What Makes a College One of the Best Colleges for International Relations?
International relations is taught under many names: international relations, international studies, global studies, global affairs, foreign affairs, and foreign service. The name matters less than the requirements behind it. The best colleges for international relations ask students to master a language, spend time abroad, and finish with original research or policy work. Five things separate the strongest programs.
- A real language requirement. Tufts requires eighth-semester-level proficiency, Johns Hopkins requires third-year coursework for most languages, and Michigan requires six terms.
- Time abroad. Stanford, NYU, UT Austin, Middlebury, Claremont McKenna, Pomona, and Macalester require study abroad.
- A thesis or capstone. Penn and Pomona require a two-semester senior thesis, and Princeton adds a junior Policy Task Force.
- A dedicated school. Georgetown, Princeton, Yale, George Washington, American, Syracuse, and Boston University house international affairs in their own schools.
- A major, not a subfield. Harvard, Columbia, and Dartmouth teach international relations only as a subfield of government or political science.
Which Colleges Are Best for International Relations?
The table below lists the best colleges for international relations with the degree each one offers, named the way the university names it, and one concrete requirement or feature taken from its own catalog or department pages. Schools are grouped by type and selectivity, and each linked school name leads to our analysis of its acceptance rate or admissions.
| University | Undergraduate degree | What stands out for undergraduates | Selectivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University (Walsh School of Foreign Service) | Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) | Students choose one of nine majors and must pass a conversational proficiency test in a modern language other than English | Highly selective |
| Johns Hopkins University | International Studies, BA | Language study through third-year (300-level) coursework for most languages, inside a 63 to 65 credit major | Most selective |
| Tufts University | BA in International Relations | Eighth-semester-level proficiency in one language, plus a thematic concentration | Most selective |
| Princeton University | A.B., School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) | A junior Policy Task Force, a two-semester senior thesis, and a required cross-cultural experience such as a semester abroad | Most selective |
| Stanford University | International Relations, BA | At least one quarter abroad, second-year language proficiency, and 11 specialization pathways in a 75-unit major | Most selective |
| University of Pennsylvania | International Relations, BA | Every senior writes a two-semester thesis, which Penn says makes it one of the few majors on campus with that requirement | Most selective |
| Brown University | International and Public Affairs (IAPA) concentration | Eleven courses in one of three tracks (Development, Policy and Governance, Security) with a required senior capstone | Most selective |
| Yale University | Global Affairs, BA (Jackson School of Global Affairs) | Eight introductory courses before declaring, a 14-course major, and an L4-level course in a modern language | Most selective |
| NYU | International Relations, BA | A full semester studying away outside the United States and two language courses above the intermediate level | Most selective |
| USC | International Relations, BA | A 48-unit major plus level IV proficiency in one foreign language | Most selective |
| Duke University | International Comparative Studies, AB (no major named international relations) | At least 14 courses, including four in one language of the focus region; well over 75 percent of majors study away | Most selective |
| University of Chicago | Global Studies, BA (no international relations major) | Language competence equal to six quarters and a capstone paper of 20 to 35 pages or a project | Most selective |
| Harvard University | Government concentration (no international relations major) | International relations is one of four subfields, and every concentrator takes a course in each | Most selective |
| UC San Diego | International Studies, with nine disciplinary degrees | Four quarters of language and a five-year BA/MIA option with the School of Global Policy and Strategy | Highly selective |
| UC Berkeley | Global Studies, BA | Three concentrations, including Global Peace and Conflict, and language proficiency equal to four college semesters | Highly selective |
| UCLA | Global Studies major | A capped major with a 3.25 minimum GPA; UCLA reports an 80 percent admission rate to the major for 2025-26 | Most selective |
| University of Virginia | Foreign Affairs, BA | Thirty credits in the Department of Politics plus 12 credits of related coursework | Highly selective |
| University of Michigan | International Studies major | Six-term proficiency in a language other than English | Highly selective |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | International Studies, BA | A 45-credit major in one of four options, with language study to the fifth-semester level | Selective |
| UT Austin | International Relations and Global Studies, BA | Study abroad is mandatory, along with 6 hours of upper-division foreign language | Highly selective |
| William and Mary | BA in International Relations | Two language courses beyond the 202/3 level and a required capstone | Selective |
| UNC Chapel Hill | Global Studies, BA | Credit for six levels of modern language study, plus a thematic area and a world area | Highly selective |
| University of Washington | International Studies, BA (Jackson School) | Students in good standing can declare at any time, with no GPA cutoff; second-year language required | Selective |
| University of Maryland | International Relations major (BA and BS tracks) | Launched in October 2025 from a concentration that graduated 96 to 123 students a year | Selective |
| Middlebury College | International and Global Studies major | At least one semester abroad in the focus region, proficiency in a Middlebury language, and 11 tracks | Highly selective |
| Claremont McKenna College | International Relations major | Four semesters of language and at least one semester abroad | Most selective |
| Pomona College | International Relations major | At least a semester abroad and a two-semester senior thesis | Most selective |
| Carleton College | Political Science and International Relations major | A 75-credit major with a 6-credit senior integrative exercise (comps) | Highly selective |
| Macalester College | International Studies major | A 14-course major with six semesters of language and a semester of study abroad | Selective |
| Wellesley College | International Relations-Political Science (also IR-History and IR-Economics) | Fourteen units plus two units of language beyond the college minimum | Highly selective |
| George Washington University (Elliott School) | BA in International Affairs | Third-year language proficiency; more than 70 percent of Elliott students study abroad | Selective |
| American University (School of International Service) | BA in International Studies | One of six thematic areas and one of six regional focuses, in a school of more than 2,000 students | Selective |
| Syracuse University (Maxwell School) | International Relations, BS | A 48-credit major with two three-course concentrations and language through the 202 level | Selective |
| Boston University (Pardee School) | BA in International Relations | Twelve courses with one of five functional tracks and one of four regional tracks; fourth-semester language | Highly selective |
What Is the Difference Between International Relations and Political Science?
Political science is the broader discipline, and international relations is usually one of its subfields. The University of North Dakota defines political science as “the study of government, political processes, institutions and behavior” and international relations as “a field concerned with the interactions between states and non-state actors” (University of North Dakota).
In practice, a stand-alone international relations major adds requirements that a political science major usually does not: advanced language study, study abroad, and coursework in economics, history, and regional studies. A student who wants to study American politics or political theory alongside world affairs may be better served by political science with an international relations focus.
Do Harvard, Columbia, and Chicago Offer an International Relations Major?
No. Several of the most selective universities have no major named international relations. At Harvard, international relations is one of four subfields of the Government concentration, and every concentrator takes a course in each (Harvard Government). Columbia political science majors choose a primary and a secondary subfield, and international relations can be the primary one (Columbia College Bulletin). Dartmouth’s ten-course Government major also lists international relations as one of four subfields (Dartmouth Government).
Chicago offers a BA in Global Studies instead, with language competence equal to six quarters and a capstone of 20 to 35 pages (University of Chicago), and Duke offers International Comparative Studies, where “well over 75 percent” of majors complete some coursework abroad (Duke University).
Which Schools of Foreign Service and International Affairs Admit Undergraduates?
Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service awards the Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service. Students choose one of nine majors, and every student must demonstrate “the ability to exchange ideas in conversation on contemporary issues” in a modern language other than English (Georgetown University Bulletin). Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs requires a junior Policy Task Force, a two-semester senior thesis, and a cross-cultural experience, such as a semester abroad or at least 240 hours of internship (Princeton University).
Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs requires students to complete eight introductory courses before declaring the Global Affairs major (Yale College Programs of Study). In Washington, more than 70 percent of students at George Washington’s Elliott School study abroad (George Washington University), and American University’s School of International Service offers a BA in International Studies with six thematic areas and six regional focuses. Syracuse’s Maxwell School and Boston University’s Pardee School also house undergraduate international relations degrees.
How Much Language Study Do International Relations Majors Need?
Language requirements vary more than any other part of the major. Tufts requires “eighth semester-level proficiency in a single contemporary spoken language other than English,” though students can test in rather than take eight semesters of classes (Tufts University). Johns Hopkins requires third-year coursework for most languages and second-year coursework for Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
Among other programs, Michigan requires six-term proficiency, Macalester six semesters, UNC six levels, Chicago six quarters, and Wisconsin study to the fifth semester. Stanford and Washington require second-year proficiency, UC San Diego requires four quarters, and USC requires level IV. A student who arrives with advanced language study can move faster into upper-level courses and study abroad.
Which International Relations Programs Require Study Abroad?
Stanford requires international relations majors to “spend at least one quarter studying abroad” (Stanford Bulletin), and NYU requires a full semester, not a summer session, in a study away program outside the United States (NYU Bulletin). UT Austin makes study abroad mandatory for its International Relations and Global Studies major (UT Austin), and Middlebury requires at least one semester abroad, and preferably two, in the student’s focus region (Middlebury College).
Claremont McKenna and Pomona require at least a semester abroad, and Macalester’s International Studies major requires a semester of study abroad along with six semesters of language (Macalester College).
Which Public Universities Are Best for International Relations?
UC San Diego offers International Studies through nine disciplinary degrees, such as International Studies-Political Science and International Studies-Economics, and a five-year BA/MIA with its School of Global Policy and Strategy. UCLA’s Global Studies major is capped, with a 3.25 minimum GPA, and UCLA reports an 80 percent admission rate to the major for 2025-26 (UCLA International Institute). Berkeley’s Global Studies major offers concentrations in Global Development, Global Peace and Conflict, and Global Societies and Cultures.
Virginia offers a BA in Foreign Affairs through its Department of Politics, Michigan and Wisconsin offer International Studies majors, and UNC offers Global Studies. Maryland launched an international relations major in October 2025, growing out of a concentration that produced “between 96 and 123 graduates annually over the last five years” (University of Maryland).
Which Liberal Arts Colleges Are Best for International Relations?
Liberal arts colleges pair international relations with small seminars and required time abroad. Middlebury’s International and Global Studies major offers 11 tracks, Claremont McKenna requires four semesters of language, and Pomona requires a two-semester senior thesis. Carleton’s Political Science and International Relations major ends in a 6-credit senior integrative exercise, and Wellesley offers international relations combined with political science, history, or economics. Our guide to liberal arts colleges versus research universities covers the trade-offs between the two settings.
What Can You Do With an International Relations Degree?
The Foreign Service does not require the major. The State Department says “No specific degree is required” for Foreign Service Officers (U.S. State Department), and selection begins with the Foreign Service Officer Test, which the department says will be given quarterly in 2026 (U.S. State Department). The test was revamped in October 2025 with a new logic and reasoning section (U.S. State Department).
Political scientists, the closest occupation tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, earned a median of $142,080 in May 2025 and typically need a master’s degree, and the field is projected to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035 (BLS). International relations graduates also go into law, consulting, finance, journalism, nonprofits, and graduate programs in public policy. Our guides to the T14 law schools and law school GPA and LSAT medians cover the law school route.
How Do You Judge an International Relations Program Beyond the Rankings?
- Check the language bar. Compare the level required, not just the number of semesters.
- Ask about study abroad. Find out whether it is required, how credits transfer, and what share of students go.
- Read the thesis rules. A required thesis or policy workshop shows whether students finish with original research.
- Look at the economics requirement. Strong programs require international economics, which matters for policy careers.
- Confirm the major exists. At some top universities, international relations is a subfield, not a degree.
What Do Admissions Officers Look for in an International Relations Applicant?
Most universities admit international relations students to the college as a whole, though Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service admits students directly. What stands out is sustained language study, curiosity about the world that shows up in reading and writing, and work that tests ideas against evidence.
- Language. Four or more years of one language, ideally through AP or an equivalent level.
- Coursework. AP World History, AP Government and Politics, and AP Macroeconomics build the foundation for the major.
- Writing. Essay competitions such as the John Locke Institute Essay Competition give readers an outside measure of argument and research.
- Engagement. Model United Nations, debate, or research on a region or policy question shows sustained interest.
Oriel Admissions builds this record with students who start in 9th or 10th grade: a language sequence that reaches an advanced level, a history and economics sequence through AP, and one piece of independent writing on a policy question. Our guide to intended major strategy explains how that record fits a declared social science major.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Colleges for International Relations
Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Princeton, Stanford, Penn, Brown, and Yale lead among private universities. UC San Diego, Berkeley, UCLA, Virginia, and Michigan lead among public universities, and Middlebury, Claremont McKenna, and Pomona stand out among liberal arts colleges.
No. At Harvard, international relations is one of four subfields of the Government concentration. Columbia and Dartmouth also teach it as a subfield of political science or government, Chicago offers Global Studies, and Duke offers International Comparative Studies.
Political science studies government, political processes, institutions, and behavior. International relations focuses on the interactions between states and other actors, and a stand-alone major usually adds language study, study abroad, and economics.
No. The U.S. State Department says no specific degree is required to become a Foreign Service Officer. Selection begins with the Foreign Service Officer Test, which the department says will be given quarterly in 2026.
At many colleges, yes. Stanford requires at least one quarter abroad, NYU requires a full semester, and UT Austin, Middlebury, Claremont McKenna, Pomona, and Macalester also require study abroad.
It varies. Tufts requires eighth semester level proficiency, Johns Hopkins requires third year coursework for most languages, Michigan requires six terms, and Stanford requires second year proficiency.
Georgetown awards the Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service. Students choose one of nine majors and must pass a conversational proficiency test in a modern language other than English.
Study one language for four or more years, take AP World History, AP Government and Politics, and AP Macroeconomics, and write independently on a policy question. Oriel Admissions plans this sequence with students starting in 9th or 10th grade.
Sources: U.S. State Department: Foreign Service Officer, U.S. State Department: FAQ on degrees and majors, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Political Scientists, University of North Dakota: Political Science vs. International Relations, Georgetown University Bulletin: SFS Degree Requirements, Tufts University: International Relations Language Requirement, Princeton University: School of Public and International Affairs, Stanford Bulletin: International Relations BA, Penn International Relations: Senior Thesis, Yale College Programs of Study: Global Affairs, Harvard Government: Subfield Requirements, University of Chicago: Global Studies, Duke University: International Comparative Studies, UCLA International Institute: Applying to the Global Studies Major, University of Maryland: International Relations Major
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