Master's degree Year 1 – International Relations

This program of excellence aims to offer comprehensive and diverse training, including:

• Law: Space law, administrative law, law of war.
• Political science and geopolitics: Influential communication and geopolitics, geopolitics of natural resources, foreign policy and diplomacy, strategy and defense.
• Economics: Financial markets and circuits.
• Languages: English as a first foreign language, a second European language, and an Eastern language.
• Professional development: Career support, ILERI conferences, operational management, cybersecurity and cyber security, strategic monitoring, internship.

Next start date: September 2026 in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Nice.

ILERI's M 1 program stands out for its flexibility and the wide range of specializations offered in the second year. Whether you are interested in cybersecurity, risk management, public affairs, or economic intelligence, you can tailor your career to your aspirations. This wide range of choices allows you to acquire specific and sought-after skills in rapidly expanding sectors. Each specialization is designed to meet the demands of the international market and give you an undeniable competitive advantage when entering the job market.

At ILERI, we know that high-level training must go beyond the simple acquisition of knowledge. That's why our M1 offers a perfect balance between rigorous theoretical teaching and the practical application of concepts. Through real-life case studies, group projects, and simulations, you will develop operational skills that are immediately transferable to companies or international organizations. This immersion in the professional world prepares you to quickly take on positions of responsibility at the end of your training, with maximized employability.

Our program is designed to train analysts and strategists capable of interpreting the complex dynamics of international relations. By combining political science, law, economics, and languages, you will learn to master multidimensional issues while cultivating intellectual flexibility. This holistic approach will enable you not only to understand geopolitical and economic situations, but also to propose innovative solutions tailored to the realities on the ground. This ability to combine strategic thinking and pragmatism is a key asset for future global leaders.

At ILERI, we firmly believe that international experience is essential to the training of future global leaders. That's why we offer our first-year International Relations students the opportunity to enjoy a unique and enriching experience abroad.
Whether you want to study abroad in the first or second semester, ILERI opens the door to international opportunities thanks to our 32 prestigious university partners in dynamic and influential regions, offering you a multitude of perspectives and opportunities. Whether in Europe, Asia, America, or elsewhere, each destination offers a unique experience and first-rate educational resources. This immersion in a different academic and cultural environment will allow you to broaden your horizons, strengthen your intercultural skills, and build a global network.

During your semester abroad, you will take courses that will be fully recognized by ILERI. At the end of this period, you will earn 30 ECTS credits, ensuring the continuity of your academic career without delay.

Lecturers take students beyond the campus walls, into the heart of their future professions.

The teaching approach integrates distance learning courses with leading international specialists, blended learning, and independent study, promoting a personalized, flexible, enriched, and cutting-edge educational experience.

A European negotiation simulation concludes the year. Inter-campus negotiation scenarios immerse students in the European environment: preparatory meetings, bilateral, multilateral, or plenary discussions in English, both in person and remotely.

ILERI supports a wide range of initiatives in a spirit of freedom in line with its values: 15 student associations on the Paris campus, 12 in Lyon, 8 in Bordeaux, and 6 in Nice.

ILERI conferences aim to inform and promote discussion on topics related to politics and international relations.

A unique and enriching  experience that is essential to the training of future global leaders. 

Refresher courses, welcoming foreign students, advance preparation, revision, etc.: ILERI's teaching methods and new technologies offer programs tailored to each student..

In addition to the course programs, ILERI and the Compétences et Développement network offer a wide range of online modules that allow students to deepen their understanding of the topics covered throughout the curriculum.

In partnership with the 13 grandes écoles and training centers in the Compétences et Développement network, a range of online activities is available to satisfy the curiosity of ILERI students.

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This program immerses you in the contemporary challenges of international security, from cybersecurity to risk management strategies. Combining a technical and strategic approach, it trains experts capable of designing and implementing defense solutions tailored to today's global threats.

This specialization prepares future leaders to manage public affairs and projects at the European and international levels. It emphasizes public policy management, strategic communication, and the development of innovative solutions to global challenges.

Explore the intersection between international relations and cybersecurity with this program focused on digital diplomacy and conflict management in cyberspace. You will learn to analyze and anticipate the impacts of emerging technologies on international relations.

Develop expertise in economic intelligence with this program focused on strategic analysis and informed decision-making. This program trains you to detect, analyze, and use crucial information to guide the strategies of organizations on an international scale.

This master's program offers in-depth training in international security, cybersecurity, and defense. You will be prepared to develop complex security strategies and manage major crises, while mastering the technical and strategic aspects of cybersecurity.

To enter this program, the following academic prerequisites are required:

►    1st year: Validated bachelor's degree or 180 validated ECTS credits

To enroll in the first year of the MSc in International Relations, you must submit an application.

Once your application has been accepted, you will be eligible to take the entrance exam, which consists of a written test and an oral test.

Please visit our Admissions page for more information and to prepare for the entrance exam.

Application review period: between 2 and 15 days.

Admission confirmation period after the entrance exam: 10 days.

Start date after admission confirmation: between 10 days and 11 months depending on the date of the entrance exam.

The exam fee is €75.

• 1st year parallel admission : €10,000*
  2nd year : €10,000

Net price excluding VAT if 100% self-funded. In all other cases (e.g., CPF, Pôle Emploi, company, region, etc.), the price will be subject to VAT (20%).  

*Additional fees may apply for foreign universities as part of a Study Abroad program for a semester abroad.
 

Students at the Paris and Lyon campuses are eligible for CROUS scholarships.

Aware of the current economic challenges facing parents and students, ILERI is actively committed to facilitating access to higher education by strengthening its scholarship program. Each campus offers merit-based scholarships for students who are not eligible for CROUS scholarships, thus ensuring appropriate and equitable financial support.

The Master of Science 1 in International Relations effectively prepares you to work in the sector thanks to a comprehensive program that provides you with the essential foundations before you specialize in the following year.

First, you will study all aspects of political science and geopolitics. Influential communication and geopolitics, the geopolitics of natural resources, foreign policy and diplomacy, strategy and defense are all crucial areas to master. You will develop in-depth knowledge of international relations issues. Exploring these subjects in depth will put you on track to choose your specialization for the following year of your studies at ILERI.

International law courses are an essential part of the MSc 1 in International Relations. This legal knowledge is particularly essential for working in public organizations, NGOs, or even multinational companies. You will be able to work on issues related to international security and regulations or diplomatic agreements.

To understand international relations, it is also essential to understand how economic and trade mechanisms influence diplomacy. That is why you will study financial markets and circuits.

Finally, working in international relations also means communicating with partners in different languages. During the first year of the MSc program, you will learn English as your first foreign language, as well as a European language as your second foreign language and an Asian language as your third foreign language.

A Master of Science in International Relations opens the door to many opportunities in a variety of sectors, ranging from the public to the private sector, including NGOs and international institutions. Career opportunities depend in particular on the specialization you choose after MSc 1.

For example, you could aim for positions in ministries, embassies, or consulates, where you would perform duties related to diplomacy, foreign affairs management, or international political analysis.

In the private sector, you could join multinational companies. They are looking for experts in strategic monitoring, economic intelligence, risk management, and cybersecurity. There are also geopolitical consulting firms that recruit consultants and think tanks that need professionals specializing in international relations.

Do you want to devote your career to helping others? The MSc also prepares you to work for NGOs, particularly in positions related to international project management, development cooperation, or influential communication.

After the first year of the Master of Science, you will choose a specialization to focus on the area of international relations that interests you most.

• Defense, Cybersecurity, and Risk Management is the ideal specialization if you want to work in the defense sector, crisis management, or state and corporate security. For example, you will develop skills in threat analysis.
• Public, European, and International Affairs Management is the right path for you if you want to work in European institutions, international organizations, or a government department. You will be trained in public policy, diplomacy, and international affairs management.
• International Relations and Cyberspace is for you if you are most interested in the digital challenges of diplomacy and international security. This specialization will guide you toward a career in cybersecurity, cyberdiplomacy, or the regulation of new technologies.
• International Strategy and Agri-Food Transition is for those who are passionate about the geopolitics of natural resources and interested in food security issues. You can pursue careers related to global supply strategies, as well as ecological transition.
• International security, cybersecurity, and defense is an ideal choice for you if you want to join intelligence services, military institutions, or defense-related companies. This program will enable you to become an expert in contemporary threats and the protection of strategic infrastructure.
• International economic and strategic intelligence will enable you to become an expert in strategic monitoring, lobbying, and economic influence. If you want to work for a multinational corporation, consulting firm, or government agency, this specialization is particularly well suited.

How do you choose your specialization? It all depends on your career plans and what you are most passionate about!

Studying abroad for a semester is a unique opportunity to develop essential skills in international relations.

During your career, you will meet people from many different countries and work in multicultural environments. To develop your ability to work in such a context, it is essential to spend part of your MSc immersed in a foreign country.

By studying at one of ILERI's 32 partner universities, you will be able to develop your global vision of geopolitical issues while strengthening your adaptability, language skills, and open-mindedness. These are essential qualities in the fields of geopolitics, diplomacy, international security, and economic intelligence.

Languages play a central role in a Master of Science in International Relations. Which ones are most useful? It goes without saying that English is the language to know. It is the working language of many international organizations such as the UN and NATO, as well as multinational companies.

However, to excel in the sector, it is ideal to know other languages, including at least one rare language, which will boost your employability. The ideal languages to learn during your studies depend on your career goals. Therefore, you should not limit yourself to the most widely spoken languages in the world.

For example, if you want to work in European institutions, knowing a language such as German or Spanish is useful. Whereas if you want to focus on trade with Asia, languages such as Chinese, Arabic, or Japanese are relevant choices.

That's why during your studies at ILERI, you will learn a total of three languages: English, another European language, and an Asian language, which you will choose according to your goals.