Important Skills To Help You Complete an MA in International Relations

 Discover the essential skills needed for success in a Master's Degree in International Relations. From advanced research techniques and critical thinking to effective academic writing, this blog post explores why these skills are crucial for students in the field of international relations.

The higher the level of a particular academic pursuit, the more advanced it's likely to be, and the greater demand on a student's skills at the outset of the course. Usually these are skills that you begin developing at lower levels of study in a certain area, and continue to polish as you progress through the ranks.

If you're considering beginning a Master's Degree in International Relations, then you may be wondering what particular skills you should have that can help you during this next academic endeavour.

International relations students at all levels benefit from a number of skills, including public speaking and their ability to network and make professional connections, but perhaps the three most important are research, writing, and critical thinking. Read on to find out more about why these areas are so crucial.

Dealing with Large Amounts of Information Requires Great Research Skills

One of the most beneficial skills an international relations degree student can have is being able to do high-level research. Though it may seem straightforward, being a good researcher is easier said than done, especially in international relations.  

Because the field is epistemologically divided – meaning that different scholars adhere to different beliefs as to which research methods result in valid and reliable results – you may need to work through material that adopts various research approaches.

Being able to navigate the field successfully means knowing how to utilize an array of reliable sources such as books, journals, online databases, and trustworthy websites to obtain relevant information. The more reliable your sources, for example peer-reviewed academic authors, the better clout the information you cite in your work will have.

The most reliable sources are sometimes very long, and it may seem like you have to sift through a lot of information to write just one paper. However, this doesn't necessarily have to be the case.

Often the abstract, introduction, and conclusion of a lengthy article or chapter will provide you with the most important points, demonstrating if a source is useful or not and whether the rest of the work should be studied in more detail.

 Knowing how to find the most important information from a source is a useful skill

One of the Most Important Skills International Relations Students Should Have is Critical Thinking

Another skill that is crucial is that of critical thinking. As you will learn during your studies, the field of international relations is occupied by a number of theories that explain why things in the world are the way they are and how various phenomena like conflict and migration come about.

These tend to compete in their main assumptions and, as a result, sources using various theoretical and epistemological approaches may come to differing conclusions. Similarly, perspectives on global issues vary worldwide and from person to person.

In being aware of this, understanding the reasoning and tenets behind the arguments you encounter, and objectively considering multiple perspectives in your own research and writing, you will demonstrate your ability to adopt a critical and analytical stance crucial to your academic and professional success.

Find out more about how critical thinking can help you succeed:

Academic Writing Skills Are Key During and After Your International Relations Studies

Academic writing ability is another important skill to have when embarking on international relations studies. Good writing skills are essentially what bring your research to fruition, allowing you to convey your findings and support your arguments in a clear and confident manner.

Your tutors will provide valuable feedback on your writing throughout your studies, but you should still devote extra attention to ensuring that your introductions and conclusions are strong, and that your entire papers are written in a way that flows well from one argument to the next.

This will also benefit you during your future career, as many internationally focused roles will require you to be able to create well-written, detailed reports.

Soft skills are also crucial for international relations students, but what do they include?