Cracow, Poland

International Relations and Area Studies

Bachelor's
Table of contents
young-lovely-couple-sitting-with-manager-travel-agency-office-prepairing-summer-vacation

International Relations and Area Studies at UJ

Language: EnglishStudies in English
Subject area: economy and administration
Kind of studies: full-time studies
  • Description:

  • pl

Why study International Relations and Area Studies at UJ?

high-angle-view-business-people-working-table
Why It's Worth It:

Multidimensional approach to global issues

The International Relations and Area Studies programme at the Jagiellonian University offers a rigorous international and comparative perspective on the contemporary global system and various regions of the world. By choosing this field of study, participants engage with a curriculum designed to foster creative thinking about complex global problems. The Jagiellonian University provides an academic environment where students can explore the evolution of international systems and participate in debates regarding the dilemmas dominating contemporary international politics.

Focus on analytical and language expertise

One of the primary goals of the programme is to equip students with the analytical tools and language expertise necessary for a professional career in an international environment. Students develop their ability to conduct multi-level and multi-variant analyses of global conditions and threats to the development of the modern world. Proficiency in English is a core component of the studies, as it allows for effective communication and the study of specialized literature, preparing graduates to operate seamlessly in multicultural and multilingual settings.

Specialized knowledge of diverse world regions

The degree provides a solid grounding in international issues along with the opportunity to focus on specific regions or themes. Students can delve into the political, economic, and socio-cultural dynamics of different parts of the world, such as Europe, Asia, or the Americas. This regional focus is complemented by courses in international law, international organizations, and security studies, ensuring that graduates have both a broad global outlook and deep specialized knowledge.

Interdisciplinary curriculum and academic rigor

The curriculum combines various disciplines, including political science, economics, and jurisprudence, to provide a comprehensive understanding of global dynamics. Students take core courses such as Introduction to International Relations, History of Political Philosophy, and Human Rights. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that participants understand not only the political aspects of international relations but also the economic processes and legal frameworks that shape the interactions between states and non-state actors.

Development of practical and research skills

Beyond theoretical knowledge, the programme places a strong emphasis on practical focus and research methodology. Students learn how to analyze local problems from an international perspective and are trained in advanced research techniques. This combination of intellectual rigor and practical skills is highly valuable for those aiming to work in environments that require data analysis, critical thinking, and the ability to propose solutions to contemporary international challenges.

Cross-cultural understanding and global security

A significant part of the educational process involves developing cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity. In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to navigate cultural diversity is essential. The programme helps students gain the skills needed to manage global security and development, focusing on topics like conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and the ethics of international affairs. This prepares them to act as responsible global citizens and effective professionals in international organizations.

Preparation for diverse career paths

Graduates are well-prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in various sectors. The skills acquired during the studies are applicable in government administration, non-governmental organizations, and international aid agencies. Many former students also find success in international business, journalism, or research bodies focusing on domestic and international politics. The degree also serves as a perfect foundation for those wishing to continue their education at the master's level in various social science disciplines.

Academic mobility and international networking

Studying at such a prestigious institution opens doors to numerous international exchange programmes and internships. Students have the chance to spend part of their studies abroad, which further enhances their intercultural competence and helps them build a network of international contacts. This exposure to different academic and professional environments is a significant asset in the global job market, providing a competitive edge for those pursuing careers in diplomacy or international consulting.

Test: check whether International Relations and Area Studies is the right major for you!

composition-data-processing-diverse-freinds-talking-smiling-background(1)

Test: check whether International Relations and Area Studies is the right major for you!

1. Are you curious about how countries interact, cooperate, and compete on the global stage?

2. Do you enjoy learning about different regions’ histories, cultures, and political systems?

3. Are you interested in analyzing policy decisions and their impacts across borders?

4. Do you enjoy engaging with people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds?

5. Are you motivated by understanding conflict and pursuing peaceful resolution or diplomacy?

6. Do you enjoy researching using varied sources (academic texts, media, official documents, interviews)?

7. Are you comfortable discussing sensitive or complex global issues and acknowledging multiple viewpoints?

8. Are you interested in understanding international organizations, governance, or global economic systems?

9. Do you enjoy communicating ideas—writing, presenting, or advocating—in international or policy contexts?

10. Are you willing to revise your views as new developments or scholarship reshape global understanding?

Definitions and quotes

Area
Area is the quantity that expresses the extent of a two-dimensional figure or shape, or planar lamina, in the plane. Surface area is its analog on the two-dimensional surface of a three-dimensional object. Area can be understood as the amount of material with a given thickness that would be necessary to fashion a model of the shape, or the amount of paint necessary to cover the surface with a single coat. It is the two-dimensional analog of the length of a curve (a one-dimensional concept) or the volume of a solid (a three-dimensional concept).
International
International mostly means something (a company, language, or organization) involving more than a single country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries. For example, international law, which is applied by more than one country and usually everywhere on Earth, and international language which is a language spoken by residents of more than one country.
International Relations
International Relations (IR) or International Affairs (IA) - commonly also referred to as International Studies (IS) or Global Studies (GS) - is the study of interconnectedness of politics, economics and law on a global level. Depending on the academic institution, it is either a field of political science, an interdisciplinary academic field similar to global studies, or an entirely independent academic discipline in which students take a variety of internationally focused courses in social science and humanities disciplines. In all cases, the field studies relationships between political entities (polities) such as sovereign states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations (MNCs), and the wider world-systems produced by this interaction. International relations is an academic and a public policy field, and so can be positive and normative, because it analyses and formulates the foreign policy of a given state.
International Relations
Simply put, the most powerful state is the one that prevails in a dispute.
John Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001).
International Relations
States have two kinds of power: latent power and military power.
John Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001).
International Relations
In brief, for the United States, Eurasian geostrategy involves the purposeful management of geostrategically dynamic states and the careful handling of geopolitically catalytic states, in keeping with the twin interests of America in the short-term: preservation of its unique global power and in the long-run transformation of it into increasingly institutionalized global cooperation. To put it in a terminology that hearkens back to the more brutal age of ancient empires, the three grand imperatives of imperial geostrategy are to prevent collusion and maintain security dependence among the vassals, to keep tributaries pliant and protected, and to keep the barbarians from coming together.
Zbigniew Brzezinski,The Grand Chessboard (1997).

Contact:

phone (+48 12) 663 11 00
Gołębia str. 24
31-007 Kraków
Privacy Policy