MSt in Diplomatic Studies

The programme embraces an interdisciplinary, holistic approach and all coursework links theory with practice and policy. To ensure maximum relevance to diplomatic practice, the formal curriculum is supplemented by practical workshops (inculcating skills such as communication, negotiation, crisis management, public speaking, and media interviews), simulations and field trips.

Study tours have traditionally been regarded as a high point of the course, and several such visits are included in the course of the academic year, to embassies, government departments, international organisations and business and media institutions in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe.

The MSt in Diplomatic Studies programme is designed for mid-career diplomats and international relations practitioners. Traditionally, most participants were officially sponsored diplomats who returned to service in their foreign ministries after completing the programme. In recent years, an increasing number of non-diplomats and other civil servants working in international relations have also been admitted. This reflects both the changing nature of international diplomacy and recognition of applicants’ de facto diplomatic experience.

Networking opportunities are one of the programme’s key strengths. The selection committee places a strong emphasis on broad geographical representation, creating diverse and dynamic cohorts. Participants learn not only through formal teaching but also from one another’s professional experience and from engagement with the many practitioners who contribute to the programme as guest speakers.

Despite its vocational elements, the programme is a fully accredited University of Oxford Master’s degree. Participants therefore require a strong academic background in order to engage successfully with the demanding curriculum. In particular, the ability to undertake advanced research independently is an essential requirement.

The programme offers an exceptional opportunity for mid-career international relations practitioners with scholarly interests to spend a sabbatical year in Oxford. As full members of the University of Oxford, students benefit from immersion in one of the world’s leading centres of intellectual and academic life.

The core curriculum is made up of a dissertation and four taught courses: Diplomatic Practice, International Politics, International Trade & Finance, and Public International Law.

The taught courses run concurrently throughout the academic year. Teaching combines lectures and seminars with one of Oxford University’s hallmark approaches: tutorials. These small-group discussions are facilitated by academic staff and guide students through a series of formative assessments designed to deepen understanding and develop analytical skills.

Several non-core (extra-curricular) courses are also offered to support academic success, including academic writing, English language skills, and research methodology. The research methodology course is specifically designed to help students develop research proposals and prepare for their dissertation work.

Core (credit-bearing) components

• Diplomatic Practice: Explores the vocational, institutional and contextual dimensions of contemporary diplomacy. Participants develop analytical skills to assess geopolitical challenges in relation to the interests of individual countries, organisations and regions.
• International Politics: Examines key concepts in international relations and major issues in world politics, with particular emphasis on international political theory, foreign policy, and the changing nature of global affairs.
• International Trade & Finance: Introduces the fundamentals of international trade theory and macroeconomics, alongside applied topics such as trade liberalisation, globalisation and international resource transfers.
• Public International Law: Explains the principles of international law and legal reasoning, applying them to contemporary global issues ranging from the nature of international law to the use of force and the settlement of conflicts.

The Dissertation

The research component of the MSt involves a substantial independent research project. Each student is assigned an academic supervisor and is required to complete a 15,000-word dissertation. Dissertation topics are chosen by students, provided they fall within the field of diplomatic studies. Topics often reflect participants’ professional expertise or future career interests and, in some cases, provide the foundation for subsequent doctoral research.

Course Director: Dr Yolanda Spies

Alongside Dr Spies, the teaching panel includes a number of experienced academics and tutors with expertise both in their subject areas and in teaching adult learners.

• Paul Docherty – Lecturer and Course Convenor for Diplomatic Practice
• Dr Vahid Nick Pay – Director of Graduate Studies (DGS-T) and Departmental Lecturer in International Politics
• Dr Nikos Theodorakis – Lecturer and Course Convenor for International Trade and Finance
• Dr Tsvetelina van Benthem – Lecturer in Public International Law
• Prof Dr Christian L. Glossner – Lecturer in Research Methodology
• Samuel McIlroy – Tutor in Academic Writing
• Jon Hird – Tutor in English Language

To complete the MSt, students must successfully pass all core (credit-bearing) components of the programme.

The four taught courses — Diplomatic Practice, International Politics, International Trade & Finance, and Public International Law — are assessed through written examinations held at the end of the nine-month academic year, during Trinity Term. Together, these examinations contribute two-thirds of the overall degree mark.

The 15,000-word dissertation is submitted three months after the examinations, in September, and accounts for the remaining one-third of the final weighted mark for the MSt.

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any subject.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, please visit the International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University’s higher level. If English is not your first language, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement.

Further information on English language requirements can be found on the University’s English language requirements page.

Please visit the MSt in Diplomatic Studies page on the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website for details of course fees and costs.

Please see our funding page for help and information regarding funding postgraduate study. We also recommend searching for opportunities using the University’s Fees, Funding and Scholarship Search.

To be considered for many scholarships, applicants must apply by the January deadline. However, some scholarships require additional application materials and may have different deadlines, so applicants should carefully check the requirements for each funding opportunity.

Scholarships

Many students hold scholarships. The deadline for applications to external scholarship schemes is often in September or November, before the course application deadline, so early action is strongly recommended.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

Citizens of eligible developing Commonwealth countries applying to the MSt in Diplomatic Studies may be considered for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (CSC), which covers course fees and provides a living stipend.

To be considered, applicants must:

• Apply for the MSt in Diplomatic Studies by the Oxford application deadline of 28 January 2026 and receive an offer of a place.
• Submit a separate application to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission using the online scholarship application form by 16:00 GMT on Tuesday 9 December 2025.

The CSC will begin accepting applications from 12 November. Further information is available on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships website.

Please note that the scholarship deadline falls earlier than the course application deadline. Applicants who do not submit the CSC application by 9 December 2025 will not be considered for the scholarship.

Chevening Scholarship

Please visit the Chevening website for information on eligibility and how to apply for UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office scholarships. Applicants may also contact their local British diplomatic mission.

• The Chevening application deadline typically falls before the course application deadline.
• For 2026/27 entry, the deadline is 7 October 2025 at 12:00 noon UTC. See the application timeline for details.

College Scholarships

These scholarships require a separate application. Candidates must apply to the University by the January deadline and complete any additional scholarship application requirements.

• Swire Scholarships – St Antony’s College are available to applicants who are permanent residents of Hong Kong SAR and have completed most of their formal education there. The scholarship covers full course fees, provides a living-cost grant, and includes return travel between Hong Kong and London.
• Eni-Oxford Africa Scholarships are available through St Antony’s College for applicants from Angola, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Mozambique. The award covers full tuition fees, a maintenance grant of approximately £20,000 per year, and flights to and from the UK. Applications should be submitted via the online application form.
• The deadline for Eni-Oxford Africa Scholarship applications is 5:00pm (UK time) on 1 April 2026.
• Preference is given to candidates who can demonstrate a clear commitment to using their education to benefit their home country after graduation.

Applications for awards from other international funding agencies should be made directly to the relevant organisations.

Applications for this course should be made via the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website. This website provides information on fees and entry requirements, along with help on preparing and submitting your application.

Application deadlines

12:00 midday UK time on:

• Stage 1: Wednesday 28 January 2026 (Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships)
• Stage 2: Tuesday 3 March 2026

When to apply

Early application for the programme is strongly advised. After the March deadline, the course will only stay open for that year’s entry if places are still available.

Remember that it can take a number of weeks to obtain all of the documents you need and to prepare a competitive application. You should also allow your referees plenty of time to submit your references. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible.

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process within six weeks of the application deadline.