Master in International Relations
Madrid, Spain
DURATION
10 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
EUR 33,000 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* rolling admissions process
** to become an IE University student, all IE Community members should make a one-off contribution to the IE Foundation; this is a single payment of €1,200 to be made during the enrollment process
Introduction
The Master in International Relations trains professionals in the complex dynamics that shape global affairs, providing them with the ideas and tools required to effectively lead government agencies, corporations, civil society, and multilateral organizations in a fast-changing environment.
The Master in International Relations has been carefully curated to respond to the needs of the international job market while adapting to your career aspirations.
The program achieves this by giving you the skills you need to forge a successful career within an experiential learning journey that’s academically outstanding, hands-on, immersive, and customizable. You’ll have the opportunity to focus on what interests you most, selecting a specialization between three core tracks: Geopolitics and Diplomacy; International Economics and Business; and Global Governance and International Cooperation.
Top 10 reasons to join IE University's Master in International Relations
01. A highly customizable program curated to your interests
Choose from three elective tracks to customize your program and focus your skills and knowledge on what interests you most.
02. Experience the reality of international relations with the OECD
Gain insights from OECD practitioners working on establishing international norms and finding evidence-based solutions to a range of social, economic, and environmental challenges.
03. Study at a center that is fully accredited by global organizations
Apart from being a full member of the Association for Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), IE University is also a member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
04. Learn from experienced professors & top practitioners
Receive insights from leading experts, high-level politicians, diplomats, and business professionals.
05. Grow within a highly diverse student body
More than 50 nationalities are represented in the Master in International Relations cohort, and there are over 100 nationalities on campus every year.
06. Become a leader in sustainable development
Gain the skills to become an in-demand professional capable of driving social change.
07. Participate in a fieldwork visit to Brussels
Meet experts from European Union institutions and international organizations during a one-week trip to Brussels included as part of the program experience.
08. Complete an exchange at one of our renowned partner universities around the globe
As a student in the Master in International Relations, you’ll have the option to do an exchange term. Among your options are Sciences Po (France), the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), the University of Pittsburgh (US), and many more.
09. Join IE University's global alumni community
More than 70,000 high-level professionals around the world have already graduated from IE University and stay connected through our Alumni Association.
10. Experience the bustling city of Madrid
Madrid is a cosmopolitan bridge between Europe and Latin America, where you can learn the third most-spoken language in the world.
Ideal Students
This program is for you if...
You have a passion to make a difference on a global scale
by addressing the complex challenges facing our societies today.
You want a successful career but want it to mean something
because you’re as interested in positive outcomes for others as you are in yourself.
You want transversal skills that are in demand in any industry
and can open doors to world-leading employers in the sector of your choosing.
You thrive on diversity
and want to challenge your own preconceptions, worldview, and cultural understanding.
You value soft skills as well as business fundamentals
to become a strategic communicator, outstanding negotiator, and efficient leader.
Curriculum
The Master in International Relations is designed to fit each student’s individual preferred area of study. Built around four core areas—Management and Analytical Skills, Geopolitics and Diplomacy, International Economics and Business, and Global Governance and International Cooperation—the program allows you to specialize in one area as well as one geographical region.
Focus on the region that most interests you
The Master in International Relations allows you to personalize your program content even further, giving you a deeper understanding of a particular region. In addition to the opportunity to customize your program with one of three specialization tracks, you’ll explore your chosen region’s culture, history, and role in international relations. Choose from: China and East Asia; Europe and North America; Africa; the Middle East and North Africa; or Latin America.
*Providing an enriching learning environment is one of our priorities. With this in mind, if only a small number of students choose a specific region, that region will not run that academic year.
The core courses are divided into four areas: Management and Analytical Skills; Geopolitics and Diplomacy; International Economics and Business; and Global Governance and International Cooperation. The latter three are also the three options for your area of specialization, which you will choose towards the end of your degree.
You’ll also complete a final project in the program: either a master’s thesis or a Capstone Consulting Project. The program is complemented by a week-long fieldwork visit to Brussels and an optional international exchange semester at one of our prestigious partner universities.
Pre-program
The pre-program is a mandatory introductory period unless you pass an exam beforehand. During this module, you will explore key themes on the dynamics of global affairs, including economics, quantitative skills and statistics and the broad foundations of international studies.
1st Term
Core
- The courses in the first term include:
- Probability and Statistics
- International Relations Theory and Strategy
- Contemporary Challenges and Global Ethics
- Public Policy Design
- Technology, Innovation, and International Affairs
- Analysis of the International Economy
- Career Success
2nd Term
Core
- Courses in this second term include:
- Data Analytics for Decision-Making
- Project Management and Impact Assessment (PMIA)
- International Law and International Organizations (ILIO)
- International Business and Global Markets
Regional Specialization Part I
You will be able to choose the region that most interests you from among the following: China and East Asia; Europe and North America; Africa; the Middle East and North Africa; or Latin America.
- History, Culture, and Society in the Respective Region
3rd Term
Core
Courses in the third term include:
- Geopolitics and Risk Analysis
Regional Specialization Part II
- Comparative Politics in a Specific Region
The Master in International Relations also provides you with invaluable, experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom. Partnering with world-leading institutions such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the program allows you to gain first-hand insights into the cutting edge of international relations.
In addition to the OECD, our global collaborative partners include the OAS, the EU, and private multinational enterprises. You also have the option to complete a semester abroad at one of our partner universities around the globe, after your third and final semester in Madrid.
In your final project, you’ll choose between completing an individual, research-based thesis, or undertaking a real consultancy project (Capstone Project) at an institution or think tank as part of a group. Whichever you choose, your final project will relate to the specialized track you have followed throughout the program. You’ll be given a range of options to choose from, and Capstone Project partners include world leaders in the field such as Google, NATO, the IDB, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme.
Career Opportunities
Our Master in International Relations alumni have landed positions that are just as multidisciplinary and varied as they are. The program provides a 360-degree learning experience, combining fundamental skills and knowledge necessary in any industry with specialized tracks that will enable you to pursue a specific career path.
The transversal nature and high quality of the Master in International Relations are reflected in the wide range of sectors our alumni have ended up working in.
With a Master's in International Relations, you could choose to work in the:
- Public and institutional sector
- Public affairs and lobbying firms
- Intergovernmental organizations
- NGOs and foundations
- ESG and Sustainability departments in corporations
- Think Tanks
This degree also opens the doors to work in other fields such as consumer goods, consulting, technology, financial services, and transportation and logistics.
Opportunities for international relations students after graduation
Besides the range in industry and organization you could end up in with your Master in International Relations, there’s also a wide scope of role types you could fill upon graduation, including but not limited to:
- Consultant
- Diplomat
- Lobbyist
- Researcher
- Human Rights Advocate
- Educator
- Political Analysis
- Political Party Official
- Civil Servant
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
We offer customized, merit-based aid and loan programs.
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Gallery
Program Tuition Fee
Program delivery
The Madrid-based program is complemented by a week-long fieldwork visit to Brussels, where students are able to learn from key regional and global players such as the EU and NATO, and includes an opportunity to visit the OECD headquarters in Paris. During the second and third terms, students will complete either a final research thesis or a consultancy project. This will enable them to apply the knowledge acquired throughout the program to a professional environment, working hand in hand with one of IE University’s prestigious partners, such as OECD, NATO, or Club de Madrid.