Why Choose this Program?

The Master of Arts in International Relations: Diplomacy (MA in IR: Diplomacy) program was designed to:

• Develop advanced expertise in diplomatic theory, practice, and protocol, with specialized knowledge in negotiation, multilateral diplomacy, and the conduct of international relations across bilateral and multilateral settings.
• Engage with current scholarship and policy debates in international law, political economy, regional security, and global governance, with sustained attention to the diplomatic priorities and institutional landscape of Southeast Asia.
• Build advanced research and analytical competencies through rigorous training in IR methods, equipping graduates to assess diplomatic environments, evaluate foreign policy outcomes, and contribute original, evidence-based insights to scholarship and professional practice.
• Strengthen practical diplomatic skills — including negotiation, protocol, cross-cultural communication, and institutional leadership — applicable to foreign service, international organizations, and high-level private sector engagement.
• Gain a sophisticated understanding of how diplomacy operates at the intersection of power, law, and institutions, through coursework that connects theoretical frameworks to the realities of contemporary foreign policy and international negotiation.
• Access strong pathways to careers in the foreign service, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society, with a program that prepares graduates for leadership roles in Cambodia and across the international community.

Future Career Prospects

Graduates from this program will be able to pursue careers such as:

1. Diplomat, foreign service officer, or ambassador representing national interests abroad through bilateral and multilateral engagement, negotiation, and protocol in embassies, consulates, and permanent missions.
2. Foreign policy analyst, political advisor, or intergovernmental affairs officer in government ministries, national security agencies, and state institutions engaged in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy and international strategy.
3. Program officer, multilateral negotiator, or regional representative in international organizations including the United Nations, ASEAN Secretariat, World Bank, and regional diplomatic bodies, contributing to multilateral dialogue, treaty processes, and institutional governance.
4. Advocacy officer, diplomatic liaison, or international program coordinator in NGOs, civil society organizations, and foundations engaged in human rights, conflict prevention, and international advocacy, leveraging diplomatic skills to build coalitions and engage with state and non-state actors.
5. Government relations director, public affairs manager, or geopolitical risk consultant in corporations, financial institutions, and consulting firms that operate across borders and require professionals with advanced skills in stakeholder engagement, regulatory navigation, and international negotiation.
6. Senior business strategist, regional director, or market entry advisor in private enterprises and international firms expanding into Southeast Asia and other complex markets, applying expertise in political economy, cross-cultural leadership, and institutional dynamics to drive strategic growth.
7. Executive leader, operations director, or team management specialist in private sector organizations with international operations, drawing on the program's emphasis on governance, leadership development, and institutional strategy to manage high-performing, cross-cultural teams.
8. Foreign policy researcher, diplomatic studies lecturer, or doctoral candidate contributing original scholarship on diplomacy, negotiation, and international affairs, with strong pathways to doctoral study at leading universities in Cambodia and internationally.

Course Structure

This two-year program comprises 45 credits and provides students with a well-structured curriculum that includes basic, core, major, and research courses. To complete the program, students are required to fulfill the following coursework requirements:

The program offers Three graduation path:

• Coursework and Research Report Path (39 credits for coursework + 6 credits for research report).
• Coursework and Project Report Path (33 credits for coursework + 12 credits for project report/thesis).
• Coursework and Research Thesis Path (12 credits for coursework + 33 credits for research thesis presentation, defend and publication at a recognized journal)