Higher study options in international relations

Updated on: Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The scope of international relations in terms of employment is limited to jobs in diplomacy or in the United Nations and its various organisations. If you wish to join the Indian Foreign Service, you can also appear for Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission every year. The foreign service offers an attractive career but the selection process is extremely rigourous.

As a higher study option, you can go for the two-year MA course in international relations. After completing your Master’s degree or in the final year of the course, you can appear for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or Lectureship (NET) examination conducted by the University Grants Commission.

Those who qualify the JRF can go for research leading to a doctoral degree. By qualifying the NET, you also try to get a teaching job in colleges or university departments.
Study facilities

In Kerala, a few universities offer the international relations course at the postgraduate level. The School of International Relations, MG University, Priyadarshini Hills (PO), Kottayam-686560 offers MA in politics and international relations. The number of seats is 15.

The minimum qualification for admission to this course is a degree in economics, politics, history or law with at least 45 per cent marks or degree in English, sociology, anthropology, psychology, geography, philosophy, commerce with 50 per cent marks in part III of the degree examination.

Those awaiting final year results can also apply. Admission will be based on an entrance test. The school also conducts an M.Phil. course in international relations for which there are six seats. Candidates with a postgraduate degree in international relations, politics, economics, history or law with 55 per cent marks can apply. The school also conducts doctoral courses.

The notification for admission to MA in politics and international relations, and the M.Phil. course is published during March/April every year. The postgraduate course is conducted under the credit and semester system. The Department of Politics under the University of Kerala, University campus, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, offers MA in politics with international relations as one of the papers. The subject covers international organizations, UN foreign policies and diplomatic relations. More details can be obtained from the department.

The School of International Studies under the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, provides facilities for pursuing MA in politics with specialization in international relations.

Graduates who have studied under the 10+2+3 pattern education in any discipline with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission. The intake capacity is 69.

The school also offers M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes covering American studies, Latin American studies, West European studies, Canadian studies, diplomatic studies, international legal studies, international trade and development, Chinese studies, Japanese and Korean studies, international politics, international organizations, disarmament studies, political geography, Russian and East European studies, south Asian studies, south east Asian and south west pacific studies, central Asian studies, west Asian and North African studies and sub Saharan African studies.

The education qualification required for admission to various centres under the School of International Studies varies from centre to centre. Those interested can check the university prospectus available online at www.jnu.ac.in.

The selection is based on a national-level entrance test held by the JNU in May every year. In Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode are likely to be the test centres. Usually the university notifies for admission in the month of February.
Other universities

Some other universities that offer international relations at the PG level are the following:

•Pondicherry University, R.V. Nagar, Puducherry ( www.pondiunni.org) offers MA in politics and international relations. Selection is based on an entrance test to be held in June every year.

•Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal ( www.jadavpur.edu) offers MA in international relations.

•Jiwaji University, Vidyavihar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh offers MAin international relations.

•Dr. Bhim Rao Amhedkhar University, Agra, UP ( www.brauagra.com) offers MA international affairs.

•Institute of International Studies under the Bundelkhad University, Jhansi ( www.bundelkhaduniversity.org) offers MA in international studies.

Details of more universities and departments can be collected from the University Handbook published by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi. The handbook will be available for reference in all the univeristy employment information and guidance bureau functioning under the Universities of Kerala.
M.Tech. in nanomedical science

I am a postgraduate student in physics. I would like to know about the procedures for admission to M.Tech. courses in nanomedical sciences. Kindly let me know about the institutions that offer such courses.

CHINNU SASI, EMAIL

Postgraduates in physics, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences and biotechnology are eligible to go for M.Tech. programme in nanomedical sciences.

This interdisciplinary programme provides expertise in nanomaterial, nanomaterials processing, bio-nanotechnology and nano-medical sciences. Only a few institutes offer M.Techn. in nanomedical science.

The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, conducts M.Tech. in nanomedical sciences programme. The total number of seats is 30. Students with a Master’s degree in physics, chemistry, polymer science, pharmaceutical science or biotechnology; B.Tech. in biomedical, biotechnology and polymer engineering; MBBS and BDS degree holders can apply for this course.

Students who have qualified GATE in any of the above disciplines can also apply. Admission notification can expected in the month of April. Selection is based on an entrance test and interview.

Contact address: Director, Amrita Centre for Nanosciences, Amrita Institute of Medical Science, Amritavishwavidyapeetham, Kochi. Web site: www.amrita.edu.

Sastra University, Thanjavur, offers M.Tech. in medical nanotechnology with support of Nanomission council, Department of Science and Technology.

B.E. or B.Tech. graduates in biotechnology, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, chemical engineering, metallurgy, pharmtech; M.Sc. degree holders in bioinformatics, biotechnology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics or MBBS, BDS and B.Pharm. degree holders can apply. GATE qualified students will get a monthly stipend.

Some other universities and institutions given below offerprogrammes in nanoscienceor nanotechnology-related areas for which PG degree holders in physics are also eligible to apply.

•Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi ( www.du.ac.in) offers M.Tech. in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

•Anna University, Coimbatore ( www.annauniv.ac.in) offers M.Tech. in nanotechnology

•Bharathiar University, Coimbatore – 641046 ( www.b-u.ac.in) offers M.Sc. in nanoscienceand technology.

•Periyar Maniammai University, Vallam, Thanjaur- 613403 ( www.pmu.edu) offers M.Tech. in nanotechology.

•Amity Institute of Nanotechnology(AmityUniversit

Higher study options in international relations

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