Are you fascinated by international relations? Do you want to become a specialist in this field? Then this Master's degree is what you are looking for.
Within the one-year Master's degree in International Relations, you choose one of the following six Master's tracks:
The Master's degree programme International Relations is 60 ECTS. During your first semester, you take the module Advanced Theory and Research Practice in International Relations. This module must be followed by all students. In addition, you choose two Research Seminars and a specialization course (Capita) fitting with your track.
During your second semester, you will write a Master Thesis (in the field of your track) and you will choose between doing a Placement or professionalization electives.
If you choose the Placement option, you must find and apply for your Placement yourself, on the basis of your interests and skills. The Placement should last at least 7 weeks full-time. If you choose to do a Placement that takes longer than 7 weeks, it might be difficult to finish the programme within one year, and you will have to register for the extra months.
For examples of Research Seminar topics, please go to the Course Catalogue (link below). If you start the Master programme in September, you choose Research Seminars from semester I. If you start in February, you choose Research Seminars from semester II.
Because the programme starts in September as well as in February, all elements of the programme are offered both in the first and in the second semester. Please note: because the topics of the Research Seminars depend on the expertise of the lecturers, the list may be subject to change and differs each semester/year.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Advanced Theory and Research Practice in International Relations (5 EC) | ||||
| Capita (in your track) (5 EC) | ||||
| Research Seminar 1 (in your track) (10 EC) | ||||
| Research Seminar 2 (10 EC) | ||||
| Master's Thesis (in your track) (20 EC) | ||||
| Master's Placement (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Professionalization Electives (10 EC, optional) Example: - Career Seminar: Working in and on Governance - Project Proposal Writing | ||||
| Programme options |
|---|
| European Politics in a Global Perspective (track) What does the future hold for the European Union? Are its founding ideals of peace and prosperity strong enough to overcome public distrust about further integration? Find out in this track. |
| East Asian Studies (track) How have some East Asian countries achieved such economic growth and global prominence in so little time? What are the global implications of the rise of East Asia? Find out in this track. |
| International Political Economy (track) Why is it fascinating coming to grips with the globalizing world economy? Why did the crash of the housing market in the US lead to a global financial crisis? Find out in this track. |
| International Security (track) How do actors relate to each other and their environment in terms of threats and vulnerabilities? How can conflicts be prevented or solved? How is violence organized? Find out in this track. |
| Geopolitics & Connectivity (track) In this master's track, students are stimulated to think critically about geopolitics by combining cutting-edge theoretical developments in the study of power, space, and connectivity. |
| International Relations and International Organization (track) What are the dominant issues in international relations? What effect does globalization have on state autonomy? Why is European integration so important? Find out in this track. |
Studying abroad is only an option within the East Asian Studies track.
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| All Universities of applied sciences |
Via a pre-master More information:with a HBO Bachelor's degree certificate with an international profile and/or knowledge of social sciences, for example Political Sciences, American Studies, History, European/International Law or International Economics and an IRIO pre-master |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations and International Organization | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| European Languages and Cultures | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:If you started the BA programme in 2016 or later, with the profile Politics and Society OR with an IRIO faculty minor/ pre-master |
| American Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| Communication and Information Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| History | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| International Business | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Media Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| Minorities & Multilingualism | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| Middle Eastern Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| Psychology (NL) | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Psychology (EN) | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Sociology | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements Additional requirements:
with a specialization International Relations and International Law, and a number of required courses (see below) |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations and International Organization | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| American Studies | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Political Science | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| History (part-time) | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| International and European Law | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and International Organization from the University of Groningen or from another Dutch university, students with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen in European Languages and Cultures (Profile Politics & Society) who started in 2016 or later, and students with a BA in International Relations and International Law (IRIL) from University College Groningen (if they have completed the following set of courses: International Relations Theories (and Practice) (5 ECTS), International Politics (5 ECTS), Statistics 1 (5 ECTS), Two of the following three qualitative methods courses: Qualitative Data Collection & Analysis (5 ECTS); Interpretive Methods (5 ECTS); Advanced Argumentation and Critical Thinking (5 ECTS)) have direct access to this track through the IR Admissions Board. Please use this application guide for your specific application procedure: https://www.rug.nl/let/how-to-apply-MA Students with a University of Groningen Bachelor's degree in:
who have completed a Faculty Minor in International Relations will also be admitted to this Master's track on that basis. Students from a similar field (which is not mentioned above) or those with a different educational background, for example Political Sciences, American Studies, History, European/International Law or International Economics, must submit a request for admission to the Master's degree in International Relations to the Admissions Board. The Board may decide to decline the request due to an insufficiently internationally orientated Bachelor's degree, or to admit the applicant to (parts of the pre-)Master programme. Please use this application guide for your specific application procedure: https://www.rug.nl/let/how-to-apply-MA After you complete your application, the IR Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. The Admissions Board will then determine whether:
|
| language test |
Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. If you have a VWO diploma a language test is not required. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 January 2025 | 01 February 2025 |
| 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and International Organization from the University of Groningen or from another Dutch university, students with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen in European Languages and Cultures (Profile Politics & Society) who started in 2016 or later, and students with a BA in International Relations and International Law (IRIL) from University College Groningen (if they have completed the following set of courses: International Relations Theories (and Practice) (5 ECTS), International Politics (5 ECTS), Statistics 1 (5 ECTS), Two of the following three qualitative methods courses: Qualitative Data Collection & Analysis (5 ECTS); Interpretive Methods (5 ECTS); Advanced Argumentation and Critical Thinking (5 ECTS)) have direct access to this track through the IR Admissions Board. Please use this application guide for your specific application procedure: https://www.rug.nl/let/how-to-apply-MA Students with a University of Groningen Bachelor's degree in:
who have completed a Faculty Minor in International Relations will also be admitted to this Master's track on that basis. Students from a similar field (which is not mentioned above) or those with a different educational background, for example Political Sciences, American Studies, History, European/International Law or International Economics, must submit a request for admission to the Master's degree in International Relations to the Admissions Board. The Board may decide to decline the request due to an insufficiently internationally orientated Bachelor's degree, or to admit the applicant to (parts of the pre-)Master programme. Please use this application guide for your specific application procedure: https://www.rug.nl/let/how-to-apply-MA After you complete your application, the IR Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. The Admissions Board will then determine whether:
|
| language test |
Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. If you have a VWO diploma a language test is not required. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 January 2025 | 01 February 2025 |
| 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 2530 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 18700 | full-time |
| EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 2601 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 19200 | full-time |
Practical information for:
The Master programme in International Relations prepares its students for professions and research careers where knowledge of international-political developments and the ability to analyse and assess complex issues and to form grounded judgements are relevant.
Many graduates become policy advisors for national governments, NGOs, and international organisations in international politics. An increasing number of graduates also use their analytical skills to advise international businesses. Research, media and communication are also prospective fields of employment.
Alumni of the Master International Relations (all six tracks) work at:
Government:
Business:
NGO:
International Organisations:
Communication:
Lobby:
Research:
Alumni Network Mitrany| We would also like to direct you to the IR Alumni Network or a survey they conducted amongst IR alumni.
Research conducted within the Department of International Relations and International Organization takes mostly place within the context of one of the five specializations: Geopolitics and Connectivity, International Security, European Politics in a Global Perspective, International Political Economy and East Asian Studies.
For an impression of the research activities of the Department, please see the Centre for International Relations Research (CIRR) and the Centre for East Asian Studies Groningen (CEASG).
For more information about the IR department, please visit: Afdeling IBIO.
After finalizing her Master's in International Relations, UG alumna Elisa Ahovuori-Motta moved to Utrecht and now works as a Project Manager and Online Marketer at INTK. She talks about her work and how her studies and time at the University of Groningen contributed to her current position.
Are you interested in a research oriented career? Please also check our Research Master's Programme of International Relations.
Each Master's degree programme has a study advisor whom you can contact if you have questions or need advice about your degree programme and other study-related matters. Everything you discuss will be treated confidentially. If you have a more complex problem, for example study delay, a performance disability or if you are ill for a long time, you should contact a student counsellor.
In addition, you can also follow various courses at the Study Support section of the Student Service Centre (SSC), for example on study stress and holding presentations.
