Masters Programs Decision

[V.uz]

Hello to whoever is reading this! 

I have a bachelors in International Relations and I want to get a masters and I'm having trouble making a decision on the program I should go for.

I want to get a masters in international law and foreign trade, I'm also looking at International business law, but the area that has caught my attention the most is International Relations and artificial intelligence (merging both fields together). 

International relations, diplomacy and artificial intelligence sounds really exciting to me. However, after getting a masters in this, how relevant would it be? What are my opportunities in this field? I've done my research but I need advice from anyone who's currently in this field.

Thank you!! 

 

[JPYSD]

Hello!

For a longer and more helpful answer, I would need to know your background and the universities you are applying to, but I try it still:

These days, master programs all around the world just throw around fancy names of degrees to win over international students to collect high fees. The name of the master degree only really counts if is either from a prestigious university or if you are a really good networker and can make the specific degree name sell in professional environments. What, however, does count is the broader discipline the master relates to and here my advice: Don't do a legal master if you don't have a legal background already or want to fully transition into a lawyer-career (usually a master is not enough for that). Stay in your discipline and specialize. You can absolutely do this with most IR master programs and still focus on international law aspects or trade. The sudden law background will just sound confusing to IR-focused employers and irrelevant to legal ones.

Happy to help more if you can tell me the specific programs and places you would want to start a career in 🙂

[V.uz]

On 11/17/2024 at 11:27 AM, JPYSD said:

Hello!

For a longer and more helpful answer, I would need to know your background and the universities you are applying to, but I try it still:

These days, master programs all around the world just throw around fancy names of degrees to win over international students to collect high fees. The name of the master degree only really counts if is either from a prestigious university or if you are a really good networker and can make the specific degree name sell in professional environments. What, however, does count is the broader discipline the master relates to and here my advice: Don't do a legal master if you don't have a legal background already or want to fully transition into a lawyer-career (usually a master is not enough for that). Stay in your discipline and specialize. You can absolutely do this with most IR master programs and still focus on international law aspects or trade. The sudden law background will just sound confusing to IR-focused employers and irrelevant to legal ones.

Happy to help more if you can tell me the specific programs and places you would want to start a career in 🙂

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I only realized this morning that you had responded to me.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Caleb University, Lagos,Nigeria, where I graduated with a 4.19 GPA. In my undergraduate program, much of the focus was on the theoretical aspects of international relations, and I didn’t get to engage with the practical side as much as I would have liked. That’s one of the key reasons I want to study abroad; to gain a more hands-on perspective and expand my expertise.

The programs I’m currently considering for my masters are:

1. Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy at Leiden University, Netherlands.

2. Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, USA.

3. Master of Arts in International Relations at Johns Hopkins University, USA.

4. Master of Arts in Strategy, Cyber Security, and Intelligence at Johns Hopkins University, USA.

5. Master of Studies in International Relations at the University of Cambridge, UK.

For places I would want to start a career in, I do not have specific places yet but I have roles I think would be a good fit, some of which are roles in policy analysis, research analysis (think tanks). That's all I have for now as I am still making more research on opportunities I can key take advantage of. 

I’d be grateful for your advice on places and positions where I could start a career with a Masters in International Relations.

Once again, thank you so much! 

 

 

[JPYSD]

Thank you for your clarification!

If you aspire to work in policy circles and think tanks and not solely in academia, the master programs at the Fletcher School and at Johns Hopkins are all good. Cambridge and Leiden are mostly research-based or academia-heavy and would make an entry into policy circles a bit more difficult, as they are mostly geared towards PhD programs (Leiden maybe to a lesser extend, but Oxbridge certainly). 

The policy programs, however, usually require you to already have some work experience before you enter them. This does not have to be full time or directly relevant, but going into those right after your bachelor's degree might be a bit difficult. Also keep in mind where you want to enter the job market after the master degree. The US programs are very US-focused (and a job entry there naturally difficult as a non-American), if you rather want to work in Europe or Asia, places like LSE, Sciences Po, Hertie or IHEID might be interesting.

[V.uz]

7 hours ago, JPYSD said:

Thank you for your clarification!

If you aspire to work in policy circles and think tanks and not solely in academia, the master programs at the Fletcher School and at Johns Hopkins are all good. Cambridge and Leiden are mostly research-based or academia-heavy and would make an entry into policy circles a bit more difficult, as they are mostly geared towards PhD programs (Leiden maybe to a lesser extend, but Oxbridge certainly). 

The policy programs, however, usually require you to already have some work experience before you enter them. This does not have to be full time or directly relevant, but going into those right after your bachelor's degree might be a bit difficult. Also keep in mind where you want to enter the job market after the master degree. The US programs are very US-focused (and a job entry there naturally difficult as a non-American), if you rather want to work in Europe or Asia, places like LSE, Sciences Po, Hertie or IHEID might be interesting.

Working in academia is also a path I would like to research further because I do find it interesting. 

Thank you for the clarification on which programs would help me better achieve my goals. I have been seeking internship opportunities here in organisations to get better experience, but in my country, those opportunities are not necessarily widespread. Well, since I recently concluded my bachelors, I've decided to give myself more time to seek these opportunities. 

Yes, I also gave a thought to the job entry prospects in the US for non-Americans, and I agree, it is quite difficult.

I will look into these institutions you mentioned and their programs, thank you for your time!