Thanks for watching! If you have any questions about IR and job opportunities in the field, feel free to leave them in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help!
Hi,James!Thanks for the videos.Help a lot with understanding IR.I am thinking about doing Public Relations MA but also interested in IR because of interest in Politics.Do you think PR and IR are good professions?Also what do you think about online courses?Not Masters programs but courses like Coursera.Do employers recognise these?Thanks!
As an IR graduate, I have to say that we have to study a lot more than just purely politics like everyone else thinks. When we look at the relations between countries, there are many different angles to consider, be it politics, economics, culture, ideologies, psychology, philosophy etc. The IR major, and Political Science as well, for me, is truly a great place for people who have a voracious mind, want nothing but broaden their horizons, and try to make sense of how the world works. There are rules, theories, assumptions, mind games etc., and that's what makes me partial to it.
Hi, how would you suggest I study for classes. It seems no matter how I bang my head against the wall and read all the chapters, I still don’t catch up or meet what (some) of my professors want.
Hello, James! Thanks a lot. I am currently preparing for my undergraduate in IR major. I was scared about this subject. But now I feel confidence again as I really love global issues. Hope that I can do my best in this field. Thanks again to make it clear.
I.R. “created” me to think differently. It’s not just “us and them” “red and blue”. Like American Politics. The global chess players, are VERY important and complex. Also, the prediction the future is important. At least 10-20 years. Since I went to Uni, I really question everything. Even myself. Most people say “ what’s your major in college?” I say: “I.R. - History, War, some things, etc etc.” A fourth/third I think is Open Studies, which is AWESOME. I studied security, police, anthropology, business, etc
I’m so happy you visited my country. Sending you lots of love from Ghana 🇬🇭 ❤ I really want to pursue this course and that’s what led me here. Thank you so much for this!
Hey James, I enjoyed watching your video. I like the slow yet steady pacing of your narrative, and I resonated with many facets of your experience, like "thinking about a variety of things" and "I am happy when I am working with others". I am so glad to know that IR gives you access to those kinds of jobs.
Finished my Bachelor in international relations and diplomacy but soon i wil continue with a MA in IR love this field i consider it as all arts incline because you need to study: sociology, economics, law, globalisation, communication, political science etc .
I identify a lot with everything you said omg, my biggest hobbies have always been linked to arts somehow so I always thought that’s what I should do since I’m good at it and it’s a passion, but I never thought it would be fulfilling for me as a job cause I fear it would completely drain my creativity since that’s what everyone expects from you all the time, to be creative and innovative. but the obligation to create often takes away the passion of creation, something I definitely don’t want. I always thought that I was destined for something bigger, not to be recognised or famous but I always wanted to work with something that would make a difference in this world, and since I’m so passionate about exchanging experiences and cultural elements, about politics, anthropology, I feel like this is the course for me. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Many thanks james i really appreciate you for this video bro i wanted studying law but this speech just changed me bro am a Nigerian, I'll love to come study international relations in your country but lol the tuition is massive bro .Nice talking to you my man ♥
Hey there thanks for your thoughtful comment. It was such a quickly made video but I’m so happy to hear it provided some value. I will plan to make more videos shortly. And yes, tuition here is crazy, and it shouldn’t be. However Canada is a great place to study and our degrees are well recognized internationally. If you’re able to do it, I definitely encourage it. I have lots of friends from Nigeria that I met at school! All the best💯
This was very helpful🙈 I start international studies in a month and I’m scared. It’s getting real now and I’m terrified to regret picking it. Everyone says it’s not the world to change majors but I don’t want to feel like I wasted time😅
Congrats! It’s an exciting nervous, though?! I felt the same way, but honestly I couldn’t be more happy! Before, I planned to go into something more specialized. However, specialization has a high chance of becoming irrelevant due to technological innovation (AI etc), but the world on the other hand will always need fixing! (Sad, but true). Something my professor told me was that every time he teaches an IR class, he says “this is a very good year to be studying IR” - he’s been teaching for over 20 years and ends up saying that every year! Reason being, there is always something going on in our crazy world! I feel the skills you learn in such a degree (analytical, qualitative, theoretical; and all the different facets, being economics or anthropology, gives you such a well rounded skill set that is transferable across multiple industries. Anyways, bonne chance! 🌎❤️
thanks for the video, I really needed it, I was studying IR a couple of years ago and I dropped out cause I was not so interested in politics and then I decided to travel and I found myself reading news about what's happening in the world, like the war in Ukraine, or the conflict with Israel and Palestine, topics that I wanted to be more involved about it, so is not just politics is more about the understanding of the whole world and how it works as you said.
Hi Clark! Wonderful insights that I really appreciated as I'm pursing a majors in Political Science and IR. I would really like to hear from you the recommended textbooks and sources especially for the theoretical part in the 'approaches to study IR' section. Thanks!
Hey! Thanks for your kind comment :) Congrats on starting your IR studies! So as for textbooks, they will usually be assigned by your school/course itself. That being said, regarding your class "approaches to IR", I would take a look at three (IR) theories: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism. As well, there are three levels of analysis (individual, national, and international levels). Personally, I found tons of RU-vid videos on these subjects to help :)
It's so helpful, Your video helps me know more about IR, which is the major i'm going to study in the future. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences ❤
I was searching through youtube related to IR graduates and IR career/job opportunity and ended up in this video. I did my IR Bachelor degree back then in July and I'm still pretty unemployed until now. I'm from Indonesia and its kind of hard to find a job with IR degree here even an internship in the government field is also lacking. And my question related to this is would you suggest taking the next degree so that more boarder job opportunity will be easier to spot on? Thank u so much excuse for the long words 🙏🙏
Hey! I totally understand how challenging it can be finding work. A masters degree can definitely help, but I recommend you try to find work experience first. Keep trying and changing things up until you land that position!
Hi James! This video was very helpful to me. I am a freshman and majoring in Cybersecurity, but recently I have been pretty bored withe the cirriculum. Sometimes it is just straight up uninteresting. I was wondering if you would recommend International Relations to someone who really wants to travel the world and have understanding of it. I am not sure what I want to do but I want to help and possibly change the world. Thank you!
After watching this video I felt I've found the major I've been looking for! Thanks James! However, I'm an international student and currently looking for a scholarship, and I can only rely on my A levels. I'd like to ask you- if you don't mind hopefully, you'd know what subject I should choose (minimum 3) to get the IR major? I've been doing some research but unfortunately, I have difficulty looking for this. I hope you can help!
It’s normal to be scared. Try your best to embrace it and take as much from it as you can. Meet as many people as you can and experience as much as you can!
Hi James! This was a really insightful video, and it helped me a ton, Thanks a lot for it. However, my question is if you could help me in differentiating between IR and IS? I'm in a jam regarding that. If you do have any information about that, do tell me. Thanks again for the video!!
🥹🥹 Thank you so much! And that is a great question! From my understand, IR focusses more on the economic and political (and military) side of things, while IS (international studies yes?) is more interdisciplinary and broad, incorporating classes about cultural communication, anthropology as well as the other IR components. Personally, I took this approach while studying IR because I loved studying about other cultures and the anthropological side of things instead of just economics / politics. I hope this helped and please do let me know what you decide!!
Hi James! Thank you for this video, do you think International Relations is a employable degree? I just wonder how emplorers think when they see a international relations degree versus a business one. I'm interested in Journalism and writing mainly and have always wanted to travel and help the world, so this seems like the perfect degree. I also heard that it teaches skills in business, marketing, public speaking and/or economics, is this true? if so, it fits my needs perfectly.
TRUE! You learn so much about economics, business, and so much more. Because journalism requires a broad understanding of everything in the world, I actually think an IR degree will be more beneficial for you. Plus, you have to write A LOT in IR. This will greatly improve your writing, research, and critical thinking skills. At least my friends that went into business, they didn’t have to write many papers. Go into IR if you want to study the world, go into business if you want to go into business 😛(also you can work in business with an IR degree)!
Hi James! I really loved this video. I graduated in 2021 with a bachelors degree in History and have been working and travelling since then (I lived in Ghana as well and agree with you, it's an amazing place). I'm trying to decide on next steps and whether to pursue a master's degree in IR. What you said about having diverse interests and ultimately wanting to work with others and help people really resonated with me. I'm wondering if you could share what you're doing now career-wise, and if you have any advice on IR programs?
Hey! Thank your for your comment. I’m really happy you enjoyed the video. And yay for travelling! History is such an interesting degree to have, and would be very relevant to IR! Ultimately, an IR degree/masters will open the door to a wide range of opportunities and allow you to try new positions and careers. Jobs at international organizations often have some flexibility in what masters you have as long as it’s related to the social sciences. My advice would be to study what you find interesting as long as it provides you with the relevant skills and knowledge to help land a job in your desired field. Something that also helps is to look at all the available jobs that resonate with you and check their requirements and see which masters programs are most closely aligned. I’m currently starting my masters in Public Policy! I hope this helped and all the best! Feel free to send me an email if you have any more questions :)
They are quite different. Business focuses on areas like finance and marketing. IR is more so about global politics, international diplomacy, global economics (foreign trade) as well as anthropological aspects. There are some areas that overlap but the job opportunities are largely different. Hope this helped!
Hello James! Thanks for the video! I wanted just to say something more about the way that I feel about IR. I want to choose this as my career path but I have seen multiple videos and read various comments and to say the truth some comments discouraged me. But after watching this video I understood that if I choose a specialization like being an ambassador for example it will be easier to work on this field. Please correct me if I am wrong. At least I want to know if at the end of the day I am going to find a job in my dream career. Thanks from heart♥️
Don’t let other comments or videos discourage you. IR is an excellent and relevant degree with many opportunities. Many people I know working in high level positions have a background in IR. You will be able to work in various fields and roles, including an ambassador, politician, and various leadership levels in the profit and NFP industries - what’s most important is building « career capital »!
Hello James, I am going to do M.A in international relations and I have a question, Is there any written exam or classroom discussions during the course? Please inform me.
Hey! Thanks for the question. Well, every school is different so I encourage you to read the syllabus or program outline and reach out to your faculty to confirm! My guess would be yes to in person discussions, and I can almost certainly say there will be a paper or more involved! Congrats and good luck!! 🤜
Hi Ahmed! I’m actually in Hungary right now :) Budapest especially has TONS of international jobs, including many UN headquarters like the FAO and ILO! Europe in general is home to numerous international organizations throughout! Just make sure you know French and English! As for Asian, I’m not so sure, but outside of international orgs there’s plenty of not for profit work and NGO’s out there to choose from!
@@jclarkelister What a coincidence, are you currently studying there or are attending a seminar or something? What I understand is that you are trying to say that Europe has few opportunities for Non-EU graduates apart from Non-Profit Organizations? What are the chances of getting a full time job like after doing MS in IR?
Not necessarily. There are PLENTY of opportunities both within the EU and outside, regardless of where you went to school. Jobs are in international groups, non-profits, and more. But it's competitive, so keep applying always and consistently look fir opportunities online. You can use LinkedIn, company websites etc. They will never discriminate based on where you got your education, at least I hope! PS, A master's degree can really help you stand out. Don't give up!
@@jclarkelister Woa! thanks a lot for your insightful information. By the way, I have just completed my Intermediate and am planning to pursue BA IR from Hungary🇭🇺, just weighing on the possibility and diversity of this wonderful career. Thanking you again 🌹
Hey james! i am planning for (online )masters in international relation from foreign universities could you provide a video of roadmap how to move forward for it query from india
thank you for this video-I could relate to a lot what you mentioned! I’m currently in my last year of undergrad majoring in IR (and minoring in german) and i’ve been stuck between looking for careers post-grad or applying to grad schools. although i’ve applied to countless internships, I unfortunately haven’t had any luck, so I’m leaning towards the latter. I enjoyed studying abroad in Europe so much that i’m considering going to grad school in Germany, but I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do. I’m especially interested in US-East Asia and EU-Asian relations, but would you think going to germany could be worth it? I know there is no definitive answer and I apologize for how long this is, but I would appreciate your input 🙏
Hey! No worries, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I think we’ve all been there. I know how hard it is to get your foot in the door-I’m actually in a very similar position myself. In my opinion with the Information you mentioned, I think the best thing to do is to keep applying for an internship and just focus on graduating. Since you havnt graduated yet, there’s really no point to stress about what to do after because it’s still far off! (But graduation does come quick). If you still have no luck after graduating, then I feel considering grad school can be a great option if you enjoyed studying in Europe and especially because of your German minor. I’m not sure if you’re fluent in German but this can also be advantageous because you will be able to practise the language, and it’s always good to have international experience! And to be honest, A LOT of the more “international” related jobs, say like the UN, will always require a masters. This is also the case if you wish to progress your career in international relations related fields! Lastly, I would personally choose to go the post grad route if I had the financial ability to do so. Because I love learning and school is awesome and also because in most cases you will need a masters regardless!! Hope this helped a bit! Best of luck.
I got bachelors in Computer Science Engineering , last yr - 2023 , in India. bt I've realized I dont like that. I've great interest & enthusiasm for political science / international affairs. So Im thinking of going for the masters degree abroad ( outside india ). Can u plz tell me how should I go about it ? plz guide me. Also , are any jobs actually there after the masters degree in ir or pol sci ?
Hi I am from India and I have already done my masters in Social work from India. Now I am planning to take masters in IR from UK. Is there any good job opportunities in UK after masters in IR. Your insights will be highly appreciable and helpful for me.
Hey! Congrats!! I would recommend you check with the supervisors in your program about any internship opportunities. There will be opportunities in the UK for sure! However I’m from Canada so I don’t have any specific organizations in mind, but I know the UK is a great choice to take your masters :)
Hey brother, I need help. Currently doing my masters in IR but I need to know the basics. I didn't do it as my first degree. How can you help me, please?
Hey! I loved your video, may I please ask a question? While studying it can we still do other things as dance classes etc? Does it take your whole day to study it?
Thank you very much. It will ultimately depend on your school. I would recommend calling them or connect with a grad from the program! But in my school, I was able to take options in any field, such as dance :-)
I have a question Can I become a history teacher or historian if I study International Relations? I love History so much but in my city there are no history degrees to study, only Bachelor of IR and I think this might be related to History. Thanks in advance
That’s a great question! I believe this will depend on where you are located. In Canada, yes, it is possible. Teaching will require a PHD or for you to be enrolled in a PDH program, in which case this should be something to do with history. Undergrad doesn’t matter as much! Also, there’s a lot of history in IR - it’s all history, actually!
@jclarkelister Thank you very much! One more question, What kind of history courses did you took as an IR major? I mean, did you learn about ancient history, medieval? Beacuse many people that I asked told me that a BA in IR has a lot of history lessons and many were taught courses about the Peloponnesian War, Punic wars, etc.
Not too sure as I’m not familiar with the airforce, and the application process would be different from country to country-but I wouldn’t see why not! At least in Canada, I don’t think you even need a degree. I would be more concerned with other aspects that might impact your ability to join, like height, mental health, eyesight etc. Sorry I couldn’t be much help!
The answer yes to be honest having a degree is better...not needed but better you can go the officer route....and make waaaaaay more money go in as a lieutenant as opposed to a private lol
Hello James, the video was very informative, thank you. I was very indecisive about the choice of major, so I wanted to get your advice. Do you think international relations is better or law? If I choose law, I want to study international law. Please advise. Thanks a lot.
Hey there. Well, it’s a personal decision. But I can say that IR is very broad and offers a lot of opportunities in a wide range of fields, giving you a lot of freedom to decide your career path. Law, especially international law, is specific-chances are you will be working in the field of law, which comes with long hours and lots of stress (from what I’ve been told). I know a lot of people that went into law only to leave it quite quickly as they weren’t happy. But if you feel it’s your calling and you enjoy working on international disputes, then go for it. I think human rights law would be especially impactful and meaningful.
Hy james i have done my BS ( IR) degre from Pakistan and yes afcourse i am a citizen of Pakistan and next i want to adopt Political science for MS is it good for my future or i should adopt IR for MS please give me an advice.
Hey! Congrats on your graduation. Whether I’m not you want to do a masters in poli sci or IR will be up to you. Often most places just look to see if you have a masters, and not necessarily what it’s in specifically (given that it’s still relevant to the job). Both IR and poli sci are broad enough to be great additions to your experience! Just don’t forget about work experience, which is the most important! Good luck!
Hey great video….I’m planning to study ir but I’m type of person who also looks for money in the field and it is real big factor for me. Should I go for ir or what? Any suggestions plz?
Unpopular take perhaps, but I believe it doesn’t matter what major you choose. Just choose what you enjoy. The more you enjoy it, the better you will be and more knowledge you will accumulate in said area. Gain soft skills and be a good communicator. Build up your skills and ‘career capital’. The money will then follow. I know lots of people from the same majors, some are unemployed and others are doing very well. It comes down to the time and effort you put in, the work experience you gain, your curiosity, drive, and overall how these factors make you stand out. Employers want more than just a degree. In fact, I know many employers who care less what degree someone has. They just want to see the experience, curiosity, drive, and willingness to learn!
i have a communications undergrad, would it make more sense to pursue an IR masters or another bachelors for it? masters seems more to be going up the ladder which is a good thing, though.
Hi James☺️ hope you’re doing well. I’m currently studying business administration in Germany and maybe will start a minor in international economics and development. I would love to do my Masters in IR but I’m afraid that I don’t get the chance to do it. Does a Master require a Bachelor in IR? Thank you so much in advance ☺️
Hey! That sounds very cool! Germany is well known for their amazing education! I loved it there 🇩🇪 As to whether you need a bachelors in IR to pursue a masters in IR, I would say generally, no, you don’t need to have a bachelors in IR. However, I would say that having a relevant major that you can somehow tie to the program would be helpful for your application. Regardless, I wouldn’t worry because business administration, or anything business related is still relevant. Especially with a minor in international development, which is what I studied so I’m biased to say go for that!! Honestly, IR is so broad really any major could tie into it 😅 Best of luck!
Hi James, so I am a second year students and not moderated (not specialized) yet and for now I am doing Human Rights and International Law and many people scare me from this degree and I started doubting my whole life. There is another major which is Political-science, economics and social thought, I do not like economics but there is not a lot of courses about economics in this major, also I was thinking about minoring in Urban and spatial practices because of the research aspects it will open to me, even though I am also scared not to minor in digital media communication. Any advice?
Hey :) I totally understand - I also switched majors myself to IR. However if you enjoy what you’re studying, I would suggest to stick with it unless you know you will be better of switching. If you don’t enjoy economics then I would not recommend you specialize in it, although I do suggest to take some economics courses as they’re very valuable to the field of IR. Don’t be intimidated by other people. Just do YOU! And digital media communication sounds like a super cool minor! I would do that myself! Digital media is so important in our current world and will be the medium of communication for years to come, so I think it is absolutely relevant to the field of IR and human rights in general. Just a thought but maybe you could look into how digital media is used for human rights purposes, as it has been used as a platform for change many times! Good luck and don’t give up!
@@jclarkelister Thank you so much for replying. I have only two motives for the urban and spatial practices which is that I am gonna receive a huge push from my professor like (abroad research opportunities) and my interest in the environment. Do you think they are good reasons to take it over media?
Hi I’m in Australia and was wondering if there are and what are the differences between doing a whole degree in ir vs just a major as I’m looking at doing a bachelor of art at unsw major in ir and media but am not sure
Hi! From my understanding, majoring in IR would be the same as completing your degree in IR. Your major is what you choose to specialize in during your studies. It is totally possible to have two majors, in which case I think your time extends due to more classes you will have to take to fulfill both of their requirements. Sorry if I misunderstood your question!
Hey I am a finance grad I got really interested in IR and i am looking forward to doing a masters in IR Do you think my finance background would make it tougher for me to get into the IR programme? And do you think there is any intersection of these two skills
Hey there! Yes, there is definitely overlap. To be accepted, you will have to explain how they relate or how you can use your finance background to help you succeed in the IR program. Something you may want to consider is leveraging the macroeconomics involved in IR alongside your finance background. Finance is not only a major part of IR (foreign trade, aid etc.), it’s a major component of federal budgetary planning. They definitely go together! Good luck!
Hello! congrats on your masters :) it will depend one what you would like to do! My advice would be to apply to all the jobs you find interesting and see where you get accepted - it kind of makes the choice for you that way! Let’s call it… meaningful drifting 😄
Wishing you best for you,an I have a question about IR, Recently,I did bachelor in international relations, but now I want to take admission in Canada in master programs which subject name that I further pursue my study will be beneficial for me as a specialization,I confuse please guide me, and also mentioned what scope of IR in Canada.Thanks.
Hey! Specializations will be different at all schools. Ultimately you want to take focus on the one you enjoy the most! In Canada, it doesn’t really matter your specialization as long as it’s a relevant degree to the field of IR!
Hi .. can i ask you About job opportunities with private sector companies or ecnomiec organizations after graduation from IR ? and send to my respect from sudan ❤❤❤
Horrible advice. Most of us have to eat and Western IR departments are horrible. You guys couldn’t predict that sanctioning Russia would ruining European economies 😂 I can tell you a rich dude “I didn’t study get a job”.
Thats true, all schools will have some form of bias. That's why it's beneficial to study abroad as well. Also I wish I was a 'rich dude' so I could then pay off my student loans 😃
