MAInternational Relations
| Study location | Hungary, Budapest |
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| Type | Master, full degree studies |
| Nominal duration | 4 semesters (120 ECTS) |
| Study language | English |
| Awards | MA |
| Course code | Social Science |
| Entry qualification | Bachelor diploma (or higher) Applicants must have a BA/BBA degree in any of the following fields: International Relations, Social Sciences, Humanities, Economics, Law. If the BA degree does not meet all the necessary requirements, the applicant may be required to complete additional credits in the relevant fields during their first year of study to fulfil these requirements upon acceptance. Documents to submit with application:
The entry qualification documents are accepted in English. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. You must take the original entry qualification documents along with you when you finally go to the university. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. You must take the original entry qualification documents along with you when you finally go to the university. |
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| Language requirements | English Certification of English knowledge (both written and oral): B2 • IELTS Score: 5.5 If the applicant is unable to prove their knowledge of English with any of the above certifications, their English knowledge will be assessed during the admission interview. Any letter of acceptance issued by the Faculty of Social Sciences is based on the verified fact that the applicant’s command of English has been assessed; therefore, they are considered eligible to pursue their studies at the institution. If the applicant can prove that they completed their former education entirely in English by submitting a notarized attestation and a detailed academic transcript, no proof of language knowledge will be required throughout the admission process. |
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| Other requirements | At least 2 reference(s) must be provided. A motivation letter must be added to your application. Applicants must upload a motivation letter in English that introduces themselves and outlines their reasons for applying, including their motivations, interests, and goals related to the programme. The letter should be between 1,500 and 4,000 characters. The procedure of the entrance examination Applicants with a complete application package will be notified about the exact time and date of their online interviews after the nomination deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have technically suitable conditions for the interview from their side. Applicants are expected to be prepared taking questions regarding the compulsory admission materials (see: Recommended Readings) from the side of admission committee composed of a professor, a lecturer and a student representative. A successful oral entrance exam is the perquisite of getting admitted. If the applicant fails the oral entrance exam, the application will be rejected. |
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| More information |
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Overview
The goal of this programme is to offer students in-depth knowledge on the topics of globalization, international institutions, security, development studies and human rights. It enables our graduate students to understand and analyze complex political and social problems that go beyond state borders and cultural boundaries.
This programme is recommended to applicants who are interested in politics, social problems and interactions between different nations and cultures. While we prefer to accept students with in depth knowledge in political science or international relations, our programme is designed in a way to offer the opportunity for students with a different background to catch up with their peers during the first semesters if they are dedicated enough.
This programme enables students to work independently and also as members of a team. We help them to develop skills of adaptability and self-reflexivity that are crucial in today’s fast changing world. Our aim is to give our students skills and knowledge that could be readily used whether they seek employment in the public or the private sphere.
Tracks/ Specializations
After an introductory semester on advanced classes of international relations and political science in the second semester, the following specializations are available for the students (the approval procedure might be influenced by the first semester degrees):
• European development and foreign policy
• Human Rights
• Security Studies
Strength of programme
The MA in international Relations offers intensive training in four fields of specialization following an introductory semester. Classes are predominantly seminars of few students taking part in an intensive training of completing numerous written and oral assignments. Instructors in the programme include academics, but also professionals with ongoing experience at international organizations to offer students an internal perspective into how IR is ‘done in the field’.
Leading professor of the programme:
Zoltán Gábor SZŰCS, Habil. Associate Professor
Entry requirements:
Applicants must have a BA/BBA degree in any of the following fields: International Relations, Social Sciences, Humanities, Economics, Law.
In case of other bachelor degrees: individual consideration.
If the BA degree does not meet all the necessary requirements, the applicant may be required to complete additional credits in the relevant fields during their first year of study to fulfil these requirements upon acceptance.
Documents to submit with application:
- Bachelor-level degree
- Transcript of records
- Motivation letter
- Letter of recommendation (2 pieces)
- Copy of the main pages of the passport (needs to be valid)
- Language certificate (if the applicant has one)
The procedure of the entrance examination:
Applicants with a complete application package will be notified about the exact time and date of their online interviews after the nomination deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have technically suitable conditions for the interview from their side.
The institutional admission scores are based on a total evaluation of the academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam. The entrance exam seeks to assess the general and professional knowledge and interest of the applicant.
Applicants are expected to be prepared taking questions regarding the compulsory admission materials (see: Recommended Readings) from the side of admission committee composed of a professor, a lecturer and a student representative.
A successful oral entrance exam is the perquisite of getting admitted. If the applicant fails the oral entrance exam, the application will be rejected.
Application procedure
The applications are examined by the Admission Board and applicants are notified of the outcome of the selection in the online application system.
Type of entrance examination: Oral
Place of entrance examination: Online
Selection and evaluation
The ranking is based on a total evaluation of the academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.
As the programme expects students with diverse backgrounds, the goal of an entrance exam is not to test what students know, but to see if they are motivated in the first place; if they have a good grasp of current global affairs; and if they possess the analytical skills necessary to join the programme.
Below is a list of suggested articles from Oxford Research Encyclopaedias, all freely accessible (oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/). We recommend these not because we expect students to know them by heart, but because we would like to offer applicants the opportunity to get a rough idea about what issues and topics the field of International Relations (IR) deals with.
RECOMMENDED
- Engstrom, P. (2017, December 22). Human Rights: Effectiveness of International and Regional Mechanisms. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-9780190846626-e-214
- Foyle, D., & Van Belle, D. (2017, November 20). Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy Analysis: Public Opinion, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-9780190846626-e-9
- Goodman, J. (2017, December 22). Nationalism as a Social Movement. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-9780190846626-e-267
- Kiely, R. (2017, November 30). Dependency and World-Systems Perspectives on Development. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-9780190846626-e-142
- Stempel, J. (2017, November 30). Diplomacy and Intelligence. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-9780190846626-e-151
- Walt, S. (2017, December 22). Realism and Security. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-9780190846626-e-286
Contact person:
International Office, Eszter Borbála Bagi
E-mail: international@tatk.elte.hu
Programme structure
Click here to find out more information about the structure of the programme.
Career opportunities
Our graduates may seek employment at international institutions, the private sector, the media, or NGOs.
Job examples
- Foreign Policy Analyst
- Lobbyist
- Project Coordinator (public/private/non-profit)
- Political Advisor
- Administrative jobs in the state bureaucracy and at private enterprises
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