International Relations

The International Relations programme combines theoretical knowledge with research, discussion and practical experience. You will study in small seminar groups of 15–20 students, where you are encouraged to engage critically with different perspectives, develop your own arguments and connect academic debates with contemporary international issues.

The programme introduces you to relational, decolonial, feminist and ethnographic approaches to International Relations, while courses in areas such as foreign policy, security, climate governance and resistance allow you to examine current global challenges from different perspectives. Alongside the core courses, electives give you the flexibility to develop your studies according to your interests.

The programme is closely connected to the Central and Eastern European Security Hub (CEEShub), bringing you closer to current research and debates on security, sovereignty and global justice.

This programme is right for you if you are:

• a graduate in International Relations, political science or a related field looking to go beyond mainstream Western approaches;
• a professional working in diplomacy, NGOs, international companies or policy seeking new analytical tools to understand global change;
• interested in critical approaches to International Relations, including critical security studies, relational and posthumanist approaches, feminist or decolonial IR, political anthropology and planetary governance;
• considering doctoral studies or a research career in International Relations or related fields;
• interested in how climate crisis, inequality, digitalisation and geopolitical competition shape people’s lives and how these developments are interconnected;
• a working professional looking to combine work and studies, with classes taking place in the evenings from 16:30 to 20:00.

At the core of the programme are:

• International relations and global politics
• Peace, conflict and security
• Climate politics and governance
• Critical and relational approaches
• Decolonial and feminist perspectives
• Research methods and academic practice

Some of the courses include:

• Academic Writing and Research Design
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Climate Politics and Governance
• Cyber Security and the Digital World
• Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
• Politics and Power of Resistance
• Small States in the Changing World Order

Alongside the compulsory courses, electives allow you to explore different areas of International Relations in greater depth and shape your studies according to your academic and professional interests.

Explore the study programme

Put your knowledge into practice

The programme connects academic knowledge with real-world international challenges. Through research, seminar discussions and practical assignments, you will learn to analyse complex global issues, develop evidence-based arguments and apply different perspectives to contemporary international relations.

Internship opportunities

Traineeship is a compulsory part of the programme, giving you the opportunity to connect your academic knowledge with professional practice and develop skills relevant to working in the field of international relations.

Erasmus+ and exchange opportunities

As a Tallinn University student, you can take advantage of opportunities to study abroad and gain international experience through exchange studies. More about the exchange possibilities.

Finishing your studies

At the end of your studies, you will complete and defend a Master’s thesis in International Relations. The thesis gives you the opportunity to investigate a relevant research problem in depth, work with empirical material and demonstrate your ability to conduct independent research.

Career Opportunities

International Relations prepares you to work with complex global and political issues across public, international and non-governmental sectors. Graduates can pursue careers in:

• Diplomacy and foreign affairs

• International organisations

• Government and European governance

• Policy analysis and policymaking

• NGOs and civil society

• Research and academia

• Expert and advisory roles

After your Master’s Studies, you will also have the opportunity to continue on an academic pathway to PhD studies in International Relations or related fields.

Explore the PhD studies

Meet our Alumni

Meet our teaching staff

Meet the full teaching staff

Admission

General requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Proof of English Proficiency
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Please see the complete overview of admission and application requirements for Master's level applicants.

Admission exam

1. Exam procedure:

• The admission exam consists entirely of an interview. Maximum points for the interview are 100. The minimum admissions score is 70 points;
• the interview will be 20 minutes long and centres on the CV (incl. educational background, work experience, other relevant experience, i.e. any internships, part-time jobs, volunteering, or leadership roles that relate to the study programme), motivation of the applicant and study programme related articles/topics that serve as an input for the exam;
• the admission committee consists of at least two members;
• the interview begins with the identification. At the beginning of the interview the candidate shows their ID and for the purposes of identity verification, the admission committee has the right to record the online interview;
• there is an expectation that the candidate is able to express themselves at least at English level B2 (language proficiency).

2. Evaluation criteria of the interview:

• The candidate’s interest in the programme and motivation to study in the field applying common study methods in social sciences; 
• capacity to understand the key arguments of the interview input (e.g. article) and provide their viewpoints into the discussion; 
• general background and field-related knowledge, language proficiency and the ability to engage in analytical discussions; 
• capacity to contextualise previous work, study and voluntary activity experience in the frames of the chosen programme.

Preparing for the interview:

For the interview, please choose one article from the two suggestions below. Make sure that you come to the interview ready to discuss your chosen article. You will need to:

• explain the choice of the article
• be able to discuss the key arguments of the article and provide your own viewpoints
• and explain how the article’s key arguments matter in the context of world politics and the discipline of International Relations:

1. Somdeep Sen (2024) How can so many in the West so easily ignore genocide?
2. Olivier De Schutter, Joseph Stiglitz, Jayati Ghosh, Thomas Piketty, Kate Raworth and Jason Hickel (2026) We economists have done the maths: ‘growth’ is a doomed strategy – there is a better way

3. Grading scales

Scholarships

Tuition fee discounts 2027/2028 Academic Year

SOGOLAS awards a total of two 100% tuition fee discounts across all six English-medium degree programmes combined. In the first academic year, the discount is awarded to the top two students in the admission ranking based on the entrance exam results. 

In the second and third academic years, only full-time students may apply for the discount, and the ranking is based on their weighted grade point average. To receive the discount, a student must not be on academic leave during the semester in which the discount is awarded.

To qualify for the tuition fee discount, the candidate must have submitted their application by February 1st.

Read the tuition fee discount principles and procedure for the 2027/2028 academic year

Move to Tallinn

Studying in Tallinn, means studying at a compact European capital where education, technology and digital innovation meet. As an international student, you can benefit from Tallinn University's support and access practical information to help you settle into life in Estonia from the basics of accommodation to the details about working while studying and of course where to find the student support services. 

Find information about:

• Accommodation
• VISA information
• Healthcare and insurance
• Cost of living
• Public transport
• Working while studying
• Peer support and student buddies
• Student Support Centre

Explore more practical topics that might come up as you relocate.

Contacts

Leen Press
Study Counsellor and Specialist

For additional guidelines regarding the admission procedure, please contact the international admission specialist: