How to study International Relations: Related UG courses and route to PG courses

If you take an interest in international affairs and want to know how countries interact with each other on political and economic issues, then International relations just might be the right career path for you. International Relations (IR) is an academic discipline that studies political events and developments around the globe. Political theories play an important role in the development of IR, which also encompasses subjects like History, Economics and Sociology.

How to study International Relations

• You need to clear your Class XII board exams from any stream with English as a subject.
• You need to pursue a BA course in Political Science.
• You need to go for an MA degree in IR or Political Science with a specialisation in IR.
• You can pursue an MPhil or PhD in IR after your master’s course.

Some top institutes that offer International Relations courses:

Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Course: BA in Political Science.

• Admission: Merit-based.

• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams.

Course: MA in Political Science with specialisation in International Relations.

• Admission: Merit-based.

• Eligibility: BA in Political Science with at least 60% aggregate.

You can check more here.

Ashoka University, Haryana

Course: BA (Hons) in History and International Relations.

• Admission: You need to write the Ashoka Aptitude Assessment Test and an essay.

• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams.

You can check more here.

Institute of Language Studies and Applied Social Sciences, Gujarat

Course: BA in Politics and International Relations.

• Admission: Merit-based.

• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams.

You can check more here.

Jindal School of International Affairs, Haryana

Course: BA in Global Affairs.

• Admission: You need to write the Jindal Admission Test (JAT).

• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams.

You can check more here.

Jawaharlal Nehru University- School of International Studies, Delhi

Course: MA in Political Science with specialisation in International Studies.

• Admission: You need to clear the Depends on the score of the JNU Entrance Examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

• Eligibility: You need a Political Science undergraduate degree with at least 50% marks in your BA (Hons) to appear for the entrance test.

You can check more here.

South Asian University, Delhi

Course: MA in International Relations.

• Admission: You need to clear the entrance examination conducted by the university followed by a personal interview.

• Eligibility: You need a Political Science undergraduate degree with at least 50% marks.

You can check more here.

Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi

Course: MA in Politics (International & Area Studies).

• Admission: You need to clear the university’s entrance exam and perform well in the subsequent interview.

• Eligibility: You need a Political Science undergraduate degree with at least 55% marks.

You check out more here.

Christ University, Bangalore

Course: MA in International Studies.

• Admission: You have to appear for the Skill Assessment Test followed by a personal interview.
• Eligibility: You need at least 50% marks in your Political Science undergraduate degree.

You can check more here.

Pandit Deendayal Energy University - School of Liberal Studies, Gujarat

Course: MA in Political Science & International Relations.

• Admission: Merit-based.

• Eligibility: You need to complete your Political Science undergraduate degree with 50% aggregate.

You can check more here.

Things you can do after getting a degree in International Relations:

Diplomat: A diplomat represents his/her own country and negotiates local governmental issues concerning international issues.

Political analyst: They are hired by governments, political parties and strategists to analyse public policies, campaign strategies, political climate and foreign policies.

Intelligence specialist: They gather information and execute undercover missions on foreign soil.

International lawyer: They deal with international trade law, finance and banking as well as mediate international disputes.

Civil servant (foreign service): Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers deal with the external affairs of their country, focusing on the aspects of diplomacy, trade and cultural relations.

IR specialists: You can work with international organisations like UN agencies and WHO. Some of them also work for international NGOs.