Requirements and Structure of Studies

Concentrations:

  1. International Relations and Diplomacy
  2. Commercial Diplomacy
  3. The European Union
  4. Cultural Diplomacy

The Master of Arts program is designed specifically to provide students with a balance of theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of international relations and diplomacy. It aims to challenge and motivate students through a rigorous academic program.

Structure and organization of studies

The graduate International Relations and Diplomacy program consists of six mandatory courses in each concentration. Of these, three (3) courses are general requirements that all students, regardless of concentration, must fulfill.
Each concentration further consists of three (3) requirements that are specific to the area of study. Moreover, students are expected to complete two additional elective courses each semester (requirements of one concentration may serve as electives for another), for a total of five courses in a semester.

All together, students acquire a total of 72 ECTS points through their coursework
Students gain a total of 18 ECTS credits through a summer internship program.
A Master’s Dissertation carries an additional 30 ECTS points.
In total, the MA degree in International Relations and Diplomacy consists of 120 ECTS credits, in line with Bologna standards.

Mandatory Courses for all Graduates

  1. Theories of International Relations
  2. Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods
  3. The Art of Diplomacy

Mandatory Courses for the IR and Diplomacy Concentration

  1. Multilateral Diplomacy
  2. The Institutions and Economics of EU
  3. Geopolitics

Mandatory Courses for the Commercial Diplomacy Concentration

  1. International Finance
  2. Globalization and Development
  3. Practice of International Business*

* Students in the Commercial Diplomacy concentration MUST complete Macroeconomics and Microeconomics at undergraduate or graduate level before enrolling in this course, either during their undergraduate course of study or in place of electives at the graduate program.

Mandatory Courses for the European Union Concentration

  1. Multilateral Diplomacy
  2. Organization and Structure of the European Union
  3. Law of the European Union

Mandatory Courses for Cultural Diplomacy

  1. The History and Evolution of the Field of Cultural Diplomacy
  2. International Case Studies of Cultural Diplomacy
  3. Future Trends in Cultural Diplomacy

Internship Program

Students are expected to undertake an internship position at a national, international or private institution – whether in the economic, political, legal, social or diplomatic sphere, in order to round out their education through jobs that will allow them to apply what they have learned in the classroom. Internships are valuable learning experiences, engaging students in current debates in international affairs and providing for practical experience and first hand insight into the world and practice of diplomacy. DIU and Sveučilište u Zadru will work to strategically align academic and real-world experience with future career goals for each student. While students are required to bear the living costs and expenses of the summer programs themselves, DIU and Sveučilište u Zadru will apply the utmost care to take into account a student’s financial background before considering a particular internship. DIU and Sveučilište u Zadru will provide guidance and guarantee of a summer position for all students in good academic standing who have fulfilled the necessary course requirements.
Students may be asked to submit a written seminar work relating to their experience in instances of a shorter internship program.

Master’s Dissertation

Each student is required to complete a Master’s Dissertation during his or her final semester of study. Students are provided with guidance about how to choose an appropriate topic, how to identify and locate the necessary sources, and how to write up their research findings. This is done through a combination of departmental workshops and discussions between individual students and their Dissertation mentors. However, ultimately, the Dissertation is a test of the research abilities and writing skills of each individual student.
The topic, structure and length of each Dissertation is subject to individual review and faculty mentor approval.
The students are asked to defend their Dissertation before a panel of faculty members prior to receiving a final grade.
A student must complete ALL coursework and an internship before commencing a Master’s Dissertation.