International Relations Schools and Programs in Mexico

International Relations Studies in Mexico

International relations (relaciones internacionales) studies how states, international organisations, companies and civil society interact across borders: foreign policy, diplomacy, international law, trade, security and human rights. In Mexico it is a full university degree, the licenciatura en relaciones internacionales, taught in Spanish at public and private universities.

SpainExchange lists five universities in Mexico that teach international relations, in Guadalajara, Mexico City (Tlalpan), Cuernavaca and Puebla.

How the degree is organised

Mexican higher education is overseen by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) through its Subsecretaría de Educación Superior. The licenciatura is the first university degree, and its length depends on the university. After it come the maestría (master's degree) and the doctorado (doctorate). Programmes combine political science, economics, international law and history with foreign languages, and the focus varies between universities:

• At the public Universidad de Guadalajara, the degree is taught at the Centro Universitario de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades (CUCSH). Its stated aim is to train graduates to understand and propose responses to problems of international significance, from trade agreements to human rights, the environment and national security.
• The Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), founded in 1935 and, according to the university, the first private university in Mexico, has a programme of three years at the UAG with an option of a double degree with Arizona State University (ASU) after a fourth year. The number of courses taught in English increases each semester, and the university describes the profile as diplomacy, business and communication.
• The Tecnológico de Monterrey, which has operated in Mexico City since 1973, offers its full licenciatura en relaciones internacionales at the Mexico City campus in Tlalpan.
• The Universidad Internacional (UNINTER) in Cuernavaca, a private university with FIMPES accreditation, offers international relations on its own and in combination with political science or economics. Students can spend a semester abroad from the third semester.
• The Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) is the other public university on our list for this subject.

Admission and language

Each university sets its own admission process. Private universities generally use an online application and their own exam; the UAG, for example, confirms that an admission exam is required. The Tecnológico de Monterrey has a separate admission route for foreign students and asks for a simple Spanish translation of documents in other languages.

At public universities the process is more formal. The Universidad de Guadalajara asks applicants with school certificates from abroad for:

• Certificates legalised by a Mexican consulate or with an apostille
• Revalidation of prior studies, handled at university level by the SEP's Departamento de Revalidaciones y Equivalencias
• An official translation of documents from countries where Spanish is not spoken
• Proof of command of the language
• Authorisation to study from the Instituto Nacional de Migración within 90 days of admission

Most teaching is in Spanish. Students who need to improve their Spanish can take an intensive course first, for example at the UNAM's Centro de Enseñanza para Extranjeros (CEPE).

Recognition of the qualification

At private universities, check that the programme has an RVOE (Reconocimiento de Validez Oficial de Estudios). The SEP grants it per study plan, not per university, and the institution must state the RVOE agreement number, date and granting authority. Programmes without it do not lead to an official title or the cédula profesional. Quality accreditation is a separate step; FIMPES, for example, accredits private institutions as a whole.

Student visa

According to the Mexican consulate in Chicago, students staying longer than 180 days need a visa: the Visa de Residencia Temporal de Estudiante. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that Spanish citizens need a visa to study in Mexico whatever the length of the stay, and that some Spanish students have been refused enrolment without one. Applications require an appointment at a Mexican consulate; in Chicago the non-refundable fee is US$56. After arrival, the visa is exchanged for a residence document at the Instituto Nacional de Migración.

Careers

According to the Universidad de Guadalajara, graduates work as specialists in political affairs and in positions of responsibility in government, public institutions and private organisations. The UAG also points to multinational companies operating from Mexico and to public and corporate diplomacy as fields of work.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an international relations degree take in Mexico?

It depends on the university. The UAG, for example, offers three years at the UAG plus an optional year at Arizona State University for a double degree.

Can I study international relations in English in Mexico?

Most programmes are taught in Spanish. Some private universities add English gradually; at the UAG the number of courses in English increases each semester.

Is a private university degree in international relations officially recognised?

Only if the specific programme has an RVOE. Check the RVOE number, date and authority, which the university must publish.

Do I need a visa to study in Mexico?

Yes, for a degree programme you need a Visa de Residencia Temporal de Estudiante from a Mexican consulate before travelling.