International Relations

Degrees and Fields of Study

  • M.A. in International Relations
  • Joint M.A. in International Relations/Journalism
  • M.P.A.-M.A. in Public and Non-Profit Management and Policy and International Relations (Dual Degree)

See also Politics for related programs of study.

Concentrations

M.A. International Relations
  • International Politics and International Business
  • International Relations/Asian Studies
  • International Relations/European and Mediterranean Studies
  • International Relations/International Law
  • International Relations/Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • International Relations/Middle Eastern and Levantine Studies
  • International Relations/Russian and Slavic Studies
  • International Relations/U.S. Foreign Policy

Application Deadlines

Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted online by 5PM Eastern Time. If a listed deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or U.S. federal holiday, then the next business day will be the actual deadline.

M.A. in International Relations Program
  • November 1: Spring admission
  • February 15: Fall admission, priority deadline
  • May 15: Fall admission, final deadline
Joint M.A. Program in International Relations/Journalism
  • January 4: Fall admission
M.P.A. in International Development Policy and Management and M.A. in International Relations (Dual Degree)
  • May 1 (for both applications): Fall admission 

M.P.A.-M.A. applicants must submit two separate applications — one to GSAS, and another to NYU Wagner. 

 

Requirements

In addition to the general application requirements, the department specifically requires:

Test Scores

GRE
  • The GRE general test is not required.
TOEFL/IELTS

Applicants must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores (TOEFL preferred) unless they:

  • Are a native English speaker; OR

  • Are a US citizen or permanent resident; OR

  • Have completed (or will complete) a baccalaureate or master's degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English.

Statement of Academic Purpose

Joint M.A. Program

Journalism requires applicants to write a personal essay. The essay is an extremely important part of the application, so treat it accordingly. The essay should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length. In addition, all applicants must submit at least two samples of their work, whether published or not.

The goal of the essay is to give the Admissions Committee a concrete sense of who you are as someone who aspires to a career as a professional journalist, writing and reporting for print, online or broadcast media. It should address the following questions: What do you expect to get from the program? What aspects of your experience are most relevant to your interest in journalism? Tell us about your background--your academic degree, intellectual interests, work experience, life experience, and other sources of inspiration--and explain how this background informs what you want to do as a journalist.

Applicants should also describe their existing "body of work" as a journalist, critic or just someone who writes. We are mostly interested in published work, but if you have yet to break into print, then tell us what kind of writing you have done. What have been your major themes? What issues and phenomena most engage you? What publications do you read regularly and why? Which journalists do you admire, which do you dislike, and which have influenced you?

Please append to your essay a brief statement of your plans for financing your graduate work. This statement must be included, whether or not you are applying for financial aid.

 

 

All Other Programs

Please explain, in a brief and concise manner, how your past studies and work experience relate to a course of study at the graduate level in International Relations at NYU. Please also explain why you chose to apply to study in the IR Program at NYU and the specified concentration (if any), or the dual degree M.P.A.-M.A. in Public and Non-Profit Management and Policy and International Relations, and how NYU specifically will help you to advance your personal and professional objectives. The statement should be no more than two double-spaced pages.

NYU’s Program in International Relations trains individuals who wish to make a difference in the world either through the practice of international affairs in government, the non-governmental or private sectors or through continued academic study. With that in mind, please reflect on the following questions in writing your Statement of Academic Purpose:

● How do the Program’s objectives fit with your own goals and interests?

● How will your educational objectives help you achieve your future career goals?

● Where do you see yourself 10 years after graduating from NYU?

 

 

Writing Sample

All Programs

An English-language writing sample is required. The writing sample must not exceed 3,000 words (excluding citations and bibliography) and should be double-spaced, in typescript. It could be a short course paper, an excerpt from a longer paper or thesis, or a published article. If possible, it should be related to international relations or contemporary global issues. If needed, a writing prompt is available on the program’s website. Most importantly, the writing sample should demonstrate the author’s critical thinking, analytical ability, and prose writing skills in English. A strong writing sample will improve the chances of admission.

Joint M.A. Program

In addition to the writing sample shown above for all master’s applicants, two different writing samples are required for Journalism. The writing samples need not have been published, although if you have clips you are proud of, please do submit them. The samples should represent your best overall work and your aptitude for journalism. Clips from your college newspaper, personal essays, academic research papers, and short fiction are all acceptable.