Master in International Relations

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.

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.

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

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.