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Programme Fact File

Study direction:
Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology
Master’s study programme
accredited until
Degree conferred / qualification obtained:
Master's Degree of Social Sciences in International Relations and Diplomacy
Language: English
Credit points/ECTS: 80/120
Study location: Rīga
2 years
Places:
16 full fee
2800 EUR/year

You can apply for Latvian state scholarships.
Read more


The programme prepares specialists for international organisations, diplomatic corps, international companies, non-governmental organisations, scientific institutes.

Academic Environment and Methods

Academic Environment

The programme provides the opportunity to study various aspects of international governance and diplomacy which teaches students the skills to think and act globally. During their studies students acquire the expertise to analyse, understand, and predict developments in international governance and diplomacy, as well as to provide reasoned opinions both orally and in writing.

Lectures are taught by both academics and practitioners, including current and former diplomats.

Students will be educated in various topics of international governance – small states in the international system; the history of international relations with an emphasis on great powers, wars, and diplomacy; international and diplomatic law, global economy and trans-national interests; the governance of the European Union; the foreign policy of the United States, the Peoples’ Republic of China and other great powers; the Middle East; energy security; security governance; e-governance and other issues.

In the third semester students can apply for Erasmus+ exchange studies.

More on Erasmus+ at RSU

Academic Methods

Studies are organised in the form of lectures and workshops with an emphasis on independent work.

Syllabus

Course codeStudy course titleĪstenotājsKursa vadītājsCredit points/ETCS
SZF_045Belarus between the East and the WestFaculty of Social SciencesElizabete Vizgunova4 / 6
KPUMTK_012Civil Defence and Environmental ProtectionDepartment of Clinical Skills and Medical TechnologiesOļegs Sabeļņikovs2 / 3
PZK_032Development of Master’s Thesis and DefenceFaculty of Social SciencesMāris Andžāns20 / 30
SZF_048Energy, Security and Diplomacy: Power Relations and Strategic PerspectivesFaculty of Social SciencesAndris Sprūds4 / 6
SZF_110Energy, Security, and Diplomacy: Power Relations and Strategic PerspectivesFaculty of Social SciencesAndris Sprūds2 / 3
SZF_051EU and International GovernanceFaculty of Social SciencesMāris Andžāns4 / 6
SZF_039European Union in Global Political EconomyFaculty of Social SciencesKārlis Bukovskis4.67 / 7
SZF_049Foreign Policy Vectors of the People's Republic of ChinaFaculty of Social SciencesUna Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova4 / 6
PZK_136Global Governance: Institutions and ProcessesDepartment of Political ScienceMārtiņš Daugulis5 / 7.5
SZF_037Global Governance: Institutions and ProcessesFaculty of Social SciencesMārtiņš Daugulis4.67 / 7
SZF_072Information War and PropagandaFaculty of Social SciencesLelde Metla-Rozentāle4 / 6
SZF_044International Law and Diplomatic RightsFaculty of Social SciencesAleksandrs Fillers4 / 6
SZF_053International OrganisationsFaculty of Social SciencesGunda Reire4 / 6
VC_124Latvian Language Course for Foreign StudentsFaculty of Social SciencesInga Laizāne2 / 3
SZF_046Politics and Religion: Governing the Middle EastFaculty of Social SciencesMāris Andžāns4 / 6
PZK_114Politics and Religion: Governing the Middle EastDepartment of Political ScienceSimona Gurbo5 / 7.5
SZF_038Power, War and DiplomacyFaculty of Social SciencesEdijs Bošs4.67 / 7
SZF_050Regional and Social Policy of European Union Member StatesFaculty of Social SciencesTatjana Muravska4 / 6
SZF_047Russia, the U.S. and the Baltics - Interaction in the Past and PresentFaculty of Social SciencesEdijs Bošs4 / 6
SZF_042Russia's Political Culture in TransformationFaculty of Social SciencesDeniss Hanovs2 / 3
SZF_041Russia's Political Culture in TransformationFaculty of Social SciencesDeniss Hanovs4 / 6
SZF_052Security Governance: the Euro-Atlantic Space and BeyondFaculty of Social SciencesMāris Andžāns4 / 6
SZF_043Small state strategies in modern diplomatic environmentFaculty of Social SciencesMāris Cepurītis2 / 3
SZF_040Small state strategies in modern diplomatic environment and international negotiationsFaculty of Social SciencesMāris Cepurītis4 / 6
SZF_105Social Media and Digital DiplomacyFaculty of Social SciencesMāris Cepurītis4 / 6
SZF_054Theories and Methods in International Relations and DiplomacyFaculty of Social SciencesKārlis Bukovskis4 / 6

Admissions Requirements

General eligibility criteria:

  • Bachelor's degree in social sciences or humanities
  • English language proficiency
  • Skype interview with the applicant

Application checklist 2021

Study bases

RSU main building, 16 Dzirciema iela

Career opportunities following studies

Graduates of this study programme will possess the knowledge and skills to work for international organisations, diplomatic corps, international companies, non-governmental organizations, scientific institutes.

Further studies

You can continue to study at RSU in one of the following doctoral study programmes (the courses Communication Culture and Multimedia and Psychology are offered in English):

Head of Programme

Contact Information