Top Masters Programs in International Relations and Affairs

There are 62 schools offering graduate degrees in International Relations and Affairs. Johns Hopkins University had highest number of international students receiving a Master's degree. Johns Hopkins University had the most women graduates in this program.

Princeton University logo
Ranked as:  #1 in Best National University
Tuition:  $56,470 per year
Total Cost:  $112,940 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  New Jersey
Acceptance:  5.63%

The Princeton University Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program is a two-year, full-time residential program that offers rigorous preparation and interdisciplinary training for careers in both domestic and foreign public policy. With the necessary knowledge and abilities, graduates can tackle some of the most pressing policy problems in the world.

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Master in Public Affairs (MPA)

  • GRE Required:  Yes
  • Research Assistantships:  733
  • Teaching Assistantships:  655
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Johns Hopkins University logo
Ranked as:  #7 in Best National University
Tuition:  $59,425 per year
Total Cost:  $118,850 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  Maryland
Acceptance:  11.06%

Through this two-year, research-focused degree, you will have the flexibility to personalize your curriculum and focus on the contemporary issues in international affairs of the greatest importance to you and your career interests. You may pursue both years at SAIS Europe or spend one of the two years at an international university that is one of our cooperative degree partners.

Deepen your knowledge of international affairs and acquire the skills to address complex global challenges. With Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East as your extended neighborhood, you will gain valuable experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

You will learn under the American system of graduate education and can select courses based on your academic interests.

Whether you are interested in building your expertise in economics, on a specific region of the world, or on a specific international affairs issue, you can tailor your studies and select courses from the approximately 35 options taught at SAIS Europe each semester. If you are writing a thesis, you will participate in the thesis research design workshops in addition to your classes.

In the spring term of your first year (for two-year MAIA), continue to develop expertise in your areas of interest by selecting 4 courses. If you are in your second year (or a one-year cooperative program) this semester you will complete your final academic courses and participate in the academic writing sessions. Thesis writers take two courses and focus on their thesis, while the others take two additional courses, one of which includes a substantial research paper.

The authors mention previous EU membership promises to the countries of the Western Balkans, however, note that there may be a difference when security of the EU is in question.

Our graduates are valued in the global marketplace and known for their ability to address multifaceted challenges across all sectors around the world.

The MAIA combines international relations, regional studies, international economics, and language studies with an academic writing focus and gives complete flexibility to self-design the curriculum based on the wide variety of courses available. Spend two years at SAIS Europe or join one of the cooperative programs with leading international universities around the world and spend one year at each institution.

Hear groundbreaking research from leading scholars and practitioners at our weekly seminars. Recent sessions have explored topics including the dynamics of commodity economies, push and pull factors in international migration, and Canadian climate policy in a warming world.

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Master of Arts in International Affairs

  • GRE Required:  Yes
  • Research Assistantships:  2378
  • Teaching Assistantships:  304
  • Financial Aid: Register to view the details
Dartmouth College logo
Ranked as:  #12 in Best National University
Tuition:  $58,120 per year
Total Cost:  $116,240 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  New Hampshire
Acceptance:  9.22%

The African and African American Studies Program offers two Foreign Study Programs (FSPs), open to all students enrolled at the College who satisfy the attendant prerequisites.

The Afro Black Paris Foreign Study Program is offered biennially in the Summer term in Paris.

Application forms for all FSPs are available through Off Campus Programs.

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African and African American Studies Department

  • GRE Required:  Yes
  • Research Assistantships:  273
  • Teaching Assistantships:  345
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413 universities offer the Master's program in International Relations and Affairs.

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Brown University logo
Ranked as:  #13 in Best National University
Tuition:  $60,363 per year
Total Cost:  $120,726 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  Rhode Island
Acceptance:  7.67%

The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) is a rigorous, one-year program that prepares students to be public policy leaders, analysts and advocates in government, politics, and the nonprofit and private sectors, both in the U.S. and abroad.

The Watson Institute Graduate Program in Development (GPD) supports training and research for Ph.D. candidates. The GPD seeks to promote social science research on processes of social, political and economic transformation in the developing world with a special focus on the problem of inequality.

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Graduate Programs

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logo
Ranked as:  #15 in Best National University
Tuition:  $56,562 per year
Total Cost:  $113,124 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  Missouri
Acceptance:  16.02%

The Master of International Affairs (MIA) program equips students with the comprehensive knowledge, practical skills, and real-world experience they need to address the most pressing global issues. The curriculum combines intensive experiential learning with the highest academic alternatives provided by Columbia University, including capstone workshop projects with international organisations.

Students have the opportunity to focus their study on particular areas, including global politics, global economics, development, international security and conflict, international business, human rights, gender issues, the environment and sustainability, and regionally significant concerns.

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Master of Arts in International Affairs

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Columbia University in the City of New York logo
Ranked as:  #18 in Best National University
Tuition:  $51,194 per year
Total Cost:  $102,388 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  New York
Acceptance:  6.66%

The Master of International Affairs (MIA) program provides students with the in-depth knowledge, useful skills, and practical experience they need to tackle the major international affairs concerns. The curriculum incorporates the top-tier academic options offered by Columbia University with intensive experiential learning, including capstone workshop projects with international organisations.

A flexible core curriculum is followed by the students, who take a variety of courses in political economy and world politics. Additionally, there is a wide variety of majors available to students, including international security policy, international finance and economic policy, economic and political development, human rights and humanitarian policy, energy and environment, and urban and social policy.

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Master of International Affairs

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Emory University logo
Ranked as:  #22 in Best National University
Tuition:  $44,676 per year
Total Cost:  $89,352 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  Georgia
Acceptance:  19.17%

International Applicants (including those residing in the U.S.).

This deadline date is the latest that we will accept applications. However, it is strongly recommended that international students residing in and outside the United States submit their applications as early as possible.

Have scores sent to Georgia Institute of Technology, Graduate .

Determine if you will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. For example, if you are an in-state resident and planning to take six credits for the Master of Architecture degree, the tuition cost will be $4,518.

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logo
Ranked as:  #25 in Best National University
Tuition:  $48,715 per year
Total Cost:  $97,430 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  California
Acceptance:  16.11%

The University of Southern California provides a graduate program in international relations (MA). The faculty members who specialise in fields relating to the interests of the students are encouraged to consult with them. Before enrolling in classes for the following semester, students should consult with the faculty adviser at their school.

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International Relations (MA)

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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo
Ranked as:  #25 in Best National University
Tuition:  $49,548 per year
Total Cost:  $99,096 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  Michigan
Acceptance:  26.11%

Robert Axelrod is the William D. Ford School of Public Policy and Political Science.

With Bob Stern, he developed the Michigan Model of World Production and Trade, which has been used to estimate the effects of trade agreements. He is also doing theoretical work in international trade and trade policy. He has served as a consultant to the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Labor, State, and Treasury and to international organizations including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank.

Waltz specializes in human rights and international affairs, with a focus on arms transfer policy and regional expertise on North Africa.

Weiser International Policymaker in Residence, Weiser Diplomacy Center.

Biegun is the Weiser International Policymaker in Residence with the Weiser Diplomacy Center at the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

Joining the Foreign Service in 2002, Fintor, a UM alumni and Detroit native, served as U.S. Embassy spokesperson in the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe.

He consults, teaches courses and conducts simulations relating to diplomacy and U.S.-Asia relations.

Henry has written and published on the political economy of social voice, memory, trauma, identity, peace processes, Truth Commissions, international transitional justice and international humanitarian law.

James Allen is a PhD candidate in Public Policy Economics at the University of Michigan with interests in development economics in Sub-Saharan Africa relating to education, health, and natural disasters.

Billy Huang is a joint doctoral student in economics and public policy at the University of Michigan.

Eitan Paul is a joint PhD candidate in Public Policy and Political Science.

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Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy - International policy and diplomacy

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New York University logo
Ranked as:  #25 in Best National University
Tuition:  $36,892 per year
Total Cost:  $73,784 * This tuition data is based on IPEDS. For the latest tuition amount, refer to the respective college websites.
State:  New York
Acceptance:  21.09%

The MS in Global Affairs affords student from all walks of life the chance to pursue their passion for international affairs alongside those who also share the same desire to change the world. In order to be a well-rounded professional in the global marketplace, one needs to have a global perspective and contextual understanding of international events, which the program offers.

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MS in Global Affairs

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What kind of scholarships are available for Graduate Programs in International Relations and Affairs?

We have 13 scholarships awarding up to $141,000 for Masters program in for International Relations and Affairs, targeting diverse candidates and not restricted to state or school-based programs.

Scholarship nameAmountCredibility
Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowships$30,000High
APF Wayne F. Placek Grants$9,000High
Intercollegiate Studies Institute Graduate Fellowships$5,000High
Native American Scholarships Fund$4,000High
Don Lavoie Fellowship$1,250High

Find scholarships and financial aid for International Relations and Affairs graduate programs

$500 $20000

Are there any one year masters programs in International Relations and Affairs?

A full-time Master’s program is usually a 2-year program, but there are accredited and Nationally ranked universities that offer 1-year and 18-month Master’s programs. An 18-month program can be completed in one year because if you are able to complete the credit requirements, you can get the degree in 1 year.

13 Universities offer On-campus Masters's Program within One Year - 18 months. The tuition for a Master's can range from $17,784 to $56,470.

On-campus Masters 1 year - 18 months in International Relations and Affairs

What is the GRE score required for admission to Master's degree in International Relations and Affairs?

Gre score requirements differ from school to school. Most colleges do not publish the cutoff scores. For example 398 universities offer Master's programs in International Relations and Affairs.

Harvard University: GRE scores are not required.

George Washington University: Not required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Gre score requirements for Master's program in International Relations and Affairs

How much does it cost to get a Master's in International Relations and Affairs and how to find the most affordable Masters program?

Master's degree in International Relations and Affairs is offered by 398 US universities. The tuition for the Master's degree can range from $11,086 per year at Northern Illinois University to $59,425 at Johns Hopkins University.

The tuition at public universities will be lower for in-state students when compared to private universities but you get more financial aid at private universities.

Most affordable Master's program in International Relations and Affairs

Which are the accredited universities that offer phd/doctoral programs offered in International Relations and Affairs?

18 universities offer graduate PHD program in International Relations and Affairs

Best International Relations and Affairs graduate PHD programs

Are there universities offering online Master's in International Relations and Affairs?

Online Master's degree in International Relations and Affairs is offered by 16 US universities. The tuition for the Master's degree can range from $10,800 per year at Schiller International University to $41,340 at Harvard University.

Online Master's in International Relations and Affairs

Are there colleges for the International Relations and Affairs Masters program that do not require GRE/GMAT?

Quite a few accredited universities have waived off the GRE score requirements for admissions to Masters programs. 398 offer Graduate programs in International Relations and Affairs. Below are listed 8 universities that do not require GRE/GMAT for admission to Master's program. For viewing the all the schools that have waived off GRE/GMAT for the admission, use Match Me Masters.

No GRE schools for Masters in International Relations and Affairs

Is it worth getting a master's degree in International Relations and Affairs?

Before you invest 2-3 years of your life and anywhere between $40,000 - $110,00 of your hard earned money, students do ask as to what is the return on investment on the Master's degree. Here are some of the statistics from bls.gov.

Career Outlook

Employment of political scientists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 700 openings for political scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

The median annual wage for political scientists was $125,350 in May 2020. Number of Jobs in 2020 was 7,000.

Employers prefer the candidate with a Master's degree.

Career Opportunities with master's degree in International Relations and Affairs


Job Title 2020 median Pay Number of Jobs Job Outlook What they do
Political Scientists $125,350 7,000 Employment of political scientists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 700 openings for political scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary $80,560 1,276,900 Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. About 139,600 openings for postsecondary teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.

How can I compare the International Relations and Affairs Graduate Programs?

Compare the GRE score requirements, admission details, credit requirements and tuition for the Master's Program, from 413 universities offering Graduate School Programs in International Relations and Affairs. Compare Graduate School Programs in International Relations and Affairs

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