A Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations Opens More Doors Than You Might Think

A PGDip in International Relations can put many new career options on your horizon

For the action-oriented professional, deciding to go back to university for more advanced study can be a difficult decision. While you want to gain specialised knowledge at a respected institution, you need to be confident that your qualifications will be useful in the dynamic and challenging day-to-day realities of your career, not just for academic study.

Fortunately, international relations is quite a versatile discipline, and can be applied in highly theoretical contexts as well as fast-paced and practical scenarios. Our latest blog post takes a look at some of the areas in which international relations qualifications can prove very useful, and how these may align with your career ambitions.

An International Relations PGDip Can Pay Off in Finance

Like nearly every other sector, finance has been deeply impacted by globalisation in recent decades. While many people associate the study of international relations with foreign policy, international conflict, or diplomacy, careers related to finance and international markets are also excellent avenues for professionals to apply their knowledge of the field.

Insights into international relations can prove useful for those working in international markets

QMUL Online’s modules in Globalisation and the Political Economy of Development, and Themes and Cases in US Foreign Policy may be particularly useful for those interested in working in international finance. A big-picture understanding of the global economy and the interests of different state stakeholders can be very valuable when making decisions about evaluating and entering foreign markets and doing business with international partners.

Apply Your International Relations Knowledge to the Lobbying Sector

Lobbyist is a broad term, but essentially covers individuals who act as advocates on behalf of special interest groups to convince government bodies to keep particular interests in mind when developing legislation and policy. A  Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations can be incredibly valuable to an individual working as a lobbyist, particularly if they are representing an organisation with a stake in international issues or decisions.

International relations knowledge can help you understand the needs of international stakeholders

International relations qualifications provide students with an understanding of how foreign policy is developed, which concerns are the most influential in this process, and how these decisions fit into a broader dynamic of security and inter-state relations. Lobbyists with this knowledge will be in a better position to effectively engage with and persuade key decision makers as they will have a nuanced understanding of the issues and what is at stake on the international stage.

Help Non-Profits Go Global with a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations

An International Relations PGDip can also be beneficial to the careers and initiatives of professionals working for non-profits in the development sector and NGOs. By studying international relations, these professionals can gain a more theoretically and empirically grounded perspective on the role of their organisation in global development efforts, and how their projects might complement or face friction with the ongoing activities of different states and organisations.

Students who complete postgraduate diploma programmes online also have the added benefit of joining an international group of classmates in a virtual environment. This means gaining the networking benefits of being part of a global cohort of international relations students without the career disruption of relocation. These connections can help students identify career opportunities more easily, and may allow them to foster networks with other students from the non-profit sector who could further the effects of their development work.

Are you curious about where an international relations qualification could lead you?

Contact us at QMUL Online to find out more about how an online International Relations PGDip can help you progress toward your career goals.