While there are many excellent schools for students interested in international relations, these universities are strong options to consider. Each school offers a different approach to the field, from international relations and global affairs to public policy, journalism, and political science. Let’s take a look at the top international relations schools in the world!
Top International Relations Schools in the World
1. Harvard University
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University is one of the best universities in the world for students interested in international relations. Harvard’s international relations offerings include a Bachelor of Liberal Arts through the Division of Continuing Education and a Master of Liberal Arts in International Relations through Harvard Extension School.
The International Relations Master’s Degree Program explores foreign affairs and global issues, including international politics, economics, law, human rights, international security, armed conflict, comparative politics, and world religions. The program consists of 12 courses, and students may pursue either a thesis or capstone track.
2. Sciences Po
At Sciences Po, students can pursue the Joint Master in Journalism and International Affairs, a two-year, English-taught program worth at least 120 ECTS. This four-semester graduate program leads to a Sciences Po Master’s degree in Journalism and International Affairs.
This Joint Master is offered by the Sciences Po Journalism School and the Paris School of International Affairs. It is designed for students interested in both journalism and international affairs, and career openings include digital journalism, print press, TV, radio, public relations, and press offices of NGOs, governments, and international organizations.
3. University of Oxford
Students interested in international relations at the University of Oxford can consider graduate programs through the Department of Politics and International Relations. Oxford offers an MPhil in International Relations and a DPhil in International Relations.
The MPhil in International Relations is a full-time, 21-month course that provides training in international relations theory, the recent history of world politics, and research methods, culminating in a thesis. The DPhil in International Relations is a doctoral research program with an expected length of three to four years full-time or six to eight years part-time.
4. Princeton University
At Princeton University, students can study international relations through the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Its two-year, full-time residential Master in Public Affairs includes Field I: International Relations, which emphasizes the nature of the international system and how states conduct foreign policy in a world where nonstate actors are increasingly influential.
Princeton also offers formal joint degree options for MPA students, including an MPA/J.D. and an MPA/MBA. These programs require separate admission to both programs and allow students to combine public and international affairs with law or management.
5. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge offers the Master of Studies in International Relations through the Department of Politics and International Studies. The MSt is a two-year, part-time route to a Cambridge Master’s degree and is designed for students who want to pursue postgraduate study while continuing their careers.
The program is especially suited to professionals and recent graduates interested in global politics, international history, international law, the environment, and economic affairs. Students come from fields such as international organizations, NGOs, teaching, companies, the civil service, the armed forces, finance, law, and business.
6. Australian National University
The Australian National University is one of Australia’s strongest universities for politics and international studies. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, ANU ranked 14th globally for Politics & International Studies and first in Australia for that subject.
ANU offers a Bachelor of International Relations, which typically takes three years full-time and requires 144 units of study. The university also offers a Master of International Relations, a 96-unit program that can be completed full-time in two years or part-time over a longer period, although international students must study full-time.
7. Yale University
Yale University offers several pathways for students interested in international relations, global affairs, and political science. The Jackson School of Global Affairs offers a Master in Public Policy in Global Affairs, and Yale undergraduates can study global affairs through the Global Affairs major.
Students interested in political science research can also pursue Yale’s Ph.D. in Political Science. Yale’s Department of Political Science offers training in International Relations as one of its substantive subfields, but it does not offer a stand-alone M.A. in Political Science.
We hope that this article on the best universities for international relations in the world was helpful. To learn more about studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
