Masters Before a PhD in International Relations?

[iamdanthemanstan]

I am interested in pursuing a PhD in international relations, but I haven't been able to figure out if most people who get a PhD in international relations get a Masters degree first. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

[rose1]

I've also been struggling with this. I'm currently applying to Masters programs, but I'm questioning how smart it is to go into so much debt when I could just enter a PhD program with full funding from the start. HOWEVER, It seems like the universities with good PhD programs and funding are different from the schools with top Masters programs. In fact, the Masters programs I'm applying to (Fletcher, SIPA, SFS, SAIS, etc) for the most part don't even allow you to apply for their PhD programs until the second year of your Masters. It really depends on what you want to do with that degree. Personally, I think it makes more sense for me to pursue a Masters, and worry about the PhD later.

[mlerette]

I'm a Fletcher MALD. Here is how I have been told it works by the PhD students. If you obtain an MA, you can apply that toward your PhD. At Fletcher that is the MALD plus 3 years. If you go straight to the PhD, it will take 5 years. You don't have to do the MA but it doesn't hurt.