International Relations
At a glance
What a student from Maharashtra needs to know before choosing this degree — clearly and honestly.
What you study
International politics, security, diplomacy, global political economy and development studies — analysis- and writing-intensive.
Why students choose it
International organisations, think-tanks, NGOs and the foreign-policy sector value globally trained analysts and policy specialists.
Who it suits
A social-science, humanities, law or commerce background; strong writing, languages and an interest in global affairs.
Countries offering programmes in this field
Compare International Relations side by side. Countries differ in course duration, language, tuition, licensing and the current post-study route — then open the full country guide.
* United Kingdom: The Graduate visa gives 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. PhD graduates get 3 years.
* United States: Since 15 September 2026, F-1 students are admitted for a fixed period of stay rather than “duration of status”. Post-study work is 12 months of OPT, plus a 24-month STEM extension for eligible degrees.
* Australia: The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is generally granted for 2 years, and longer for eligible higher degrees. See the Australia country guide.
Tap any destination to open its full country guide — universities, post-study work, MEA safety guidance and an ROI calculator.
Top universities worldwide
A selection of universities ranked highly for International Relations globally — across several of the destinations above.
Careers & salaries
Where this degree leads, and an honest note on the outlook — earnings vary widely by destination, role and the economy.
International relations is intellectually rich but job outcomes are less guaranteed — internships and languages matter most.
Niche, competitive demand. Be honest with yourself about ROI; pair the degree with internships, languages and clear sector goals.
Employment demand varies by country, occupation and economic conditions; where official projections exist they are cited here.
Earnings vary significantly by country, occupation, experience and economic conditions. Salary figures shown on this portal should be read together with the destination, occupation, data year and official labour-market source. Any INR equivalent is indicative and changes with exchange rates.
- Policy Analyst
- International Organisation roles
- Development / NGO
- Diplomacy / Foreign Service
- Research / Think-tanks
ROI calculator
Enter your own numbers to see total investment and an indicative payback period for International Relations. This is a guide only — not financial advice.
With the default assumptions (₹24L tuition and ₹13L living costs a year for 1 year, a 10% scholarship and a ₹30L starting salary), total investment is ₹35L and the indicative payback period is 2.0 years.
International Relations — ROI
Indicative · based on today's assumptions
Calculator results are illustrative scenarios based on the values entered. They are not forecasts of employment, salary or investment returns.
Figures are indicative only and vary with fees, salaries, exchange rates and visa rules. Treat this as one data point — not conclusive evidence or financial advice.
Match International Relations to the right country.
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