The Student Room Group

Best International Relations MA programs

Hi, I'm currently researching MA programs for international relations in Europe and was wondering if anyone could suggest any good ones to look into? At the moment I'm aiming for Germany but would be open to other options. I definitely want to apply to the Hertie School of Governance and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna - so any suggestions along those lines would be very helpful! Thanks.
Reply 1
What areas of IR are you interested in? Sec, DEV, IPE, Growth, Governance, Gender Equality, Human Rights, Theory, Evidence based Methods, Policy Analysis? The recommendation really depends on your interests and you failed to provide info.
Original post by MEVK
Hi, I'm currently researching MA programs for international relations in Europe and was wondering if anyone could suggest any good ones to look into? At the moment I'm aiming for Germany but would be open to other options. I definitely want to apply to the Hertie School of Governance and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna - so any suggestions along those lines would be very helpful! Thanks.


As above, it depends on your interests.

LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, KCL, Edinburgh and Aberystwyth are generally worth contemplating, however. If you have an interest in critical theory or in MENA or East Asia, then it's worth looking at the faculty list of Sussex and SOAS too.
(edited 9 years ago)
Reply 3
Which one will have more prospects of getting a job after a MA in International Relations? Edinburgh or Sussex? I am a international student from India planning to do my Masters in UK
Original post by Mrig
Which one will have more prospects of getting a job after a MA in International Relations? Edinburgh or Sussex? I am a international student from India planning to do my Masters in UK


Almost certainly Edinburgh.
Reply 5
And between Edinburgh and Glasgow? Which is the best Uni in UK for MA in IR?
Reply 6
Hi thanks for your reply. I'm mainly interesting in governance, human rights and conflict (I think), and especially interested in the MENA region. Your suggestions were helpful but I'm actually not thinking about applying to the UK (apart from potentially SOAS). Im finishing up my undergrad in Law at Nottingham right now and although the English education system is obviously of a very high standard, I'm keen to try something different.

Original post by Misovlogos
As above, it depends on your interests.

LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, KCL, Edinburgh and Aberystwyth are generally worth contemplating, however. If you have an interest in critical theory or in MENA or East Asia, then it's worth looking at the faculty list of Sussex and SOAS too.
Reply 7
Original post by MEVK
Hi thanks for your reply. I'm mainly interesting in governance, human rights and conflict (I think), and especially interested in the MENA region. Your suggestions were helpful but I'm actually not thinking about applying to the UK (apart from potentially SOAS). Im finishing up my undergrad in Law at Nottingham right now and although the English education system is obviously of a very high standard, I'm keen to try something different.

Can you tell me about the job prospects after graduation?
Original post by Mrig
And between Edinburgh and Glasgow? Which is the best Uni in UK for MA in IR?


Edinburgh, quite easily.

As for the best in the country, LSE > Oxford > Cambridge > St Andrews > KCL > Edinburgh. Although after the first two it's a little blurred, and Aberystwyth would rank if it weren't for the general reputation of the university.
Original post by MEVK
Hi thanks for your reply. I'm mainly interesting in governance, human rights and conflict (I think), and especially interested in the MENA region. Your suggestions were helpful but I'm actually not thinking about applying to the UK (apart from potentially SOAS). Im finishing up my undergrad in Law at Nottingham right now and although the English education system is obviously of a very high standard, I'm keen to try something different.


Durham and SOAS have strong general faculties in the MENA. Outside the UK I know very little; I'm not much interested in most of what's taken for IR in the United States.
Reply 10
Original post by Misovlogos
Edinburgh, quite easily.

As for the best in the country, LSE > Oxford > Cambridge > St Andrews > KCL > Edinburgh. Although after the first two it's a little blurred, and Aberystwyth would rank if it weren't for the general reputation of the university.

Do u have any idea about Bristol? Actually I have offers from Bristol, Cardiff, Sussex and Glasgow. And thinking of applying to Manchester, Durham nd Edinburgh. Haven't thought about St. Andrews because its nt in the Russel Group.
Reply 11
Original post by Misovlogos
Durham and SOAS have strong general faculties in the MENA. Outside the UK I know very little; I'm not much interested in most of what's taken for IR in the United States.


I was thinking more along the lines of mainland Europe...
Original post by Mrig
Do u have any idea about Bristol? Actually I have offers from Bristol, Cardiff, Sussex and Glasgow. And thinking of applying to Manchester, Durham nd Edinburgh. Haven't thought about St. Andrews because its nt in the Russel Group.


I would rank Sussex in the list: it's the only one of them to actually have an independent IR department. That said, if you don't like critical theory or continental philosophy, it's not the best fit. I can't say much about Bristol, although its faculty list doesn't much stand out.

St Andrews is as good as the vast majority of the RG - it's just a smaller university, like Durham.
Original post by MEVK
I was thinking more along the lines of mainland Europe...


I am even more clueless then: maybe PSIA at Sciences Po, or a programme at Oslo connected to PRIO. The Central European University has a ridiculously strong IR faculty.
Reply 14
Original post by MEVK
I was thinking more along the lines of mainland Europe...

hav u checked out Erasmus University of Rotterdam
Germany: Hertie, Tuebingen MENA and Conflict, Bonn, Uni Bremen, MAIR Berlin, TU Dresden. Maybe Duisburg for governance
Switzerland: MIA IHEID Geneva, St Gallen
France/Benelux: Sciences Po MIA, College of Europe, Louvain, Leiden, Amsterdam


Original post by MEVK
Hi thanks for your reply. I'm mainly interesting in governance, human rights and conflict (I think), and especially interested in the MENA region. Your suggestions were helpful but I'm actually not thinking about applying to the UK (apart from potentially SOAS). Im finishing up my undergrad in Law at Nottingham right now and although the English education system is obviously of a very high standard, I'm keen to try something different.
Reply 16
Thank u everyone, so much.
Original post by MEVK
Hi, I'm currently researching MA programs for international relations in Europe and was wondering if anyone could suggest any good ones to look into? At the moment I'm aiming for Germany but would be open to other options. I definitely want to apply to the Hertie School of Governance and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna - so any suggestions along those lines would be very helpful! Thanks.


Leiden University in Leiden and The Hague has an MA in International Relations (with specialisations in European Union or International Studies) that might be a good fit. :smile:

Quick Reply

Latest