International Relations at Foreign Universities

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>I'm daydreaming a bit here, and hoping someone might be able to help me. I'm finishing my degree at an American university this year, and have a strong interest in technology, business, and international business in particular. I took only one class in international relations during a study abroad program, but I really, really enjoyed it. I'm thinking that someday I may want to get a Masters in international relations/business/something similar. I'm not sure when, but possibly in the next few years. </p>

<p>I'd like to get a business degree in the US, and possibly do an international studies degree of some kind elsewhere. I know that I can study abroad during business school, but I think I'd like to do a one-year program elsewhere for a more immersive experience.</p>

<p>Here's the catch: I don't think I want to do it at an American university. I speak Spanish and English, and would be open to any place interesting with a good university. Here are some places (yes, a huge range) that I've thought of so far:</p>

<p>Spanish: Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Spain
English: Australia, Canada, England, Hong Kong, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa</p>

<p>I'm hoping to do a Rotary scholarship or something similar. Rotary does not support the LSE, Oxbridge, etc. They go for smaller universities in the UK. Also, I am more likely to get funded if I go to a less popular country (e.g., Chile vs. Spain or South Africa vs. Australia).</p>

<p>So, the question is: Do you know of any good international relations/business/etc. programs in any of these countries? What factors should I consider when choosing a country/program?</p>

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<p>The best university in India offering IR (it's called something else there; International Studies probably) is JNU <a href="Jawaharlal%20Nehru%20university">url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawaharlal&lt;em&gt;Nehru&lt;/em&gt;University&lt;/a>, ranked 57th among the world's top 100 institutes for social sciences by THES. It has a modest number of internationals (including some Americans). Students get decent exposure in the diplomatic circles, especially those who know some additional language. Professors are plain awesome, but you can surely get similar experience at many other places. Also it's a communist stronghold :)</p>

<p>I would also recommend National University of Singapore and Hong Kong University. One of the moderator (UCLAari</a>) did IR study abroad at a university in a Japan. You may like to PM him and ask.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for your comments! That's exactly what I'm looking for. You also inspired me to check out the entire THES list, which really helped open my eyes about which universities might be good. </p>

<p>JNU seems amazing. They love the same things I do: interdisciplinary studies, close collaboration, innovative thinking. From their website: "There is a long tradition of holding serious after-dinner meetings in the hostels to which the students often invite well known public figures, writers and intellectuals. The Students' Union election another democratic convention of JNU, is conducted annually entirely by the students in a lively but peaceful manner, without any intervention from the faculty or administration." Wow.</p>

<p>It looks very hard to get into, at least for Indian nationals. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for foreign students (from the US)?</p>

<p>What are research opportunities, interaction with professors, student life, etc. like at these schools, as compared to top US universities? </p>

<p>Also, do you know much about the culture of NUS or HKU? NUS doesn't seem as "friendly" or HKU as organized, but that might be misleading. Also, how much of a disadvantage will it be that I only speak English?</p>

<p>Thanks again for your comments and inspiration. :)</p>

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<p>Glad that I was of help.</p>

<p>Americans aren't well represented in JNU; much of the international student body is from ex-USSR, China, Japan and Holland. I think it would be comparatively easier for you as an Americans.</p>

<p>JNU has comparatively the most</a> peaceful student union elections in India. If it matters last year an American</a> won for Vice President.</p>

<p>The only problem that I see with JNU is that the whole campus is painted red (1</a>,2</a>,3</a>,4</a>,5</a>,6</a>). While their passion could be admired; stupidity couldn't. It's often said that a JNU is so leftist that it would make UC Santa Cruz look like Princeton. This is also apparent in the academics. In my subject of interest, i.e. History, the marxist slant in the course is very irritating. Although I don't think that this would affect an IR major much.</p>

<p>From what little I know; Professors are easily available. JNU is also smaller compared to other Asian Universities (5k students compared to NUS which has around 20k students). Also you can expect Indian writers like Arundhati Roy and Historians like William Dalrymple to frequently visit the campus specially during the election season. Student life; well it's Indian and not America :) </p>

<p>NUS is also great, but I have problem with their large class size (not sure about Graduate school though). Don't worry, you wouldn't be disadvantaged for not speaking Hindi; language of communication is without exception always English.</p>

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<p>Wow, thanks for the additional information. I thought you were joking about the Communism thing! Now I see that it is not so. ;)</p>

<p>I'm not much of a leftist (I have independent views), so I wonder how much that will impact my experience there. I would also find it very irritating to hear a leftist slant to politics and economics. I really don't want to hear about how all international disputes can be reduced to the workers' struggle or whatever. </p>

<p>By the way, what <em>is</em> Indian student life like? More like British universities in that people don't have activities and clubs? Do they use the tutorial method like Oxford so learning is very individualized?</p>

<p>Oh, I guess I should ask at this point if you are an Indian student in the US? Or have you studied in India? (I checked some previous posts but couldn't find it easily.)</p>

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<p>Kids at JNU have a lot of clubs and activities. I do admire them for their honesty and concern; but most of them are from rich upper class/upper caste families who rarely do anything worthwhile other than symbolic gestures (hunger-strike, puncturing tires of registrar and getting suspended etc). </p>

<p>One of India's most famous blogger did her M.Phil in International Politics and Economy from JNU. I think she would be happy to answer your questions about the the slant in the syllabus. PMing you her contact details (She's not leftist, btw :)).</p>

<p>I am Indian who would be going to International University Bremen in germany to pursue Electrical Engg and Computer Science :)</p>

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<p>Ignore Pic4 in Post# 4. Wrong Pic :o</p>

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<p>In the UK you should look at St Andrews and Aberystwyth. Both very good schools, and relatively lesser-known in the outside world (although St A's is known in the US but nowhere else).</p>

<p>Ultimately though, I think you need to narrow your focus. What region of the world are you interested in? You're not going to become an expert in Europe, south Asia, Sub-saharan Africa, and Latin America all in one year, all in one place. So I recommend you do some more reading and decide what you are actually interested in. Then the choice of which country to go to will be much more clear, as dictated by your focused interests. Choosing between programs will then be a much more tractable task; because just looking through the websites of a few programs that meet your criteria, I can tell you will run into some serious option-paralysis. Good luck!</p>