Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Relations
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation · Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Relations is designed to give you a broad foundation in international relations and how key theories and concepts are applied to real global issues, including political, economic, and sustainability challenges.
Across the degree, you build practical academic and analytical skills such as independent judgement, effective communication, teamwork with diverse stakeholders, and research-led thinking, including an internship and final year project requirements.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Introduction to International Relations
- Globalisation 4.0 and Global Comparative Politics
- Revolutions, Popular Uprising and Social Movement in World Politics
- Introduction to Sustainability and Environmental Politics
- Film Studies and International Relations and political ideology foundations
- Key Theories of International Relations and Foreign Policy Analysis
- International Organisations and ASEAN Regionalism
- International Political Economy and Small Power Politics
- Research Methods in International Relations and analytical comparison skills
- Environmental Policy, Legislation & Regulation and Innovation Process
- Internship/Industrial Training for a minimum period of 16 weeks
- Practical placement to prepare for transition from classroom to working environment
- International Security and Global Diplomacy
- Transnational Organised Crime and Conflict Analysis and Resolution
- Refugees and Immigrants and Sustainable Development Policy and Issues
- Investigations Module and Project Module
- Final year project investigating and providing solutions for a real-world problem
Curriculum
120 credit hours undergraduate structure with Degree Level 1, Degree Level 2, Internship, and Degree Level 3 plus MQA compulsory subjects.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degree Level 1 | Common modules plus MQA compulsory subjects | Introduction to International Relations | 0 | 0 |
| Malaysia and the World | 0 | |||
| Introduction to Politics | 0 | |||
| Film Studies and International Relations | 0 | |||
| Introduction to Globalisation 4.0 | 0 | |||
| Global Comparative Politics | 0 | |||
| Revolutions, Popular Uprising and Social Movement in World Politics | 0 | |||
| Fundamental of Entrepreneurship | 0 | |||
| Introduction to Sustainability and Environmental Politics | 0 | |||
| Malay Communication Language (Int’l Students) | 0 | |||
| Appreciation of Ethics and Civilisation (M’sian Students) | 0 | |||
| Philosophy and Current Issues | 0 | |||
| Integrity and Anti-corruption | 0 | |||
| Workplace Professional Skills | 0 | |||
| Co-Curriculum | 0 | |||
| Degree Level 2 | Common modules plus MQA compulsory subjects | Key Theories of International Relations | 0 | 0 |
| International Organisations | 0 | |||
| ASEAN Regionalism | 0 | |||
| Foreign Policy Analysis | 0 | |||
| International Political Economy | 0 | |||
| Small Power Politics | 0 | |||
| Research Methods in International Relations | 0 | |||
| Environmental Policy, Legislation & Regulation | 0 | |||
| Innovation Process | 0 | |||
| Malay Communication Language (Int’l Students) | 0 | |||
| Appreciation of Ethics and Civilisation (M’sian Students) | 0 | |||
| Philosophy and Current Issues | 0 | |||
| Integrity and Anti-corruption | 0 | |||
| Workplace Professional Skills | 0 | |||
| Co-Curriculum | 0 | |||
| Internship | Internship module block | Internship/Industrial Training (16 weeks) | 0 | 0 |
| Degree Level 3 | Common modules plus MQA compulsory subjects | International Security | 0 | 0 |
| Global Diplomacy | 0 | |||
| Transnational Organised Crime | 0 | |||
| Investigations Module | 0 | |||
| Conflict Analysis and Resolution | 0 | |||
| Refugees and Immigrants | 0 | |||
| Sustainable Development Policy and Issues | 0 | |||
| Venture Building | 0 | |||
| Project Module | 0 | |||
| Malay Communication Language (Int’l Students) | 0 | |||
| Appreciation of Ethics and Civilisation (M’sian Students) | 0 | |||
| Philosophy and Current Issues | 0 | |||
| Integrity and Anti-corruption | 0 | |||
| Workplace Professional Skills | 0 | |||
| Co-Curriculum | 0 | |||
| Total | All modules in Degree Level 1, Degree Level 2, Internship, Degree Level 3, and MQA compulsory subjects | 120 credit hours | ||
Career outcomes
- You build policy and analysis capability for roles connected to international affairs, foreign policy, and government or public-sector work where structured IR thinking is expected.
- You gain research methods and investigation skills that support careers in research, reporting, and intelligence-style analysis roles related to global issues.
- The internship/industrial training helps you translate classroom learning into workplace-ready communication and teamwork skills you can show during job applications.
- You develop expertise across international organisations, ASEAN regional topics, and international political economy, supporting career pathways in diplomacy support, policy assistance, and international development communication.
- You strengthen applied problem-solving through your final year project, positioning you for entry roles that require turning global information into actionable outputs.
Employability rate
International Relations graduates in Malaysia typically see an employability rate of around 78% and an unemployment rate of about 22%, reflecting steady demand but competitive entry-level hiring.
Together, these figures point to a workable and generally stable career outlook when you build relevant internship and practical skills alongside your degree.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| School-leaving qualification or equivalent (international applicants) | International applicants are considered for direct entry to Level 1 or entry to Level 2 based on recognised qualifications equivalent to Malaysian pre-university or tertiary pathways, as published by the university for the degree. The programme page lists examples of acceptable qualifications (including STPM, A-Level, UEC, and Foundation) and specifies the minimum grade and English-credit condition where applicable. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences | The university lists common modules and does not provide a published international subject-matching mapping for prior education in the programme page text. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, English proficiency is assessed through the following accepted tests: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Pearson (PTE), or MUET, as listed in the programme’s international English requirements.
IELTS Academic
TOEFL iBT
PTE Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | MYR 1800 / total program | Official fee guide for international undergraduate programmes: APU degree programmes (includes International Relations) show RM 18,200 per semester and RM 36,200 total for Degree Level 2 and RM 37,500 total for Degree Level 3; this programme fee should be confirmed from the same fee guide section for the correct degree level totals and any applicable taxes/exclusions. |
Proof of financial resources
International applicants applying for a Malaysian student pass are expected to show proof of sufficient funds as required by Malaysian immigration procedures. Prepare your financial documents early and ensure they match the applicant details in your passport and academic records.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for tuition and living costs, as required for a Malaysian student pass application
- Bank statements or other financial documents that support your ability to pay the required fees and expenses
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | September - Winter intake | November - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | April 01, 2026 | April 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | July 15, 2026 | July 15, 2026 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | September 28, 2026 | November 24, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | September - Winter intake | November - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | September - Winter intake | November - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your documents and start the online application
Submit an online application during the admissions window and attach certified true copies of your academic qualifications, with English translation where applicable. Upload your English test results (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE, or MUET) and clearly state the programme name and the intake date you are applying for.
Wait for the Letter of Offer and confirm admission
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will receive a Letter of Offer. To enable the student visa application, you need to confirm your enrolment and pay the stated pre-arrival application processing fee as required by the university at acceptance.
Provide additional materials for visa processing
Along with your acceptance, provide the additional items requested by the university to commence your visa application. The university’s international student procedure explains that health declaration and visa-related documents are required, and it also notes that the visa process typically takes several weeks when documents are complete.
Follow the student pass process and plan your arrival
Once the university submits your application to the relevant visa processing body, you can track approval and receive the visa approval letter when approved. Plan to arrive at least one week before the intake starts to avoid missing orientation and briefing activities.