Which master's specialisation suits a Bachelor of Arts graduate applying to the UK with IELTS 6.5 and 54% marks?

Your IELTS 6.5 is rarely the limiting factor here; a 54 percent bachelor's score is. Some UK universities treat this as a comfortable 2:2 equivalent, while others set the bar at 55 percent or higher for Indian applicants, so the university list matters more than the subject choice.

Why International Relations or Development Fits a BA Best

These are natural academic progressions from most Arts subjects and do not require the technical prerequisites that Computer Science or Finance masters demand. Westminster's International Relations MA, for example, accepts a 2:2 in a related humanities or social-science discipline alongside its IELTS 6.5 requirement.

Core modules on programmes like this typically cover international security, global governance, human rights and research methods, giving you a genuine academic foundation regardless of your specific BA subject, whether that was History, English or a mixed humanities degree. International Development variants add development economics and project-evaluation modules, useful if you eventually want NGO, policy or multilateral-agency work rather than a strictly academic or diplomatic career.

The 54 Percent Problem: Which Universities Will Actually Accept You

This Information Is Also Available On

University of York, Queen's University Belfast, University of Gloucestershire, University of Hertfordshire, Robert Gordon University and University of Bedfordshire's own India entry-requirement pages.

My Advice

Do not apply broadly and hope; check each university's India-specific equivalency page individually before shortlisting, since 54 percent sits right at the boundary between accepted and rejected depending on the institution. Your IELTS 6.5 will not be the reason you get turned down here. If your marks sit below a university's published threshold, email the admissions team directly before applying and ask whether they will consider a written explanation of your grading system or a strong personal statement alongside your transcript; several UK universities make this allowance case by case even when it isn't advertised.