, foreign diplomatic missions, local and international financial institutions, multinational corporations, non-governmental organisations, think tanks, law, and journalism.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The PMIR programme shall be of 18-month duration. However, a student must complete the degree within 5 years of his/her enrolment in the programme.


PROGRAMME ADMINISTRATION

The programme is administered by a three-member Coordination Committee including the Chairman of the Department (ex-officio) and two faculty members. The Committee shall have the discretion to take decisions from time to time to run the programme.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • • Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from any recognised university with at least 2nd class or a CGPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)/ 3.0 (on a 5.0 scale) in their academic careers.
  • • Prescribed application forms must be completed and submitted within the announced deadline.
  • • The programme coordination committee shall have the discretion to decide the modus operandi of selecting students for admission which may include written examinations, oral tests, and professional experiences.
  • • Applicants, who have successfully completed Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations (PGDIR), are especially encouraged to apply.
  • • Applicants, who have minimum 2 years of professional experience in recognised and registered organisations, will be awarded 5-marks while assessing admission eligibility.

PROGRAM FEE STRUCTURE

  • • First Installment: BDT 60,000 (sixty thousand only) to be paid on the day of enrollment
  • • Second Installment: BDT 50,000 (fifty thousand only) to be paid before the commencement of 2nd semester classes
  • • Third Installment: BDT 50,000 (fifty thousand only) to be paid before the commencement of 3rd semester classes

• Total fees: BDT 1,60,000 (one lac and sixty thousand only)

• Students can pay the total fees (BDT 1,60,000) all at once or in three separate installments as stated above.

WITHDRAWAL

• A student may withdraw from the programme within two weeks of the commencement of classes of the first semester. This will automatically cause the termination of his/her enrolment. In such a case, s/he shall be refunded 50% of the course fees. No refund shall be made for the withdrawal from the programme if application for withdrawal is received two weeks after the commencement of the classes of the first semester.

• Application for withdrawal from the programme should be submitted to: Coordinator, PMIR Coordination Committee, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka.

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

Students’ academic accomplishment in a course will be assessed on the basis of an overall assessment of performance in:

  • -Mid-Semester Examination
  • -Term Paper (individual)
  • -Case Presentation/Tutorial Test
  • -Class Attendance/Participation
  • -Semester Final Examination

• For each course, the marks obtained in the semester final examination, mid-semester examination, term paper, case presentation/tutorial test, and class attendance/participation shall be totalled and converted into letter grades following a 4.0 grading scale.


RETAKING A COURSE AND WITHDRAWAL FROM A SEMESTER

• A student can retake a course if s/he earns an “F” or “I” grade in that particular course. “F” grade is indicative of the failure of a student to earn any credit point. “I” grade indicates that a student, for non-academic reasons beyond his/her control, is unable to sit for the Semester Final Examination.

• Students earning “F” or “I” grade in a course shall be required to improve the grade by retaking the course in the corresponding semester of the subsequent batch. A student earning “B” grade or below in a course may also have the opportunity to improve the grade by retaking the course in the similar manner.

• Students will be allowed to retake a course only once. In order to retake a course, the student must apply at least four weeks before the commencement of the particular semester. Any application for retaking a course shall automatically lead to the cancellation of his/her earlier grade in the concerned course.

• A student shall not be allowed to retake a course after graduation. In order to retake a course, the concerned student must apply to withhold his/her graduation.

• Requisite fees shall be applicable for a student seeking to retake a course for improving his/her “F” or “I” grade. The same fees shall apply to a student willing to improve “B” grade or below in a course. The Programme Coordination Committee shall have the discretion to determine the amount of the fees for retaking a course.

• A student may opt for withdrawal (W) from a semester for a specific period of time. Withdrawal shall be subject to approval by the Programme Coordination Committee. This will keep previous semester grades intact. Application for withdrawal from a semester must be submitted within two weeks of the commencement of classes of the particular semester.

• Students, retaking a course, and also those who decide to withdraw from a semester for a certain period of time, must consider the consequence of the 5-year bar to complete the programme.

• Application for retaking a course or withdrawal from a semester should be submitted to the Programme Coordination Committee.

AWARDING OF THE DEGREE

• Upon completion of the degree requirements, the University of Dhaka will award the degree of Professional Masters in International Relations (PMIR) to the successful candidates. For the degree to be awarded, a student must earn a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.25 on a 4.0 scale. Students with “F” or “I” grade in any course will be disqualified for the degree.