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International Relations Schools and Programs in Spain

29 schools in Spain teach International Relations.

International Relations and Diplomacy

The International Relations and Diplomacy program prepares students with the skills needed to pursue work with international organizations in government, law or business. Students will acquire a solid foundation in economics, history and political science. In the last year of the program students go to on-visits, debates and case studies. Graduates will be able to apply analytical thinking to matters related to international relations and diplomacy, analyze issues and processes in international organizations, dominate international relations key concepts and have a deep understanding of global diversity.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Madrid and online

International Relations and Diplomacy

The International Relations and Diplomacy Masters program will give students an in-depth understanding of international affairs and diplomacy and prepare them for work in government, journalism or business. Graduates of this program will acquire strong research skills, critical analysis of international issues, theories of international relations and affairs and strong written and oral communication skills.
Level: Graduate  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Madrid and online

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

The International Relations degree has been designed to prepare students for the increasingly international workplace. It combines global knowledge through international relations coursework with skills acquired in business classes. Upon completion students will be able to recognize, analyze and evaluate processes, structures and major players in the world of politics and business. Some courses included are: Diplomacy & Foreign Policy, Conflict Management and International Peace and Security. Graduates can have careers in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, Public, Civil Service and Local Governments, Journalism, Radio and Television and the Non-profit sector.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Barcelona

International Relations and Spanish Language

The International Relations and Spanish Language program at the Academic Programs International (API) is a study-abroad program provided by the University of Deusto for international students majoring or minoring in marketing, business, international relations or sociology. This program is specifically for students with an interest in completing some studies abroad for the additional academic experience. Some of the subjects that enrolled students will study include the Spanish language, Spanish business and international relations, principals of marketing, corporate law, and more. Students who complete this program can use their international academic experience to continue their studies at their home school.
Level: Not Applicable  
Language of instruction: Spanish  
Location: Bilbao

International Relations

SLU-Madrid’s Department of Political Science strives to form leaders who understand the world today. Saint Louis University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in international relations that can be completed in Spain. Students can begin their studies in other political science disciplines, such as American politics, comparative politics or political thought, and complete their degree at the St. Louis campus. A minor in political science is also offered, which complements nearly all of the majors on offer in Madrid. At SLU-Madrid, political science students are exposed to a broad spectrum of issues in the increasingly complex and interrelated world, as well as national and international security challenges such as threats posed by nuclear weapons, terrorism, poverty, climate change and pollution.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Madrid

Bachelor in International Relations

The Bachelor in International Relations program prepares students for an international career in either, the private or public sectors. The IE School of International Relations is a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA). Using the expertise of the IE School of International Relations, students learn in an influential environment, how to participate and drive change in complicated, economic, political and social situations. This program is designed for individuals who feel relaxed debating and engaging in challenging matters. Students will understand the complexity of various situations and will need to be passionate about finding solutions through diplomatic means. The Bachelor in International Relations degree is for four years and students train in both Segovia and Madrid.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Segovia

Master in International Relations

The Master in International Relations is geared towards students that have already qualified in a social sciences or humanities subject, for example: languages, economics, law, history and business studies. It is designed for professionals and graduates who have a few years of experience and are looking to move their career towards an international direction. This master is perfect for people who wish to move their career towards a future in: politics and diplomacy, companies with a social endeavour, international organisations, non-profit foundations, multinational companies, social responsibility corporate departments or consultancy and risk analysis. The Master in International Relations is a ten-month program, study takes place in Madrid.
Level: Graduate  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Segovia

International Relations

Bircham University’s International Relations program considers the complexities and methods involved in the relationships overseeing the establishments of international governance. The program deals with the historical, legal and context-sensitive social economic and political influences that are vital components in any international setting. The International Relations program observes the dynamics and mechanical characteristics, along with the humanitarian concerns operating within the international community. Subjects covered on this course include: International Relations, Comparative Politics: The West, Comparative Politics: Middle East, Comparative Politics: The Far East, East-West International Relations, International Law, Cross Cultural Social Perspectives, Industrialized Countries Economy, Global Political Economy, Third World & Developing Nations, World Politics & Globalization, International Crime & Security, The UN & International Organisations, International Conflict Resolution, Diplomatic Relations and Peace Studies. Subjects account for 3 academic credits each. The International Relations program is available at Specialist, Expert, Bachelor's, Master's & Ph.D. (Doctoral) Degree program levels.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Villanueva de la Cañada

International Relations Studies in Spain

International Relations studies how states, international organisations, companies and civil society interact across borders. Students combine political science, international law, economics, history and languages to analyse conflicts, diplomacy, trade and global governance. In Spain the subject is taught as an official bachelor's degree (grado) and as official master's degrees, at public and private universities.

How the degree is organised in Spain

Spanish university education follows the three cycles of the European Higher Education Area. Royal Decree 822/2021 sets the basic structure: "Grados de 240 créditos, Másteres de 60, 90 y 120 créditos y el Doctorado al que se accede habiendo superado los 300 créditos en las dos etapas formativas anteriores". With 60 ECTS credits per year, a bachelor's degree takes four years and a master's one or two.

The official degrees appear in the Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos (RUCT) of the ministry. A search for "relaciones internacionales" returns 36 bachelor's degree records, current and older ones, under titles such as "Graduado o Graduada en Relaciones Internacionales". Several are registered with an English title as well, for example the "Bachelor in International Relations" of IE Universidad, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Universidad Camilo José Cela and Universidad Europea de Madrid. Business schools and institutes also offer their own master's programmes, which are school-own qualifications, not official degrees.

Where to study International Relations in Spain

Most schools listed on this page are in the Madrid region, followed by Barcelona; there are also options in Granada, Baeza, Pamplona, Bilbao and the Valencia area. Examples of universities with an official bachelor's degree in the subject, according to the RUCT:

  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), a public university, where the degree is taught at the Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología on the Somosaguas campus
  • Universidad Pontificia Comillas and Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid
  • Universidad Europea de Madrid, Universidad Camilo José Cela and Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, private universities in the Madrid region
  • IE Universidad, with its Bachelor in International Relations
  • Universidad CEU San Pablo, with a degree in International Relations and the European Union
  • Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, near Valencia

At master's level, the RUCT lists, among others, the Máster Universitario en Relaciones Internacionales: Gobernanza Global y Estudios Regionales at the UCM, a joint master's of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Universitat de Barcelona, the Máster Universitario en Relaciones Internacionales, Seguridad y Desarrollo at the UAB, a joint master's of the Universidad Internacional de Andalucía (UNIA) and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, and master's degrees at Nebrija, CEU San Pablo, Camilo José Cela and IE Universidad. Postgraduate centres such as the Instituto Universitario Ortega y Gasset and the Instituto Séneca also teach in this field.

A third route is a US degree taught in Spain. Saint Louis University states that it "offers 23 undergraduate and two graduate degrees entirely on our Madrid campus", and Schiller International University also has a campus in Madrid. These programmes are taught in English and lead to the home institution's degree, not a Spanish official degree.

Admission and language

Students who finished secondary school outside Spain usually apply through UNEDasiss, the UNED service that "evalúa los expedientes académicos de los estudiantes internacionales y les realiza las pruebas necesarias para acceder a estudios de grado en las universidades españolas". Admission criteria differ by university and by the student's previous education, so check them with each university first. For a master's degree, you apply directly to the university with a bachelor's degree.

Language matters in this subject. Many public universities teach mainly in Spanish (and in Catalonia also in Catalan), while several private universities offer the degree fully or partly in English. Check the language of each programme and any certificate required before applying. Spanish is useful either way, for example for work related to Latin America.

Recognition of the qualification

An official Spanish bachelor's or master's degree is part of the European Higher Education Area and uses ECTS credits, which helps when continuing studies elsewhere in Europe. If you hold a foreign degree and want it recognised in Spain, Royal Decree 889/2022 sets out three procedures: homologation, equivalence and convalidation. The declaration of equivalence "certifica el nivel académico de la titulación (grado o máster)".

Careers

Graduates work in diplomacy and public administration, international organisations and NGOs, development cooperation, international business and trade, consulting and risk analysis, journalism, think tanks and research. Many of these roles ask for a master's degree and strong language skills.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a bachelor's degree in International Relations take in Spain?

Normally four years. Spanish bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits, organised in years of 60 credits.

Can I study International Relations in English in Spain?

Yes. Several official degrees are registered in the RUCT with an English title, such as the Bachelor in International Relations of IE Universidad or Universidad Europea de Madrid, and US universities with campuses in Madrid teach in English.

How do international students apply for the bachelor's degree?

Most apply through UNEDasiss, which evaluates foreign school records and runs the tests needed for access, and then apply to each university according to its own admission criteria.

Is a master's in International Relations from a business school an official degree?

Only master's degrees listed in the RUCT as "Máster Universitario" are official. Programmes from business schools and institutes that are not in the register are the school's own qualification.