International Relations degrees teach students about political principles, foreign affairs, and the relations between countries. Top universities offer International Relations courses exploring themes like government and the state, political behaviour, and local or international economic issues.
You should study a degree in International Relations if you consider that the current socio-economic problems around the world can only be fixed through the direct involvement and cooperation of governments and private and public organisations. International Relations is the ideal discipline if you want to create a better community and society for future generations. It also allows you to prove that we have all the tools and resources necessary to address fundamental issues like hunger, lack of shelter, healthcare, education, etc.
While studying International Relations, you can focus on specialisations like Comparative Foreign Policy, Conflict and Peace-Making, Environmental Policy, Human Rights, Migration and Refugees, International Security, and others.
The courses you'll take during a degree in International Relations vary from one university and programme to another. However, you can expect to take classes in Comparative Politics, Global Development Challenges, World History, International Political Economy, Statistics and Probability, Public Policy, etc.
These International Relations classes help students develop a wide range of industry-specific and soft skills. They range from communication, cross-cultural management, and negotiation to analysis, problem-solving, teamwork, and project management.
All these essential skills allow International Relations graduates to better understand the social, economic, and structural complexities of our societies. Using their knowledge, they are able to identify patterns, come up with ideas and plans, and support causes through the adoption of public policies and the organisation of projects in collaboration with private and/or public institutions.
International Relations graduates usually work with governments, private or public institutions, NGOs, the UN (United Nations), the EU (European Union) or similar unions or intergovernmental organisations. Some of the most popular job titles for International Relations graduates are: diplomat, foreign affairs analyst, immigration specialist, international lawyer, political analyst, intelligence analyst, international aid worker, etc.
A career in International Relations will also help you work on the latest trends and developments in this area, like the ongoing development of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Privacy and Data Security, and Free Speech & Human Rights.
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Not sure if International Relations is for you?
Belgium has some of the best universities in Europe, which shine in areas like Political Science, Economics, Humanities, and Medicine. International students can choose from many English-taught programmes. For language lovers or aspiring polyglots, there’s the opportunity to learn international languages like Dutch, German, and French. This will be a huge advantage in the Belgian job market after graduation. Thanks to its highly globalised status, Belgium is very friendly and welcoming towards internationals from all over the world. You should find it relatively easy to settle down and find your rhythm. In your spare time, you can explore beautiful historic places and buildings as well as unique attractions, like the Mini-Europe miniature park.
Read more about studying abroad in BelgiumCan you handle the weather in Belgium?
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